Online Submission Instructions

Preparing your Manuscript

1. Follow the instructions to authors regarding the format of your manuscript and references.
2. Prepare your manuscript, including tables, using a word processing program and save it as a .doc file.
3. Prepare your figures at publication quality resolution, using applications capable of generating high-resolution .tif files (1200 dpi for line drawings and 300 dpi for colour and half-tone artwork). The printing process requires your figures to be in this format if your paper is accepted and printed. For useful information on preparing your figures for publication, go to this page. For online submission, please also prepare a second version of your figures at low-resolution (72 dpi) for use in the review process; these versions of the figures can be saved in .jpg, .gif, .tif or .eps format.
4. For online submission, please upload the low-resolution versions of the figures as separate files (do not incorporate them into the main body of your text).
5. When preparing figures, please make sure that any characters or numbers included in the figures are large enough to read on-screen.
6. Prepare any other files that are to be submitted for review, including any supplementary material. The permitted formats for these files are the same as for manuscripts and figures. Other file types, such as Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations may be uploaded and will be converted to .pdf format.
7. When naming your files, please use simple filenames and avoid special characters and spaces. Also please ensure the author cannot be identified by the file name, e.g. Jones.doc.

Submitting Your Manuscript

Now that your files are ready, visit the online submission web site.

1. Note: Before you begin, you should be sure you are using an up-to-date version of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome or Safari. If you have an earlier version, you can download a free upgrade using the icons found at the bottom of the 'Instructions and Forms' section of the online submission web site.
   • First, you will need to log into the online submission site
   • If you know your login details (i.e., you have submitted or reviewed a manuscript in this journal before), use your User ID and Password to log on. (Your user ID will usually be your email address.)
   • If you do not know your login details, check to see if you are already registered by clicking on the 'Forgot your password' button and following the on-screen instructions. If you are not already registered, you can register by clicking on the 'Create account' button on the login screen and following the on-screen instructions.
   • If you have trouble finding your manuscripts or have other problems with your account, do not create another account. Instead, please contact the journal's editorial office.
2. To submit a new manuscript:
    
   • Go to the 'Author Centre', and click on “Click here to submit a new manuscript', and then follow the on-screen instructions.
   • There are 6 steps for you to follow to submit your manuscript.
   • At any stage you can stop the submission process by clicking on the save and return button. Everything you have typed into the system will be saved, and the partially completed submission will appear under 'unsubmitted manuscripts' in your 'Author Centre'.
   • To return to the submission process you will need to click on the button 'Continue Submission' against the relevant manuscript title.
3. When submitting your manuscript, please enter your manuscript data into the relevant fields, following the detailed instructions at the top of each page. You may like to have the original word-processing file available so you can copy and paste the title and abstract into the required fields. You will also be required to provide email addresses for your co-authors, so please have these to hand when you log onto the site. Please check they are current and correct as otherwise delays WILL occur in manuscript processing.
   
   When you come to upload your manuscript files via the 'File Upload' screen:
   • Enter individual files using the 'Browse' buttons and select the appropriate 'File type’ from the pull-down menu.
   • Upload your files by clicking on the 'Upload files' button. This may take several minutes. Click on the SAVE button to confirm the upload. Repeat these steps until you have uploaded all your files.
   • If you have uploaded any figures or tables you will be prompted to provide figure/table captions and 'file tags' that will link figures to text in the HTML proof of your main document.
   • Once you have uploaded all your files, indicate the order in which they should appear in your paper. This will determine the order in which they appear in the consolidated PDF used for peer review. 
   • After the successful upload of your text and images, you will need to view and proofread your manuscript. Please do this by clicking on the blue HTML button or a PDF button.
   • If the files have not been uploaded to your satisfaction, go back to the file upload screen where you can remove the files you do not want and repeat the process.
4. When you are satisfied with the uploaded manuscript proof go to the 'Review & Submit' stage. The system will check that you have completed all the mandatory fields and that you have viewed your manuscript proof. It will also present you with a summary of all the information you have provided and give you a final chance to edit it. If there is a red cross next to any section this will indicate that not all the fields have been filled in correctly.
5. When you have finished reviewing this information press 'Submit'.
6. After the manuscript has been submitted you will see a confirmation screen and receive an email confirmation stating that your manuscript has been successfully submitted. This will also give the assigned manuscript number, which is used in all correspondence during peer review. If you do not receive this, your manuscript will not have been successfully submitted to the journal and the paper cannot progress to peer review. If this is the case your manuscript will still be sitting in the 'Unsubmitted Manuscripts' section of your 'Author Centre' awaiting your attention.
7. If you return to your 'Author Centre' you will notice that your newly submitted manuscript can be found in the 'Submitted Manuscripts' area. The ‘Status' section provides information on the status of your manuscript as it moves through the review process. Please note: select> suitable reviewers: indicates the manuscript is ready for reviewers to be selected by the Associate Editor; invite> reviewers: indicates invitations have been sent to suitable reviewers; assign reviewers indicates reviewers have accepted the invitation and then the manuscript is awaiting a reviewer score>. If one reviewer has accepted and one has declined, the manuscript will still appear in the select reviewer queue as well as the awaiting reviewer score queue. This can be confusing as it may seem like your manuscript appears twice or that it is not progressing in the system. It will move along once at least two reviewers have accepted invites as well as submitted their review.

Submitting a Revised Manuscript

1. Logon to the online submission web site as before and, in the 'Author Centre', click on 'Manuscripts awaiting revision'. You will then see the title of any manuscripts you submitted that are under revision.
2. If you click on 'View decision letter' you will see the editor's letter to you together with the referees' comments. Then proceed to 'create a revision' to begin the process.
3. Here you can upload the files that constitute your revised manuscript. To facilitate the production process, it is essential that you upload your revised manuscript as a .doc file, and not in .pdf format. Please note: when you resubmit, please include two copies of the revised document; one containing tracked changes> and one "clean" or unmarked copy.

Getting help

If you experience any problems during the online submission process please use the 'Author Help' function, which takes you to specific submission instructions, or 'Get Help Now', which takes you to the Frequently Asked Questions page. Alternatively, contact the submission system support line by email ([email protected]) or telephone (+1 434 817 2040 x167).

You can also contact the Health Promotion International editorial office by email ([email protected]).