Submitting a manuscript to a journal can be a tedious, paper-intensive process. As a result, many scientists are turning to submitting their manuscripts online. Unfortunately, online submission systems are typically more utilitarian than user friendly. That is, until now.

ACS JOURNALS AWAIT SWITCH TO PARAGON SYSTEM Journals scheduled to move to the Paragon System in December include the following: Biomacromolecules, Chemistry of Materials, Crystal Growth & Design, Journal of Proteome Research, Nano Letters, and Organic Process Research & Development. The remaining journals plan to begin using the system in 2003. They are the following: Accounts of Chemical Research, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioconjugate Chemistry, Biotechnology Progress, Chemical Reviews, Energy & Fuels, Environmental Science & Technology, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Inorganic Chemistry, Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, Journal of Chemical Information & Computer Sciences, Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Journal of Natural Products, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Langmuir, Macromolecules, and Organometallics. INNOVATION The new ACS Paragon System is designed around the needs of the user. PHOTO BY SUSAN MORRISSEY

The American Chemical Society, one of the world's premier scientific journal publishers, has recently introduced a new online submission system designed to meet the needs of the user. The ACS Paragon System, as it is called, consolidates organization of the manuscript submission process, allowing users to track each of their manuscripts submitted online to ACS journals all the way through publication using a single password-protected home page.

The Paragon System is the result of careful planning by ACS to ease submissions to more than 20 of its peer-reviewed journals. The secure system was designed with input from ACS authors, reviewers, and journal editors from around the world and allows each journal to tailor its submission environment to reflect its needs and those of the scientific community that it serves. The streamlined system focuses on the users' needs and replaces the current online submission system, which was a more generic, manuscript-driven system.

To date, two ACS journals have switched over to the new system. ACS launched the system for Chemical Research in Toxicology in August. After a short period of debugging, Organic Letters began using the system in early October. The rest of the ACS journals are scheduled to follow suit later this year and early next year.

"ACS has worked hard to talk to all of the editorial offices of its journals to make the new system easier to use," says Lawrence J. Marnett, editor of Chemical Research in Toxicology, which receives about 70% of its manuscripts online. Aside from some early glitches, he says he is pleased with the system and the support of ACS staff.

One highlight of the Paragon system is the ability it gives an author to track the status of all of the manuscripts that he or she has submitted online to ACS journals. The tracking information is immediately visible on the author's individual home page, which is accessible via a user ID and a password. The home page provides information on incomplete submissions, manuscripts submitted for review, revised manuscripts, and galley proofs. In addition, e-mail messages are used to keep the authors informed about the status of their manuscripts.

THE SYSTEM ALSO aims to facilitate the review process. Manuscript and supporting information can be accessed online for review through the use of a reference number and a security key. Reviews can then be submitted online or review forms may be downloaded and printed. If necessary, reviewers can request a hard copy of the manuscript through an automated process.

To set up a home page, authors and reviewers are required to register. During the registration process, users choose a user ID and a password. On first entry into the system, users will be prompted to enter their contact information. Once entered, they will not need to reenter the registration information every time they submit a manuscript; instead, the information will be kept on file and attached to submissions made from that account. Users can get into the system with the user ID and password after the account is set up.

Inside the system, detailed information and directions guide users through the site. Copyright forms, information about ACS, and specific journal guidelines are all easily accessible. Online help is available, as is ACS support staff, by both phone and e-mail.

A major advantage over the current online submission system is the flexibility of the Paragon System, which allows authors to submit their manuscripts using a wide range of supported file formats. The system also automatically backs up all files, allowing users to stop at any time while submitting a manuscript and come back at a later time to complete the process.

Another interesting feature of the Paragon System is that it permits an individual other than the author to submit the manuscript. The system will process the information, and the tracking information will initially appear on the submitting agent's home page. The author can then add the paper to his or her own home page to track it.

"We have been very pleased with the system," says Carol Carr, managing editor of Organic Letters, which receives more than 90% of its manuscripts online. "Few have been stumped by the system," she says. And for those who have encountered any problems, she's quick to note that the support from ACS has been great.

For more information about the Paragon System or to set up an account, visit the Paragon website at http://paragon.acs.org.

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