DSI Annual Meeting:
Instructions for Submitting Manuscripts

The suggested guidelines for formatting submitted paper is: double-spaced in 12 point Times Roman font with one inch margins, and a maximum of 25 pages in length.  These formatting requirements are not absolute, but are guidelines out of courtesy to those who will need to read the submissions.  If you use a different font size or different page length, be courteous of the potential readers.  What is absolute is that all manuscript submission must be done online and in PDF format.

Reasons for Requiring PDF Format

The reasons for requiring PDF format are many, including the following:

  1. PDF files can be viewed on almost any computer with the free PDF reader. Some reviewers use non-Windows computers, including Macintosh and Unix systems. And, believe it or not, many people do not own Microsoft Word. PDF format is very platform independent. (There are even PDF readers for handheld computers!)
  2. It is nearly impossible for virus to be spread via PDF, which is not true of Microsoft Word files (that can easily contain macro viruses).
  3. PDF files can easily contain text and graphics. Other universal formats, such as rtf, do not do well with graphics.
  4. PDF files are more anonymous than Word files, which is necessary for our blind review process. It can be quite difficult to hide the identity of the author of a Word file. Word automatically stamps the author's name in the document properties. Also, the use of the "Track Changes" feature riddles the document with the author's name. Converting the Word document to a PDF by printing it to a PDF print driver (such as pdf995, described below) removes the author's identity.
  5. PDF files maintain the look and formatting that the author intended. Equations and graphs look the same, even if viewed on different types of computer systems. However, a Word file containing an equation from an equation font might not look the same if the person reading the file does not have that same font installed.
  6. PDF is becoming the standard used by many research organizations, including academic journals.
  7. New tools have made it quite easy to convert files to PDF format. (see below)

Converting Your File to PDF

There are many options for converting your files to PDF format, including:

  1. Purchase a PDF converter, such as Adobe Acrobat. (It may be that your institution already has a site license.)
  2. Use an online PDF conversion service.
  3. Download a free PDF converter. For example, pdf995 is a free utility that allows you to create PDF files by printing from any Windows program. (It does have popup advertising every time you use it, which goes away if you pay the $9.95 registration fee.)
  4. Ask someone in your department to convert it for you (and perhaps give them $25 for their trouble).
  5. Submit a Word or WordPerfect file, and mail a check for $25, and we will convert it for you. Information is provided below.
Important note: This should go without saying, but just in case... Simply re-naming a file called 'something.doc' to the name 'something.pdf' does NOT convert it to a PDF file. You must actually change the file to the PDF file format, such as with one of the methods above.

Another important note: When converting your paper to PDF format, please set the Paper Size as "Letter" (i.e. 8 1/2 x 11 inches). This usually means you need to set the Paper Size to "Letter" in the original application (Word or whatever). The reviewers can then print the PDF document on Letter-size paper without problem. PDF documents formatted for A4, legal, or other paper sizes will have problems if printed on Letter-size paper.

Having us Convert Your File

If you choose to have us convert your Word or WordPerfect (or PowerPoint) file to PDF format, complete the following steps:

  1. If your document is only one file, submit it via the website. If your document is in two files (such as a Word file with figures in a PowerPoint file), then zip the files into one file (using a utility such as WinZip), and submit the zip file via the website. Note that the total size of the zipped files (before being zipped) must not be larger than the 500K submission size limit.
  2. Send a check for US$25 to the firm that manages the DSI Conference System: Sampson Research & Consulting, 660 TNRB, BYU, Provo, UT 84602, USA. The check should be made payable to "Sampson Research & Consulting." With the check, include a note that contains:
    1. your name
    2. your email address
    3. your phone number
    4. the title of your submission, and
    5. the track it was submitted to.
  3. When the check is received, we will convert the paper to PDF format and send you an email message of confirmation. If you do not receive that email confirmation within two weeks, you send an inquiry to the Conference Chair or your Track Chair.
Note: Links on this page are provided as a service to the reader without warrantee, expressed or implied. The Decision Sciences Institute and its officers, Brigham Young University and its employees, and the DSI Conference Program Committee collectively and individually assume no liability or responsibility for software or links refered to by this website.

sub_instructions.html - rev 2/20/03