Collecting abstracts and papers is often the first big milestone in organizing an academic conference. Done manually, it can quickly turn chaotic. With Dryfta’s abstract submission platform, however, you can create a fully online, customizable abstract submission form that adapts to your event’s unique requirements.
Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough to set up your form and launch your call for submissions.
Step 1: Go to Submission Questions
Inside Dryfta’s dashboard, navigate to Abstract Submissions → Submission Questions.
This is the section where you design your submission form.
You can choose from up to 15 different field types, including:
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Input box
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Yes/No question
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Multi-select dropdown
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Multiple choice
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File upload
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Multiple input boxes
These options allow you to gather everything from short answers to uploaded research posters.
Step 2: Add Your First Field
As an example, let’s create a file upload field:
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Enter a label such as “Upload Your Poster” or “Upload Your Abstract.”
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Define the allowed file formats (e.g., PDF, Word, PPT).
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Set the maximum file size.
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Enable multiple file uploads if necessary.
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Assign tags or link the field to specific types or tracks.
This tagging ensures that only relevant authors see the field.
Step 3: Customize by Type, Topic, or Track
Dryfta lets you show different questions for different submission types (e.g., oral, poster) or topics (e.g., public health, AI).
For example, you may want to request a full paper from oral presenters but only an abstract from poster presenters.
To make this work:
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Pre-create your types and topics.
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Link each field to the appropriate type or topic.
This flexibility ensures that your form isn’t one-size-fits-all. Rather, it adapts to your event’s structure.
Step 4: Make Fields Mandatory or Optional
Scroll down when editing a field and choose whether it’s mandatory.
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Use this for core fields like author name, abstract title, or primary email.
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Keep optional fields for secondary information.
This prevents incomplete submissions while keeping the form user-friendly.
Step 5: Add Conditional Logic
Need dynamic fields? Dryfta supports conditional logic.
Example:
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Parent field: Are you a student?
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If “Yes,” display a field asking for student ID proof.
Or, in another case, only show “Upload Award File” if the author selects “Award Submission” in the type field.
This keeps your form clean and responsive to author choices.
Step 6: Set Deadlines
Before finalizing, check your deadlines:
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You can configure global deadlines for all types.
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Or, assign separate deadlines for each type (oral, poster, award submission).
This is helpful if some categories close earlier than others.
Step 7: Organize form with Sections
Large forms can overwhelm authors. To make them manageable, split them into sections:
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Section for uploading posters
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Section for outlining research objectives
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Section for author information
Authors will appreciate the clarity, and reviewers will have structured data to work with.
Step 8: Launch Your Call for Submissions
Once your form is ready:
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Go to the Website Designer Tool.
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Enable the Create Account menu.
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Authors can now register and log in to their dashboards.
From their dashboard, they can:
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Go to My Proposals to submit abstracts.
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Edit submissions until the deadline.
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Upload final presentations if their abstracts are accepted.
Those whose proposals are not accepted will not see the final upload option.
Step 9: Manage Incoming Submissions
As submissions come in, Dryfta automatically organizes them under each author’s profile.
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Accepted authors can continue to update and upload final documents.
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Rejected authors will have limited access.
This ensures a clear workflow from abstract to final presentation.
Final Thoughts
Setting up an online abstract submission form may sound complex, but with Dryfta it’s a structured process:
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Define your fields
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Add conditional logic
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Customize by type/topic
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Launch the call for submissions
The platform gives you control while keeping things simple for your authors. Whether you’re collecting 50 abstracts or 5,000, Dryfta ensures nothing slips through the cracks.