General Instructions
Abstracts are limited to two pages, and must be submitted in one of the following formats: PDF (preferred); PostScript; Microsoft Word 6, Word 97, or Word 2000 for PC; Microsoft Word 6 or Word 98 for Mac; WordPerfect 7 or 8; or RTF.

Note:  Abstract files MUST include the title, authors, and and full mailing address for ALL authors, as shown in the templates. This information will NOT be extracted from the electronic submission form.

Download the appropriate template from the list provided. Using the format provided in the template, prepare your abstract for submission. YOU are responsible for the formatting and appearance of your abstract. Figures and tables must be placed in the file and therefore must be in digital format. We recommend that you use image file formats that provide acceptable resolution without being HUGE (for example, don't use a 4-MB TIFF file when a 700-K GIF file will do). Hard-copy line drawings AND photographs can be easily converted to high-quality digital format by using ordinary flatbed scanners and accompanying software. Please contact your systems administrator for assistance if necessary. We STRONGLY encourage authors to limit the size of their file to 4 MB; larger files often lead to technical problems.

Note Regarding Fonts
You are urged to use fonts common to Macintosh and PC platforms, i.e., Times, Times New Roman, Helvetica, or Arial for text; Symbol for mathematical symbols and Greek letters. The electronic version of your abstract that appears on line will be a PDF file. If the PDF conversion program does not recognize the font you have used, it will have to use the best-available choice from its substitution table and the final outcome may be corrupted.

Running Heads
All templates are set up with a running head for the second page. If you don't replace what's in the template with your REAL running head, the sample text will get published on your second page! (But don't use page numbers.)

Image Previews
If you have embedded EPS files in your abstract, and have included a low-resolution screen preview, please let us know that in the comments box on the abstract submission form. We will then be aware that your image should actually be at a much higher resolution than what we are actually seeing in your file.

To ensure that all readers can view your PDF file, you should submit it using 3.0 compatibility, and you should embed all fonts in the file. To set up your version of Acrobat Exchange correctly, go to the job options settings in your Acrobat Distiller. Under the tab labeled "Font Embedding", check the box to embed all fonts. Under the tab labeled "Compression", turn off (i.e., uncheck) all the options for compressing. Under the tab labeled "General", check to see that the compatibility is set to Acrobat 3.0.

PostScript Files
LaTeX users can download the template and style file provided. The style file is written to use Times New Roman fonts. Instructions for downloading these fonts and installing them on your system are included in the template. If you do not have these fonts, the template will not work. If you attempt to modify the style file or template to avoid the use of the Times New Roman fonts, your abstract will not be readable on the screen. Click here to see a sample of what the PDF file of your abstract will look like if you don't use the correct font package. You can submit PostScript files produced by software other than LaTeX, as long as your system uses the correct fonts. (If you're not sure, contact us WELL in advance and we can do a test for you.)

Asian Authors
We have experienced difficulty in translating files from Word for Asian format. After much testing and trial and error, we have determined that RTF files are the best solution to the problem. Go ahead and download the appropriate template for your machine, but when you're through with your abstract you should save it as an RTF (rich text format) file and submit that version.

Macintosh Systems
The occasional font problems we experience are almost always associated with Word files on a Mac. To avoid this problem, after downloading the template, make sure the text of the template is in Times New Roman, and NOT New York (the PDF software has a particular distaste for the New York font!).

Submitting Your Abstract
After you have prepared the file containing your abstract, you are ready to submit it. Your file MUST be on the same machine as your Web browser, and you cannot leave the file open or the data will not transfer successfully. Go to the abstract submission form and follow the instructions. The form will only take about 5 minutes to complete. Once you have completed the form and have clicked on the "Submit to LPI" button, the system will respond with a screen that informs you that your abstract has been successfully submitted and assigns you an abstract number. WRITE DOWN this abstract number and refer to it in any correspondence with us regarding your abstract. If you don't see the confirmation screen within a reasonable amount of time (no more than 10 minutes), or if you have any questions or need further assistance, please phone the LPI at 281-486-2188, -2161, -2195, or -2164, or send an e-mail message to publish@lpi.usra.edu.

Please do not submit multiple versions of the same abstract! If we receive more than one submission, and it appears to be the same abstract, WE will have to decide which version to keep (the others will be withdrawn). Also, if there are any technical problems with the content of your abstract (for example, your file was corrupted), our staff will be desperately trying to contact you immediately, so it is CRITICAL that you provide us with up-to-date contact information on the submission form. If you know that you will not be available to answer possible questions regarding your submission, please give us (in the comments box on the abstract submission form) the name of someone who can (and how we can reach them).

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