1. After submitting your decision, the 'Notify Author' page appears if your role has permission to draft the decision letter.

   • If this a 'Reject and Transfer' type of decision and no previous editor has done so, you will be prompted to select target journals for the transfer offer before the Notify Author page appears.
2. Review the letter that is generated as it might require editing or customizing. Different options will appear depending on the details of the submission and your permissions.

   Entering a reviewer email address as a cc will reveal the reviewer identity to the author. Entering any reviewer as a cc or bcc will reveal the author identity to the reviewer.

   • If a subordinate editor has already created a draft, you will be informed of who last edited the version you see.
   • You may have the option to Modify the Decision Term; if you do so the page will reload and any previous customization to the letter will be lost.
   • If this is a 'Reject and Transfer' type of decision you may have a link to make adjustments to which target journals are offered.
   • You may have a 'Rescind Decision: Return to [Editor Role]' option, this will undo the most recent decision and send the assignment back to that editor. Note this may be yourself, if you were the last to submit a decision term.
   • You may be able to copy any editors assigned to the submission, or fill in any other email addresses as a cc.
   • You may be able to make final adjustments to which attachments are available to the author.
   • If you have made an Accept decision and the journal is configured for Automated Quick Transmittal, you may be required to select Additional Manuscript Details such as the article’s document header, any embargo requirements and any Submission-related information such as the Corresponding Editor and any Section/Category details.
   • You may be able to add production notes, which in the case of an accepted submission will be sent to the production team. Please avoid special characters or quotation marks, as these can cause errors and delays.
3. The 'Submit Decision with Draft Letter' button appears if you have permission to draft the letter but not send it. Selecting this will end your task and move the submission on in the workflow.
4. The 'Send Now' button appears if you have permission to send the decision letter. When clicked:

   • If Reviewer Notification has been configured for this decision term, a list of all completed reviewers will appear with a chance to customize each letter, or elect to skip any reviewer.
   • A final confirmation appears, with the details of which letters were sent to which recipient.

If all editors have made a decision (or been terminated), and the letter has not been sent by an editor during their decision step, then the letter must be sent by clicking Notify Author in one of two special folders. This can happen because the journal is configured such that no editors can send the letter during the decision, or it can happen because editors that could have sent the letter opted not to do so.

To Notify Author after all assigned editors have submitted a decision:

1. Locate the submission in one of two folders:

   • My Assignments with Decision folder contains all your assignments where all editors have made their decisions (or been terminated). If you have the required permission and the letter has not been sent, the Notify Author action appears.
   • View All Submissions With Editor Decision folder is visible to editors with permission to 'View all submissions'. This folder contains those submissions where all editors have made decisions (or been terminated). If you have the required permission and the letter has not been sent, the Notify Author action appears.
   • Note that submissions remain in these folders until either the letter is sent (revisions only) or Final Disposition is sent (all other decisions). If the letter is already sent it will appear as a link in the last column and the Notify Author action will not appear.
2. Click 'Notify Author' and review the letter that appears as it may require editing or customizing.

   Entering a reviewer email address as a cc will reveal the reviewer identity to the author. Entering any reviewer as a cc or bcc will reveal the author identity to the reviewer.

   • If a subordinate editor has already created a draft, you will be informed of who last edited the version you see.
   • You may have the option to Modify the Decision Term; if so the page will reload and any previous customization to the letter will be lost.
   • If this is a 'Reject and Transfer' type of decision you may make adjustments to which target journals are offered.
   • You may have a 'Rescind Decision: Return to [Editor Role]' option, this will undo the most recent decision and send the assignment back to that editor. Note this may be yourself, if you were the last to submit a decision term.
   • You may be able to copy any editors assigned to the submission, or fill in any other email addresses as a cc.
   • You may be able to make final adjustments to which attachments are available to the author.
   • If you have made an Accept decision and the journal is configured for Automated Quick Transmittal, you may be required to select Additional Manuscript Details such as the article’s document header, any embargo requirements and any Submission-related information such as the Corresponding Editor and any Section/Category details.
   • You may be able to add production notes, which in the case of an accepted submission will be sent to the production team. Please avoid special characters or quotation marks, as these can cause errors and delays.
3. Click 'Send Now' to send the decision letter. When clicked:

   • If Reviewer Notification has been configured for this decision term, a list of all completed reviewers will appear with a chance to customize each letter, or elect to skip any reviewer.
   • A final confirmation appears, with the details of which letters were sent to which recipient.