Question 1

What is SystematicReviewTools.app?

Accepted Answer

A signed-in toolkit for the review steps that actually run here: protocol planning, a PRISMA 2020 checklist, PubMed search building and translation, a search-block library, RIS/MEDLINE deduplication, a PRISMA flowchart, a research-gap map, and a manuscript outline. Title-and-abstract screening is on Study-Screener (https://study-screener.com). PDF extraction is on Evidence Table Builder (https://evidencetablebuilder.com). Data analysis and an in-app quality-assessment tool are not available yet.

Question 2

Who is it for?

Accepted Answer

Information specialists, review teams, and researchers who need a search they can defend, a de-duplicated RIS file, PRISMA reporting help, or a structured manuscript outline. If the job is an Include / Maybe / Exclude queue or PDF-to-Excel extraction, use the sibling apps linked from the dashboard.

Question 3

Is the app free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There is no pricing page and no paid plan on SystematicReviewTools.app today. Create a free account, then open the dashboard tools. Search Builder, Search Translator, and Research Gap Finder send the text you submit to an AI service and have a daily usage limit.

Question 4

How is my data handled?

Accepted Answer

Accounts use Firebase Authentication (Google, GitHub, or email). Manuscript and PRISMA checklist drafts autosave in your browser; those features do not upload the draft. Deduplication files are processed and discarded, not stored by the API. Signed-in AI tools send the text you submit to OpenAI. See the Privacy Policy for processors, cookies, and account deletion.

Question 5

Do I need to download any software?

Accepted Answer

No. SystematicReviewTools.app is a web app. Use a current browser. Dashboard tools require a signed-in account. Public tool guides explain each tool but do not run them.

Question 6

What is Protocol Development?

Accepted Answer

A guided walkthrough of protocol sections: the question, eligibility criteria, search, screening, risk of bias, and reporting, with PRISMA-P diagrams next to the items they belong to. It is a planning guide, not a form the app files for you.

Question 7

How does the PRISMA Checklist help?

Accepted Answer

The PRISMA Checklist walks through PRISMA 2020 reporting items. You record where each item appears in the manuscript, then download a PDF or Word checklist. Completing the form does not by itself make the review PRISMA-compliant.

Question 8

Can I register a protocol from the app?

Accepted Answer

No. Use the protocol guide to lock wording, then register or share that text yourself on PROSPERO, OSF, or a journal. The app does not submit protocols on your behalf.

Question 9

What is the Research Gap Finder?

Accepted Answer

The Research Gap Finder maps classified PubMed or uploaded citations (MEDLINE, RIS, or CSV), lets you inspect the titles behind each count, and drafts candidate-gap notes. Empty cells are not proof that no research exists. Treat the output as a starting point and review it yourself.

Question 10

What is the Search Builder?

Accepted Answer

The Search Builder turns a research question into PubMed search blocks with MeSH terms and title/abstract synonyms. You can review, edit, and export the blocks, including Embase and Web of Science field tags. Suggested terms still need a human check.

Question 11

How does the Search Translator work?

Accepted Answer

Paste a search and choose a target syntax. The Search Translator rewrites Boolean logic for PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, Cochrane Library, and Ovid Medline. It does not replace database-specific controlled vocabulary. Check Emtree, CINAHL headings, and the rest before you run the search.

Question 12

What is the Search Block Library?

Accepted Answer

A searchable catalog of pre-built MeSH and title/abstract blocks, sourced from BMI Online (https://blocks.bmi-online.nl/). Open the library, copy a block, and paste it into Search Builder or PubMed. A copied block is a starting point, not a finished strategy.

Question 13

How does deduplication work?

Accepted Answer

The Deduplication Tool concatenates up to 10 RIS or PubMed/MEDLINE files (50 MB combined), then collapses duplicates by normalized DOI or by exact normalized title plus year. You download an enriched RIS file plus CSV and JSON audit reports. Uploads are not kept after processing.

Question 14

Where do I screen studies?

Accepted Answer

Not on this app. The dashboard screening page sends you to Study-Screener (https://study-screener.com), where you can upload a RIS file, highlight inclusion and exclusion keywords, label Include / Maybe / Exclude, and export CSV or RIS.

Question 15

Can I resolve disagreements during screening?

Accepted Answer

Blinded dual screening is a protocol decision, not something SystematicReviewTools.app runs. Study-Screener is the screening product. Export Include / Maybe / Exclude lists and reconcile disagreements outside the queue if your protocol requires two reviewers.

Question 16

Does the app retrieve full-text PDFs?

Accepted Answer

No. Use your library, publisher sites, or the full-text links on PubMed. Neither this app nor the FAQ promises automated PDF retrieval.

Question 17

Where do I build evidence tables?

Accepted Answer

PDF extraction is not hosted here. The dashboard evidence-table page sends you to Evidence Table Builder (https://evidencetablebuilder.com), where you can upload PDFs, ask extraction questions, and download an Excel table. Review every extracted cell.

Question 18

Can the app assess study quality?

Accepted Answer

Not inside SystematicReviewTools.app. The dashboard quality-assessment link opens Evidence Table Builder’s quality assessment tool (https://evidencetablebuilder.com/quality-assessment-tool). An in-app RoB 2 (or similar) checklist is still planned. Dual human appraisal still belongs in the protocol.

Question 19

Does the app include data analysis or meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. The dashboard Analysis Tool is marked coming soon. It does not upload Excel files or produce forest plots today.

Question 20

What does the manuscript outline tool do?

Accepted Answer

The outline generator walks through PRISMA-shaped sections. You fill in the prompts, then export a Word, text, or PDF draft. The draft autosaves in your browser. It is an outline, not a finished manuscript.

Question 21

Can I generate a PRISMA flowchart?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The PRISMA Flowchart Generator maps the identification and screening counts you enter onto a PRISMA 2020 diagram, checks that the totals reconcile, and exports the figure. Search strategies can go in the manuscript outline or a methods appendix.

Question 22

What file formats can I upload here?

Accepted Answer

Deduplication accepts RIS and PubMed/MEDLINE .txt files. Research Gap Finder also accepts MEDLINE, RIS, or CSV records. The outline and PRISMA checklist do not need uploads. PDF and Excel uploads belong to Evidence Table Builder, not this dashboard.

Question 23

Does the app integrate with EndNote, Zotero, or other software?

Accepted Answer

There is no reference-manager plugin. Export RIS or MEDLINE from the manager you already use, then upload that file to deduplication. The translator covers database syntax. Search blocks come from BMI Online. MeSH lookup uses NCBI. Screening and extraction are separate products.

Question 24

Are there upload or usage limits?

Accepted Answer

Deduplication accepts up to 10 files and 50 MB combined. Search Builder, Search Translator, and Research Gap Finder have a daily AI usage limit. There is no paid plan that raises those limits.

Question 25

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Open Sign up, or use Sign In in the header. You can register with Google, GitHub, or email and password. Email accounts must verify the address before the dashboard will open. The homepage Sign Up button currently takes you to the sign-in page, which links to sign up.

Question 26

I have forgotten my password. How can I reset it?

Accepted Answer

If you signed in with Google or GitHub, reset the password with that provider. If you used email and password, write to us on the Contact page. The sign-in “Forgot your password?” link does not send a reset email today.

Question 27

How can I contact support?

Accepted Answer

Use the public Contact page. Signed-in users can also send feedback from Account Settings.

Question 28

Are there tutorials or guides?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Info Center has documentation, a free ebook, the blog, and Academy course outlines. Some Academy lecture videos are still being uploaded. There are no live webinars.

Question 29

What is planned next?

Accepted Answer

In-app data analysis and quality assessment are still to come. Screening and PDF extraction stay on the sibling apps for now. There is no paid upgrade path today.

Question 30

Can I suggest a feature?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Signed-in users can send ideas from the Feedback form on Account Settings. Anyone can use the Contact page.

Question 31

I am seeing a technical problem. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Refresh the page or try another browser. If it continues, describe what you were doing, the page URL, and any error text on the Contact page, or use the settings feedback form if you are signed in.

Question 32

Why is my file not uploading?

Accepted Answer

On this app, deduplication only accepts .ris or PubMed/MEDLINE .txt files, up to 10 files and 50 MB combined. You must be signed in. PDF and Excel files belong on Evidence Table Builder. If the file still fails, contact support with the format and size.

Question 33

The AI output looks wrong. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Edit the input so the question, PICO pieces, or search blocks are explicit, then review every MeSH term, synonym, translation, and gap note before you use it. These tools call OpenAI; they do not replace a search specialist. Report persistent misses through Contact so the prompts can be improved.

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