Visualization and publication
Selective rendering for manuscripts, supplements, and presentations
Scientific manuscripts require clear visual representations of study designs, workflows, and procedures. Traditional text descriptions and static diagrams are often lengthy, difficult to update, and challenging to adapt for different audiences.
Studyflow diagrams provide a visual, machine-readable specification that generates publication-quality visualizations automatically. By specifying study structure once in studyflow format, researchers can generate consistent, professional figures for manuscripts.
The modular structure of studyflow enables selective rendering of elements, allowing authors to emphasize different aspects of their study design depending on audience and context.
The modeler currently offers three rendering mechanisms (see Views):
- Diagram export – the full study workflow exported as SVG or PNG, suitable for a methods figure or supplement.
- Checklist view – the diagram flattened into a list of activities with their checklist items, suitable for protocol annexes and reporting-guideline compliance (see Reporting guidelines).
- Gantt view – time-sensitive elements placed along a temporal axis, suitable for SPIRIT-style schedules of enrolment and assessment.
Because all three render from the same .studyflow source, the manuscript figure, the compliance checklist, and the timeline cannot drift apart.
A worked example showing the same studyflow rendered as a full diagram, a simplified manuscript figure, and an interactive supplement is planned for this page.