> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dscout.com/diary-studies/what-are-diary-studies-in-dscout/understanding-manual-and-automatic-diary-studies.md).

# Understanding manual and automatic diary studies

Dscout diary studies come in two types: manual and automatic. You can change study types under the “Activity Availability” section within your study’s Details tab. Understanding when to use each will help you best put the platform to use.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/IKfn7RcT4CW9XaIbqAdd/blobs/NQV6lG37Q0wIvV8Bc4Q5/14597453020052)

## Manual studies

Manual studies allow you to control when activities become available for scouts to complete.

This type of study is helpful when you need scouts to complete an activity over a set number of days. It’s also helpful if you are looking to customize later study activities based on responses to earlier activities; with manual studies, you can add more activities (up to 10) after you've launched.

Activities can be edited until you [publish and open them to scouts](/diary-studies/manage-a-diary-study/how-do-i-open-activities-in-diary-studies.md). Once an activity has been opened, it cannot be edited. If you’re using [due dates](/diary-studies/create-a-diary-study/activity-due-dates-and-reminders.md), you cannot change a scout’s due date after you’ve opened an activity up for that scout.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**: Activities must still be opened *sequentially* (i.e. you cannot open Activity 1 and Activity 3 without also opening Activity 2).
{% endhint %}

## Automatic studies

Automatic studies allow scouts to choose how quickly they complete activities in their study.

As scouts complete the minimum number of required entries for an activity, the next activity will open for them automatically. All you need to worry about is [keeping scouts on track](/diary-studies/manage-a-diary-study.md) with the overall deadline!

This is great for when activities don’t need to be completed over a specific number of days and scouts are able to go at their own pace—they are even able to finish a study in one sitting, if they want to!

None of your activities or due dates can be edited once you launch the study to scouts, so make sure you [test your study](/diary-studies/create-a-diary-study/test-a-diary-study.md) before launching!


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