Open Journal Systems Frequently Asked Questions
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How long does it take for my journal to be set up once I submit the New Journal Request Form?
It usually takes between 2-4 weeks for your journal to be ready for editing.
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What is meant by a "URL slug or acronym" for the journal?
All of our hosted journals include the prefix "https://journals.tdl.org/" which will be followed by a slug/acronym for the journal.
For example, the Journal of College and Academic Support Programs (J-CASP) utilizes the "jcasp" slug and the URL is "https://journals.tdl.org/jcasp"
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Does OJS support assigning Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)?
Yes. The journal manager(s) will need a membership with Crossref, Datacite, or another DOI registration agency and there is typically a fee. For more information on getting started and using the DOI plugin for OJS, see: https://docs.pkp.sfu.ca/crossref-ojs-manual/en/gettingStarted
You are not required to assign DOIs in your journal, but it is useful. This is often where some funding to support the journal comes in, as you will need to setup the DOI registration and pay the associated fees.
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How do I ensure my journal is indexed to maximize discovery?
There are a few options for indexing your journal. The three that we recommend are:
- Register with the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
- Register with EBSCO (Form for registering)
Include your journal in the TXST University Scholarship repository
Typically, registering for your journal to be indexed requires that you have published at least 1-2 issues.
Including current or past issues of your journal in the University Scholarship repository will help your journal get indexed in Google and Google Scholar faster. In addition, you can ensure long-term preservation of your journal regardless of any changes.
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What options are there for customizing the theme, colors, design, etc. in Open Journal Systems?
OJS comes with built-in theme, layout, and color options to choose from. You are also welcome to go in and edit the CSS or graphics that you'd like.
More information is available in the Public Knowledge Project OJS Themes site: https://docs.pkp.sfu.ca/pkp-theming-guide/en/
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Could I test out Open Journal Systems before deciding if it is a good option for my new journal?
Yes. We can setup a "sandbox" or test OJS site for you to experiment in before creating your new journal. The Texas Digital Library (TDL) also has a training and testing OJS instance that you can be given access to for experimenting and learning your way through OJS.
Contact us and we will send login information: kvandiest@txstate.edu
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Is there a way to publish articles and issues without the full editorial workflow?
Yes. There are many tools and plugins already in OJS that you may find useful. One is the Quick Submit Plugin. This allows automatic publishing of an article or issue without the full editorial process, which may be useful if you have a few existing issues or articles in a backlog or if you have an existing external editorial workflow and are just using OJS to publish and display. More information is available in the Public Knowledge Project Tools tutorials: https://docs.pkp.sfu.ca/learning-ojs/en/tools.html
