Open Journal Systems (OJS) is an open-source software platform designed to facilitate the management and publication of academic journals. It has its development by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). It is in wide use by academic institutions, universities, and research organizations worldwide.
Key Features of OJS:
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Submission and Peer Review:
OJS provides a comprehensive submission and peer review management system, allowing authors to submit their manuscripts, editors to manage the review process, and reviewers to assess the submissions.
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Editorial Workflow:
OJS offers a customizable editorial workflow that enables journal managers and editors to manage submissions from initial submission to final publication efficiently.
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Publishing and Archiving:
OJS supports the online publishing of articles, making them accessible to readers worldwide. It also facilitates archiving, ensuring the long-term preservation of published content.
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User Roles and Permissions:
OJS has a robust user management system with different roles, such as Authors, Editors, Reviewers, and Journal Managers, each having specific permissions and responsibilities.
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Indexing and Metadata:
OJS helps in indexing journal content with popular academic databases and search engines, enhancing the discoverability and visibility of published articles.
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Theme and Design Customization:
As mentioned in the previous discussion, OJS allows journals to customize their appearance using different themes and design settings. So this OJS theme customization is a valuable perk for academic journals.
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Multilingual Support:
OJS supports multiple languages, enabling journals to publish articles and interface content in various languages to cater to a global audience.
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Plugins and Extensions:
OJS is extensible through various plugins and extensions, allowing journals to add extra features and functionalities to their platform.
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Analytics and Reporting:
OJS provides journal managers with usage statistics, submission reports, and other analytical insights to evaluate the journal’s performance.
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Open Access Support:
OJS promotes open-access publishing by facilitating the dissemination of research without subscription barriers.
Benefits of OJS:
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Cost-effective:
Being an open-source platform, OJS eliminates the need for expensive proprietary software licenses.
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Community Support:
OJS has a large and active user community, providing support, documentation, and valuable resources.
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Academic Integrity:
The robust peer review system and editorial workflow ensure the integrity and quality of published content.
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Customization:
Journals can tailor their OJS installation to meet their specific needs and branding requirements.
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Global Reach:
OJS helps journals reach a global audience, enhancing the impact and reach of scholarly publications.
OJS continues to evolve with updates and improvements based on user feedback and community contributions. Its flexible and feature-rich nature makes it an ideal choice for academic journals seeking a user-friendly and efficient platform for managing their publications.
Another one of the great features of OJS is its flexibility. It lets journal owners and users customize the appearance of their journals with themes. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing and changing a theme in OJS, enabling you to give your journal a fresh and personalized look.
Note: Before proceeding, make sure you have access to your OJS installation.
Step 1: Downloading a Theme
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- Visit the official OJS website or a trusted theme repository.
- You must browse the available themes and choose the one that best suits your journal’s style and requirements.
- Download the theme’s ZIP file to your local computer.
Step 2: Installing the Theme
- Login to your OJS dashboard as an administrator.
- Go to “Settings” on the left-hand side menu and select “Website.”
- Under the “Plugins” tab, click on “Install New Plugin.”
- Press the “Upload Plugin” button and choose the theme ZIP file you downloaded earlier.
- Click “Upload” to install the theme.
Step 3: Activating the Theme
- After successful installation, navigate to the “Installed Plugins” tab.
- Find the newly installed theme from the list of plugins and click “Enable.”
- Once the theme is activated, go back to your journal’s homepage, and you will see the new theme applied.
Step 4: Customizing the Theme
- To customize the theme further, return to the OJS dashboard and click “Settings” again.
- Select “Website” and then “Appearance” from the sub-menu.
- Here, you can modify various aspects of the theme, such as colors, header images, fonts, and more, depending on the theme’s customization options.
Step 5: Changing the Theme
- If you decide to change the theme later, you need to repeat Steps 2 and 3 with the new theme you want to use.
- Upon activating the new theme, your journal’s appearance will automatically update.
Step 6: Troubleshooting
- If you encounter any issues during the theme installation or activation, double-check the theme’s compatibility with your OJS version.
- Ensure the theme files are not corrupted, and the ZIP file is uploaded correctly.
- Check the OJS community forums or documentation for solutions to common theme-related problems.
With this step-by-step guide, you should now be able to install, activate, and change themes in Open Journal Systems effortlessly.
It can also be used to personalize your journal’s appearance, significantly enhance the reader’s experience, and create a unique identity for your academic publication.
User is free to explore different themes to find the perfect OJS theme fit for their journal’s content and style.
Need for installing and changing OJS themes.
Furthermore, customizing the theme in Open Journal Systems (OJS) plays a crucial role in shaping an academic journal’s visual identity and user experience. Here are some key aspects of the role of customizing themes in OJS:
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Branding and Identity:
Customizing the theme allows journals to incorporate their unique branding elements, such as logos, color schemes, and fonts. It helps establish a distinct visual identity for the journal, making it recognizable to readers and authors.
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User Experience:
A well-designed theme can significantly improve the user experience for both readers and authors. By customizing the theme, journals can create an intuitive and visually appealing interface that enhances navigation and readability.
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Journal Focus:
Different academic journals have different objectives and areas of focus. Customizing the theme allows journals to highlight their specific disciplines or research fields, ensuring the journal’s purpose is reflected in its design.
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Accessibility:
Theme customization can also help improve the accessibility of the journal’s website. Journals can choose colors and font sizes that are easily readable for all users, including those with visual impairments.
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Mobile Responsiveness:
Customizing themes in OJS allows journals to ensure their website is mobile-responsive, providing a flawless reading experience on various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
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Aesthetics and Visual Appeal:
Themes play a significant role in the overall aesthetics of the journal’s website. That is one of the significant reasons behind used opting for installing and changing OJS themes. Customization enables journals to create visually appealing layouts that engage readers and encourage them to explore the content further.
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Journal-Specific Features:
Journals may have specific features or sections they want to emphasize on their website. Customizing the theme allows for integrating these features. Further, ensuring they are prominently displayed and easily accessible.
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Reader Engagement:
A well-designed and user-friendly theme can enhance reader engagement and encourage visitors to explore the journal’s articles and other content more.
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Flexibility and Innovation:
Customizable themes provide flexibility for journals to adapt to changing design trends and innovations in web design. Journals can keep their websites fresh and modern by updating their themes as needed.
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Differentiation:
In the competitive academic publishing landscape, customizing the theme can help a journal stand out by offering a unique and memorable user experience.
Overall, installing and changing OJS themes goes beyond mere aesthetics. It directly impacts the journal’s branding, usability, and overall success in attracting readers, authors, and reviewers.
By investing in OJS theme customization, journals can develop a cohesive and professional online presence that aligns with their mission and values. However, institutions with little know-how about these technicalities can seek help from companies offering OJS development and customization.
Orignal Source: https://blogstudiio.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-installing-and-changing-ojs-themes/
