Capabilities and Design of Modern Publishing Software
Systems such as Open Journal Systems (OJS), Lodel or Janeway are tools that help run a scientific journal – from article submission to review to publication. They are built from different parts (modules) that can be customized to suit your needs.
For those responsible for the operation of these systems (e.g., administrators), installation and maintenance alone is not enough. You also need to think about how to integrate them with other services, how to expand them and tailor them to specific editorial tasks.
How It Works: Key Components of the System
Modern publishing systems have four main components that together form a whole:
User interface This is the part used by authors, editors, reviewers and readers. The interface should be convenient, work well on phones and computers, and meet open access requirements.
Storage space for data and files This is where all information is stored: article data, files, author information, reviews, etc. These data are usually stored in databases. Administrators can analyze them, such as creating reports or checking statistics.
Rules of operation of the system These are the rules by which the system works. For example: who can approve the review, when to send a reminder to the author, what fields must be completed. With this layer, everything happens automatically and efficiently.
Additional Features and Plugins These are additional features that can be installed without changing the main system. They make the system more flexible. You can turn features on and off as needed, or create your own extension.
What can the system offer?
Such platforms have many built-in features that, when well configured, make the work of editors easier:
Workflow management – you can set how many review stages there are, who handles what, what are the possible decisions and what messages are sent. Everything can be customized according to your needs.
Metadata support – the system supports important standards such as Crossref (DOI), ORCID (author identifiers), JATS and others. Often these can be integrated using special plug-ins.
Support for different languages – you can prepare content in multiple languages: both articles and the entire system interface.
File management – each stage (e.g. first submission, revisions, final PDF) can have separate files. Everything is stored together with the history of changes and editorial comments.
Plugins - the most important tool for editors and administrators
It is the plug-ins that allow you to expand your system the most. Thanks to them you can:
Connect to external services, such as:
Crossref (DOI assignment),
ORCID (author identifiers),
DOAJ (article submission),
LOCKSS (archiving).
Automate repetitive tasks, such as:
data export to CSV files,
report generation,
data validation (e.g., whether the DOI is in the correct format).
Create custom plug-ins, tailored to the needs of the institution – for example, to issue invoices, connect to the library or archive of the university.
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