Describe the issue or problem
When a user receives an email with a discussion link and clicks it while
already logged into their OJS account, they receive an error message
instead of being directed to the discussion.
Error message: “The current role does not have access to this operation.”
Steps I took leading up to the issue
- As Editor, created a discussion in Review stage
- Added Reviewer as participant
- Sent email to Reviewer with discussion link
- Logged in as Reviewer in a browser session
- Clicked the discussion link from the email (e.g., “Reply to this comment at #5 Anderson”)
- Result: Error page displaying “The current role does not have access to this operation”
What application are you using?
OJS (Open Journal Systems)
Additional information
Expected Behavior:
User should be directed to the discussion thread regardless of whether
they are already logged in.
Actual Behavior:
- If logged out: Link works correctly - prompts login, then redirects to discussion
- If already logged in: Link displays error page instead of redirecting to discussion
Workaround:
Users must either:
- Log out, click the email link, then log back in
- Navigate manually via Dashboard → Submission → Discussion
Impact:
This significantly reduces the usability of discussion email links for
users who maintain active login sessions (e.g., editors and frequent
reviewers). The email link becomes unreliable, forcing users to navigate
manually to discussions instead of using the direct link provided.
Version
- OJS Version: 3.5.0.3
- PHP Version: 8.2.29
- Database: mysql
- Browser: Tested in Chrome and Firefox
- Server: Self-hosted
Related Issues
Thanks for your help.