Since updating to OJS version 3.4.0.8, whenever I deposit and assign a DOI, the format of the suffix after the prefix has changed compared to what I had previously. Is there any way I get it back to the old format?
The old version maintained the journal name (xxxxxxxti), the volume number (3), and the issue number (2) when DOI format was automatically generated. The new version is just a random 8 character suffix. I know I could manually enter it to make it look like the old version but would much prefer it to be automated and automatically generated in that style.
A bit of a two-parter of a response here. In OJS 3.4, we modified the DOI plugin based on best practices from DOI registration agencies. Specifically, Crossref’s recommendations around opaque DOIs. Broadly speaking, the common practice of having metadata in a DOI suffix leads to all kinds of issues that are completely avoidable if we remove “information” from the string. So, the new plugin uses a unique string generator by default.
If you want to go back to the pattern-based suffix you had before, you need to hop down to that “DOI Format” section of your settings and select “custom pattern”. From there, you can configure one that looks like what you had prior.
As someone who talks about DOIs a lot, there’s really no reason to worry about what’s in a string other than aesthetics. They work the same way no matter what the suffix is. But, that’s where the setting is if you want to change it.
I’ll note also that once you register a DOI, you can’t change it. So even if you swap patterns, I wouldn’t recommend making any changes to the DOIs you’ve already registered with the random pattern. All this will do is create additional, unrelated records and you’ll end up having to sort out conflicts via Crossref’s member dashboard.
