Issue with Missing Plugins after Upgrading to OJS 3.4

Software Support
1

Hello everyone,
I recently upgraded my OJS installation to the latest version, 3.4.0.1. While everything seems to be functioning properly, my PHP error log has been flooded with Exception errors related to missing plugins. After careful investigation, I believe these errors occur because the plugins previously installed in my OJS are not yet supported by the new version, leading to the reported errors.

To provide you with a clearer understanding, here are a few example entries from my error log:

[05-Jul-2023 13:49:32 UTC] Exception: Plugin socialMeta expected to inherit from SocialMetaPlugin, actual type NULL in /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php:203
Stack trace:
#0 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php(219): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::_instantiatePlugin()
#1 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php(112): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::_loadFromDatabase()
#2 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/core/Dispatcher.php(155): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::loadCategory()
#3 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/core/PKPApplication.php(373): PKP\core\Dispatcher->dispatch()
#4 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/index.php(21): PKP\core\PKPApplication->execute()
#5 {main}
[05-Jul-2023 13:49:32 UTC] Exception: Plugin openAIRE expected to inherit from OpenAIREPlugin, actual type NULL in /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php:203
Stack trace:
#0 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php(219): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::_instantiatePlugin()
#1 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php(112): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::_loadFromDatabase()
#2 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/core/Dispatcher.php(155): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::loadCategory()
#3 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/core/PKPApplication.php(373): PKP\core\Dispatcher->dispatch()
#4 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/index.php(21): PKP\core\PKPApplication->execute()
#5 {main}
[05-Jul-2023 13:49:32 UTC] Exception: Plugin openid expected to inherit from OpenIDPlugin, actual type NULL in /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php:203
Stack trace:
#0 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php(219): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::_instantiatePlugin()
#1 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php(112): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::_loadFromDatabase()
#2 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/core/Dispatcher.php(155): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::loadCategory()
#3 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/core/PKPApplication.php(373): PKP\core\Dispatcher->dispatch()
#4 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/index.php(21): PKP\core\PKPApplication->execute()
#5 {main}
[05-Jul-2023 13:49:32 UTC] Exception: Plugin crossrefReferenceLinking expected to inherit from CrossrefReferenceLinkingPlugin, actual type NULL in /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php:203
Stack trace:
#0 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php(219): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::_instantiatePlugin()
#1 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/plugins/PluginRegistry.php(112): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::_loadFromDatabase()
#2 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/core/Dispatcher.php(155): PKP\plugins\PluginRegistry::loadCategory()
#3 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/lib/pkp/classes/core/PKPApplication.php(373): PKP\core\Dispatcher->dispatch()
#4 /home/seisense/journal.seisense.com/index.php(21): PKP\core\PKPApplication->execute()
#5 {main}

These entries continue to fill the error log, resulting in a substantial increase in file size (100 mb within 4 hours) within a short period. Although I understand that the new OJS 3.4 version does not support the previously installed plugins, I am seeking assistance in addressing this issue.

I kindly request your guidance and expertise in finding a solution to handle these errors more efficiently and prevent the error log from becoming overwhelming. Any advice or recommendations you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

OJS: 3.4.0.1
PHP: 8.1

Thank you for your time and support.
seisense

2

Are the outdated plugins installed with OJS 3.4? - then probably you should disable and remove them. Or replace as soon as a version compatible with OJS 3.4 is available.
If not, then you should check for them in the versions table of your migrated database if there are some remnants of the outdated plugins that make the application believe they are still installed.

3

These plugins are not installed in OJS 3.4. Is it safe to remove these outdated/not installed plugin entries from the version table?

1 Like
4

I have the same issue after upgrade 2.4.8 → 3.4. PluginRegistry.php drops “exceptions” to php.log every page load about unexisting plugins: stopForumSpam, browse, customLocale, externalFeed, roundedCorners. They does not exist in directories or list of plugins. Where is the best place do delete them?

5

@Igor in the past I was able to resolve a similar issue by removing corresponding lines from the versions table (in the database). be sure to have a backup though.

1 Like
6

Thanks. It helped good so far.