[OJS-3.5.0-4] DataCite plugin not working for submission without abstract

fgehrs · May 21, 2026, 10:26am

Hello,**

Describe the issue or problem**
The DataCite plugin ist not able to register a DOI for a submission if it has no abstract. The following exception is thrown:

APP\plugins\generic\datacite\filter\DataciteXmlFilter::getPrimaryTranslation(): Argument #1 ($localizedData) must be of type array, null given, called in /var/www/ojs3/plugins/generic/datacite/filter/DataciteXmlFilter.php on line 689

Steps I took leading up to the issue

Create a submission with no abstract
Register a DOI with the Datacite plugin
Find an error in the failed_jobs table

What application are you using?
OJS 3.4.0-5

Additional information
I was able to fix the problem by making the first Argument of getPrimaryTranslation nullable:

github.com/fabian-gehrs/ojs

plugins/generic/datacite/filter/DataciteXmlFilter.php

66e262d84


      
           * localized data.
           *
           * @param array $localizedData An array of localized
           *  data (key: locale, value: localized data).
           * @param array $localePrecedence An array of locales
           *  by descending priority.
           *
           * @return mixed The value of the primary locale
           *  or null if no primary translation could be found.
           */
          public function getPrimaryTranslation(?array $localizedData, array $localePrecedence): mixed
          {
              // Check whether we have localized data at all.
              if (!is_array($localizedData) || empty($localizedData)) {
                  return null;
              }
              // Try all locales from the precedence list first.
              foreach ($localePrecedence as $locale) {
                  if (isset($localizedData[$locale]) && !empty($localizedData[$locale])) {
                      return $localizedData[$locale];
                  }

There is already a check in the function whether there is localized data at all so my guess is that the change should not have a negative impact.

Best regards,
Fabian