Integrating PDF, HTML, and XML JATS Galleys Seamlessly
Step-by-step implementation guide for multi-format galley publishing in OJS. Learn how to configure XML JATS viewers, render responsive HTML galleys, and support PDFs.
Real Problem
Many journals only publish downloadable PDF files, missing out on semantic search indexing, mobile readability, and automated scientific text mining.
Practical Solution
Deploy modern full-text publishing pipelines in OJS using JATS XML converters, eLife Lens or Texture viewers, and embedded responsive HTML galleys alongside traditional PDFs.
The Multi-Format Publishing Revolution
For the first two decades of digital publishing, the PDF reigned supreme because it guaranteed visual parity with printed journal pages. However, in the modern scholarly ecosystem, PDFs have significant limitations: they do not adapt to smartphone viewports, they trap research data in binary streams, and they hinder assistive screen readers.
Leading publishers (such as Nature, PLOS, and Frontiers) publish research simultaneously in three formats:
1. PDF: For printing, formal archiving, and traditional desktop reading.
2. Responsive HTML: For fast, frictionless reading across mobile phones and browsers.
3. JATS XML: For machine learning ingestion, semantic parsing, and preservation in repositories like PubMed Central.
Implementing Full-Text HTML Galleys in OJS
OJS natively supports HTML galleys. When an author or typesetter prepares an HTML version of an article:
1. Create a clean HTML file containing the article text with semantic markup (<article>, <section>, <table>, <figure>).
2. Prepare accompanying figures and images.
3. In OJS Production stage, click "Add Galley", select "HTML", and upload the HTML file.
4. Upload images as "Dependent Files" linked to the HTML galley.
To ensure the HTML galley matches your journal’s typography, link your theme’s stylesheet in the HTML header or configure the HTML Galley plugin to inject parent styles.
Implementing JATS XML with the Lens Galley Plugin
The eLife Lens viewer, integrated into OJS via the Lens Galley Plugin, provides a modular reading experience:
- Left Pane: Navigation table of contents and document outline.
- Center Pane: Flowing scientific narrative, formatted equations (MathML), and figures.
- Right Pane: Contextual reference citations, author biographies, and data supplements.
To activate Lens in OJS:
1. Navigate to Settings > Website > Plugins > Galley Viewers.
2. Enable the Lens Galley Plugin.
3. In the article production grid, upload your validated JATS XML file.
4. OJS will automatically route readers clicking the XML galley to the interactive Lens interface.
Converting Word Manuscripts to JATS XML
Tools such as PKP’s Open Typesetting Stack (OTS), Pandoc, or Grobid can convert author Microsoft Word (.docx) files into structured JATS XML packages, automating typesetting and reducing manual layout costs.
Step-by-Step Action Plan
Enable Galley File Formats
In OJS Workflow Settings > Components, ensure PDF, HTML, and XML JATS file genres are active.
Install eLife Lens or JATS Viewer Plugin
Install the Lens Galley or native JATS XML viewer plugin from the official PKP Plugin Gallery.
Configure Embedded HTML Galley Handler
Set up responsive CSS stylesheets to render uploaded HTML galleys with typography matching the parent theme.
Validate JATS XML DTD Schema
Verify that uploaded XML files comply with JATS 1.2 or 1.3 Journal Publishing DTD standards.
Audit Multi-Format Landing Page Display
Confirm that article landing pages display distinct, labeled buttons for PDF, HTML, and XML formats.
Questions People Usually Ask
What is JATS XML and why is it the gold standard in publishing?
JATS (Journal Article Tag Suite) is the international NISO standard for academic XML. It encodes metadata, references, tables, equations, and full text semantically, enabling automated ingestion by PubMed Central and Scopus.
Can OJS render XML files natively in the browser?
Yes, using plugins like Lens Galley Viewer (developed by eLife and PKP) or the JATSParser plugin, OJS renders raw XML files into interactive, reader-friendly scientific articles.
Do HTML and XML galleys improve Google Scholar rankings?
Yes! Search engine crawlers can index the complete full text of HTML and XML galleys with greater semantic precision than static PDF binary streams.
Ready to Publish Modern HTML & XML Galleys?
AcademiaTech builds automated XML JATS publishing workflows and embeds beautiful interactive full-text viewers into your OJS platform.