Hidden virtual issue
A dedicated virtual container makes accepted articles publishable immediately while keeping the technical workflow invisible in the standard journal archive.
Revolutionize Publishing Speed for Your OJS Journal
In a standard Open Journal Systems (OJS) environment, an article must be assigned to an issue to be published. Attempting to manually create “Online First” issues often leads to broken metadata, Google Scholar indexing errors, and altered DOI numbers when moving the article to its final issue.
SRPRO Online First Pro solves this problem at its core, utilizing the architecture trusted by the world’s largest publishers, including Elsevier and Springer.
The plugin automatically creates and manages a dedicated virtual container (issue) in the background. This container is hidden from the standard journal archives but allows the system to treat the article as fully published and valid.
Key Features
Permanent DOI and citation integrity
Articles receive a stable DOI and preserve their metadata and citation identity throughout the publication lifecycle.
One-click transition to the final issue
Editors can move an Online First article into its final issue from a dedicated editorial desk without rebuilding its publication record.
Reliable indexing metadata
The controlled Ahead of Print workflow helps avoid the metadata and Google Scholar indexing problems caused by improvised issue management.
Why Choose SRPRO Online First Pro?
Accelerate the visibility of your authors’ research, increase the chances of early citations, and eliminate technical errors when managing DOI numbers. Give your editorial team a faster path from acceptance to publication while keeping the final issue workflow under control.
Official license pricing and related services
Regional pricing (Serbia & region — EUR)
Serbia is invoiced in the RSD equivalent at the NBS middle exchange rate, while the region can be invoiced in EUR. SEF e-Invoices and Treasury Administration payments are supported.
| Package | License capacity (activation pool) | Model A: Perpetual / one-time | Maintenance & updates · Year 2+ | Model B: Annual subscription | Key inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 instance (1 journal) | €290 | €90 / year | €160 / year | Hidden virtual container, permanent DOI integrity, one-click final-issue transfer, and Google Scholar Ahead of Print compatibility. |
| Standard | Up to 10 instances | €690 | €210 / year | €390 / year | All Starter features for up to 10 active journals; licenses can be allocated across multiple domains and servers. |
| Pro | Up to 20 instances | €1,190 | €360 / year | €680 / year | For faculties with many journals and learned societies. |
| Campus | Up to 40 instances | €1,850 | €550 / year | €1,050 / year | For larger faculty groups, university publishing centres, and institutes. |
| University / Enterprise | Up to 300 instances (fair-use unlimited) | €2,750 | €790 / year | €1,550 / year | University license for all member faculties, with up to 300 active journals. |
International pricing (Global market — USD)
Payment is available through Stripe (cards), PayPal, or international SWIFT bank transfer.
| Tier | License scope (activation pool) | Option A: Perpetual / one-time | Maintenance · Year 2+ | Option B: Annual subscription | Key inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Journal | 1 instance | $380 | $120 / year | $210 / year | Hidden virtual issue architecture, permanent DOI generation, one-click issue transfer, and Google Scholar metadata safety. |
| Standard | Up to 10 instances | $890 | $270 / year | $510 / year | Full Ahead of Print workflow for up to 10 journals across any servers or domains. |
| Pro | Up to 20 instances | $1,550 | $460 / year | $880 / year | For mid-size academic publishers and multi-journal faculties. |
| Campus | Up to 40 instances | $2,390 | $710 / year | $1,350 / year | Campus-wide deployment for university press operations. |
| Enterprise / University | Up to 300 instances | $3,490 | $990 / year | $1,990 / year | Institutional master license for up to 300 journals, high-volume deployment, and priority SLA. |
Installation, DOI configuration & training add-ons
Because this plugin relies directly on Crossref deposits and journal navigation, the following technical packages are recommended.
Level 1: Self-Service
Included (€0 / $0)
Download archive, installation guide, license activation, and independent setup.
Level 2: Standard Setup & DOI Verification
+ €60 · Global: $80
For 1–10 instances: server installation, DOI-suffix structure verification, virtual-issue testing, and test-article transfer simulation.
Level 3: Multi-Journal / Campus Setup
+ €140 · Global: $190
For 20–40 instances: bulk installation and display verification on customized OJS themes so the Online First section is properly presented.
Level 4: Enterprise Setup
+ €250 · Global: $330
Central automation and database-integrity verification for a university deployment.
Editorial webinar: Ahead of Print workflow
+ €90 · Global: $120
Up to 60 minutes remote training: Online First publication, temporary pagination, final-issue transfer, and Crossref verification. Includes an editorial-team video recording.
Extended multi-editorial workshop
+ €160 · Global: $210
Two 60-minute sessions for faculties with multiple journals, covering administrators and technical secretaries.
Maintenance and annual updates (SLA)
For perpetual-license users from Year 2 and annual-license users (included in the subscription), the SLA includes:
- Preserved compatibility with OJS themes, maintaining the correct public display of Online First articles when themes and CSS change.
- Crossref and Google Scholar compliance updates when early-version metadata or protocol requirements change.
- Security patches and code optimization within the OJS 3.3 branch.
- A guaranteed 50% discount on the OJS 3.4 / 3.5 upgrade, or a free version for active annual subscribers.
- Incident resolution and assistance within 24–48 business hours.
Activation Pool & anti-abuse licensing
1 license = 1 activated journal
A license is consumed when the plugin is activated for a specific journal.
Multi-domain & multi-server freedom
A package of 10, 20, 40, or 300 licenses may be allocated on one central server or across completely independent domains and servers. For example, a university can assign two licenses each to faculties that host their own sites.
Anti-shuffling protection
A license remains permanently assigned to the journal where it was activated. The system tracks activations in real time; rotating the same key across domains through repeated activation and deactivation to bypass purchased capacity automatically suspends the license key.