Conventions for Structuring DOIs

This document outlines the DOI patterns currently in use at Texas A&M University Libraries. It also identifies patterns that are reserved and should not be reused.

DOIs for Open Journal Systems (OJS) Articles and Issues

OJS generates DOIs using its built-in Automatic DOI Assignment feature.

Typical formats include:

  • Randomized pattern (current default): Example: 10.21423/jrs-v04n04pi These DOIs use the journal’s slug plus a randomized suffix.

  • Semantic pattern (legacy): Example: 10.21423/bovine-vol1977no12p30-34 Some older OJS titles follow this more descriptive format.

Important:

Do not create DOIs that begin with a current OJS journal slug, since those are reserved.

A list of current slugs is maintained in the OJS Titles document list.

DOIs for OAKTrust Repository Items

OAKTrust DOIs follow the repository’s handle-based pattern.

For example:

This convention ensures a consistent mapping between DOIs and OAKTrust handles.

DOIs for Pressbooks Titles

Pressbooks DOIs follow a randomized suffix pattern. The format uses the 10.21423/odp. prefix, followed by a random string. Each DOI resolves directly to a Pressbooks-hosted publication.

In order to ensure uniqueness, the opd. namespace is reserved for Pressbooks and other applications in use by the Open Publishing unit.

DOIs for Pending Publications or External Resources

Sometimes we will get a request for a DOI for a pending publication or where it is unclear where it will ultimately live. In these situations, even if it will live in OAKTrust, we need a reserved pattern. For these, always lead with ppub-ext-

For instance, we will use the pattern https://doi.org/10.21423/ppub-ext-swhrc-fG7kQ2 with the last six being randomly generated. swhrc is a slug for the requestor.