Since 2017, the Portal of Croatian Scientific and Professional Journals - HRČAK has been supporting the publication of full-text articles in the JATS XML format. The advantages of JATS XML are numerous - it enables content and reference mining, easier data exchange, greater searchability and availability of articles, increased journal visibility, and advanced and interactive use of articles on the interface. The importance of JATS XML is also evident through Plan S, which recommends the ability to download full-text articles in a machine-readable standard format such as JATS XML. Until 2023, journal editors in HRČAK had to ensure the creation, as well as upload of JATS XML files to HRČAK, which proved to be an organizational and financial challenge for the editors. Therefore, in 2023, support for automated conversion of Office Open XML Document (docx) to JATS XML was implemented in the HRČAK administrative interface, enabling journal editors in HRČAK to easily create JATS XML files without any cost, to display them on the public HRČAK interface, and to download the XML file for publication on other platforms such as the PubMed Central database.
In 2024, SRCE expanded this support and now provides it to other open access journals as the JATS XML Converter Service. Support for European journals continues to be provided within the HRČAK service but has now been separated to the address https://jats.srce.hr/. The JATS XML Converter Service is primarily intended for editors of scientific and professional open access journals but can also be used by other individuals from the academic and scientific community. No formal request is required to use the service, but it is mandatory to use an electronic identity included in the global authentication and authorization system eduGAIN.
In a few simple steps, the JATS XML Converter Service allows an editor to first enter journal and article information, and then upload a document with the properly formatted text of the article, including all attachments (images, tables, formulas, acknowledgments, etc.). The uploaded document is automatically converted to the JATS XML format, which can then be edited, deleted, or downloaded and further used. Short video instructions and a demonstration of the service are published on SRCE’s Wiki page.
Although there are several open-source solutions for creating JATS XML files, with JATS XML Converter Service, SRCE offers European journals a comprehensive solution for creating JATS XML files through a simple and intuitive web interface. SRCE is responsible for the operational functioning and maintenance of the service and will provide user support as part of its regular activities. Development tasks will be defined based on user feedback and needs, in accordance with available financial and human resources.
The first presentation of the JATS XML Converter Service was held at the OPERAS conference, which took place in Zadar from April 24 to 26, 2024, where SRCE representatives Draženko Celjak, Head of the Data Management Sector, and Ljiljana Jertec Musap, a member of the HRČAK team, conducted a workshop titled "Making Scientific Publications More Machine-Readable: A Workshop on Automated Conversion to JATS XML." The workshop presentation is available in the Digital Repository of SRCE.
