Indexing Issues with University Institutional Repository
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Fares Mezrag
Sep 25, 2024, 8:24:42 AM9/25/24
to DSpace Technical Support
Dear Dspace Technical Team,
I have an issue with the indexing of our institutional repository, University of M'sila Institutional Repository (https://dspace.univ-msila.dz/), on Google Scholar.
In September 2023, our repository boasted approximately 28,900 indexed items. However, in December 2023, we witnessed a dramatic decrease. All previously indexed items have vanished, leaving our current count at zero on Google Scholar (March 2024). With the knowledge that we were using the old version of DSpace (Version 4.2), we have updated DSpace to version 7.6.1 since April 2024. Additionally, we followed the official search engine optimization guide. Unfortunately, the problem persists.
For your reference, here's a search for our repository on Google Scholar:
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=site%3Adspace.univ-msila.dz&oq=
Our university's technical team has tirelessly attempted to resolve the issue, but to no avail.
We urgently request any guidance or information you can offer to rectify the indexing problems plaguing our repository. Additionally, if possible, we'd appreciate knowing the point of contact at Google Scholar who handles such matters.
Sincerely,
Dr Fares Mezrag
IT Manager
M’sila University
I have an issue with the indexing of our institutional repository, University of M'sila Institutional Repository (https://dspace.univ-msila.dz/), on Google Scholar.
In September 2023, our repository boasted approximately 28,900 indexed items. However, in December 2023, we witnessed a dramatic decrease. All previously indexed items have vanished, leaving our current count at zero on Google Scholar (March 2024). With the knowledge that we were using the old version of DSpace (Version 4.2), we have updated DSpace to version 7.6.1 since April 2024. Additionally, we followed the official search engine optimization guide. Unfortunately, the problem persists.
For your reference, here's a search for our repository on Google Scholar:
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=site%3Adspace.univ-msila.dz&oq=
Our university's technical team has tirelessly attempted to resolve the issue, but to no avail.
We urgently request any guidance or information you can offer to rectify the indexing problems plaguing our repository. Additionally, if possible, we'd appreciate knowing the point of contact at Google Scholar who handles such matters.
Sincerely,
Dr Fares Mezrag
IT Manager
M’sila University
DSpace Technical Support
Oct 3, 2024, 12:21:48 PM10/3/24
to DSpace Technical Support
Hi,
You should get in touch with Google Scholar to see if they have advice on what might be going on. See their Troubleshooting guide, which also has a link on how to contact them (see bullet 6 of that guide): https://scholar.google.com/intl/en/scholar/inclusion.html#troubleshooting
You should get in touch with Google Scholar to see if they have advice on what might be going on. See their Troubleshooting guide, which also has a link on how to contact them (see bullet 6 of that guide): https://scholar.google.com/intl/en/scholar/inclusion.html#troubleshooting
Please be aware that DSpace 7.6.2 also did provide some SEO fixes. See the "SEO improvements" in the 7.6.2 release notes: https://wiki.lyrasis.org/display/DSDOC7x/Release+Notes#ReleaseNotes-7.6.2ReleaseNotes
Finally, make sure you are obviously following all the SEO guidelines at https://wiki.lyrasis.org/display/DSDOC7x/Search+Engine+Optimization
Tim
Sean Carte
Oct 4, 2024, 6:39:09 AM10/4/24
to DSpace Technical Support
Hi Dr Mezrag
We have a similar problem with a 7.6.2 site:
I've gone through the guide repeatedly and have requested help via the email address, but had no response.
Please let me know if you find a way to resolve this.
Sean
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Fares Mezrag
Oct 4, 2024, 3:30:34 PM10/4/24
to DSpace Technical Support
Thank you for the reply. I will follow the notes regarding the upgrade to version 7.6.2.
Jarmo Schrader
Oct 7, 2024, 1:14:16 PM10/7/24
to dspac...@googlegroups.com
Hi,
we had the same problem and I think I found the solution today:
Google Scholar needs certain metadata-tags in the <head> section of the site in order to index your repository properly. One of them is citation_pdf_url. This should be the url of the (PDF)fulltext document. On your server the tag looks like this: <meta name="citation_pdf_url" content="http://localhost:4000/bitstreams/59de15c5-8de0-4fb4-b90f-66979d4a1ee7/download">
Instead of the hostname there ist a "localhost" in the url. This is probably because you are using a proxy in front of dspace.
For us the solution was to add a line with "ProxyPreserveHost On" to our Apache-Configuration. Now citation_pdf_url lists the correct URL for the pdf. This is our apache config:
(I am not an Apache expert, there might be a better solution, but it seems to work. Since I only found this today, I am not 100% sure it will fix the problem with googl scholar but it definitely is something that needs to be fixed)
I found the solution by watching this helpful video from a Person working for Google Scholar with tips for repositories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-miRaROsaE
Here is the presentation from the video: https://www.carl-abrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Google_Scholar_webinar_Jan2021.pdf
Good luck with your repository!
Best regards
Jarmo
we had the same problem and I think I found the solution today:
Google Scholar needs certain metadata-tags in the <head> section of the site in order to index your repository properly. One of them is citation_pdf_url. This should be the url of the (PDF)fulltext document. On your server the tag looks like this: <meta name="citation_pdf_url" content="http://localhost:4000/bitstreams/59de15c5-8de0-4fb4-b90f-66979d4a1ee7/download">
Instead of the hostname there ist a "localhost" in the url. This is probably because you are using a proxy in front of dspace.
For us the solution was to add a line with "ProxyPreserveHost On" to our Apache-Configuration. Now citation_pdf_url lists the correct URL for the pdf. This is our apache config:
ProxyPreserveHost On ProxyPass /server http://127.0.0.1:8080/server ProxyPassReverse /server http://127.0.0.1:8080/server ProxyPass / http://127.0.0.1:4000/ ProxyPassReverse / http://127.0.0.1:4000/ RequestHeader set X-Forwarded-Proto https RequestHeader set X-Forwarded-Host our.repository-domain.com
(I am not an Apache expert, there might be a better solution, but it seems to work. Since I only found this today, I am not 100% sure it will fix the problem with googl scholar but it definitely is something that needs to be fixed)
I found the solution by watching this helpful video from a Person working for Google Scholar with tips for repositories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-miRaROsaE
Here is the presentation from the video: https://www.carl-abrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Google_Scholar_webinar_Jan2021.pdf
Good luck with your repository!
Best regards
Jarmo
M’sila University --
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Dr. Jarmo Schrader
stellv. Bibliotheksleiter
Fachreferat und EDV
Universität Hildesheim
Universitätsbibliothek
Universitätsplatz 1
31141 Hildesheim
Tel: +49 (0) 5121 - 883 - 93004
jarmo.s...@uni-hildesheim.de
Dr. Jarmo Schrader
stellv. Bibliotheksleiter
Fachreferat und EDV
Universität Hildesheim
Universitätsbibliothek
Universitätsplatz 1
31141 Hildesheim
Tel: +49 (0) 5121 - 883 - 93004
jarmo.s...@uni-hildesheim.de
Sean Carte
Oct 8, 2024, 6:36:46 AM10/8/24
to dspac...@googlegroups.com
Thanks, Dr Schrader. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with my
repository, which does provide the citation_pdf_url meta tag in the item
pages, yet is not indexed by Google Scholar.
Sean
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/dspace-tech/cea56050-0c9a-4b33-a826-13b98a6d4598%40uni-hildesheim.de.
Steli Vali
Jul 9, 2025, 10:39:15 AM7/9/25
to DSpace Technical Support
Same problem here. I have the citation_pdf_url but is not indexed. However, my repository uses 'Thumbnail generation' for cover pages,. What we also implemented is the truncation of the abstract in the SimplePAge. (DSpace 7.4, without entities)
Are there any updates?
Best regards,
Are there any updates?
Best regards,
Steli
Sean Carte
Jul 10, 2025, 2:10:11 AM7/10/25
to Steli Vali, DSpace Technical Support
Hi Steli
No, unfortunately no improvement and no response from Google.
Sean
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/dspace-tech/696f6de8-509a-4388-bd37-db85200898e3n%40googlegroups.com.
Michael Plate
Jul 10, 2025, 7:16:45 AM7/10/25
to dspac...@googlegroups.com
We have the same problem with Google Scholar since the update to Dspace
8 (from 5.10).
However, as an easy tip to view the metadata in your pages…in Firefox
this is very easy done with <CTRL>-<I> (at least Linux / Windows) on an
item page. Chrome does not have any like this.
Just if anyone is stuck viewing the source of an Angular generated HTML
page :) to find the metadata tags.
Michael
Am 10.07.25 um 08:09 schrieb Sean Carte:
[…]
8 (from 5.10).
However, as an easy tip to view the metadata in your pages…in Firefox
this is very easy done with <CTRL>-<I> (at least Linux / Windows) on an
item page. Chrome does not have any like this.
Just if anyone is stuck viewing the source of an Angular generated HTML
page :) to find the metadata tags.
Michael
Am 10.07.25 um 08:09 schrieb Sean Carte:
Martin Kijumi
Jul 10, 2025, 7:26:11 AM7/10/25
to DSpace Technical Support
Dear, members on the same i am having challenges configuring to receive notification when i try to register a new user. please help how do i do configuration on emails step by step 
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Steli Vali
Jul 10, 2025, 9:35:18 AM7/10/25
to DSpace Technical Support
Thank you Michael and Sean for clarification. I heard that GoogleScholar will need some time before answering, but let's hope for the best.
I will let you all know in case I receive any feedback from them or find a solution to our problem.
I was thinking aboud DSpace8 upgrade, but it seems this problem is still encountered in the last version.
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