Lemon8-XML is a web-based application designed to make it easier for non-technical editors and authors to convert scholarly papers from typical word-processor editing formats such as MS-Word .DOC and OpenOffice .ODT, into publishing layout formats such as the open, industry-standard NLM Journal Publishing XML format.

To use Lemon8-XML, you don't need to understand XML, all you need is a little time and a general understanding of how scholarly articles are structured. In general, this means a document with:

  1. some information about the article and authors at the top
  2. usually an abstract
  3. several sections, often titled "introduction", "methods", "results", etc.
  4. optional figures or tables, either in-text or as appendices
  5. a list of references or citations in a standardized format (eg. MLA, APA, etc.)

Lemon8-XML is being developed by the Public Knowledge Project, as part of its efforts to ensure that the latest web-based technologies are directed toward improving not only the quality but the global and public reach of scholarly communication. Lemon8-XML is a stand-alone system that will serve publishing processes more generally, as well as complement the workflow of Open Journal Systems.

For more information, have a look at the FAQ or participate in the Lemon8-XML discussion forum.

Lemon8-XML was inspired by early work undertaken for the Journal of Medical Internet Research, and is currently sponsored by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, as part of the Synergies Initiative.