Table of Contents
Issue Description
If you’re using OJS version 3.5.0.0, and you’ve recently completed an upgrade from a previous version such as OJS 3.3.x or 3.4.x, you might encounter the following frustrating error when attempting to invite users into editorial roles:
“The email template you requested was not found”
This error prevents the system from sending invitation emails and can disrupt your editorial workflow.
Why This Happens
We encountered this issue when we upgraded from OJS 3.4 to 3.5. After doing a thorough analysis, we found that some default email templates were not migrated or entered correctly into the database. This missing data caused the system to be unable to find the required templates during the user invitation process.
Solution
To resolve this issue, you can manually import the missing default data from a clean installation of OJS 3.5.
1. Backup your current OJS database
Before making any changes, ensure you backup your current database.
2. Download default data
Get the default data files from this link:
👉 Download Default OJS 3.5 Data
3. Import the missing tables or rows
Use the downloaded SQL data to import missing default entries, particularly from the email_templates and related tables — into your existing OJS 3.5 database. This can be done using tools like phpMyAdmin
After importing the default data, you should be able to invite users without encountering the missing email template error.
Important:
Make sure to backup your database before doing this step.
Conclusion:
The “email template you requested was not found” error in OJS 3.5 is a common issue that typically occurs after upgrading from an earlier version, due to missing default email templates in the database. Fortunately, this can be resolved by carefully importing the missing data from a fresh OJS 3.5 installation. Always remember to back up your database before making any changes. This issue appears to be specific to upgrade scenarios and may not occur if you are starting from a clean, fresh installation of OJS 3.5.
If you’d like to learn more about what’s new in OJS 3.5, including updated features, major changes, and important considerations before upgrading, we’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision. You can access the full article here:
OJS 3.5: Should You Upgrade or Stay on the Current Version? Here’s What to Consider.
