OpenAlex Integration in EasySLR

OpenAlex Integration in EasySLR

The OpenAlex Query Generation tool in EasySLR allows you to search, validate, and import academic literature from OpenAlex’s open catalog of 250M+ scholarly works.

This expands EasySLR’s search capabilities beyond PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov, providing access to a broader, multidisciplinary source — with AI-powered query generation, recall validation, dynamic filtering, and seamless import.

When to Use This Tool

Use OpenAlex Query Generation when:
  • Searching beyond PubMed-indexed literature
  • Conducting multidisciplinary or non-biomedical reviews
  • Identifying additional grey or open-access works
  • Validating recall across multiple sources
  • Importing large result sets directly into EasySLR

How to Access OpenAlex Query Generation
  1. Go to Project Home
  2. Navigate to Tools
  3. Click the OpenAlex tab
You will be redirected to the OpenAlex query interface.

Generating an OpenAlex Search Query

Add Your OpenAlex Query
The system:
  • Uses AI to generate an optimised OpenAlex query and results
  • Structures filters suitable for OpenAlex syntax

Reviewing Search Results

Results are displayed in a live, paginated list.

Each article card includes:
  • Title
  • Authors
  • Journal
  • Publication year
  • Citation count
  • Open access status

Using Filters

The left sidebar allows dynamic refinement using:
  • Work Type (journal article, review, preprint, etc.)
  • Open Access Status
  • Language
  • Retraction Status
  • Publication Year (presets or custom range)
Filters update results instantly.


Query Validation
The tool includes built-in validation features to measure recall and verify coverage.

Recall Calculation
Measures what percentage of known key works appear in the query results.

Identifier Validator
You can paste:
  • DOIs
  • PMIDs
  • OpenAlex IDs
The system checks whether they are captured by the current query.

Keywords showing found vs missing:
  • Found
  • Missing
This ensures critical benchmark studies are retrieved.


Importing Articles
You can import works directly into your project.

Available options:
  • Select individual works
  • Bulk import (First 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000)
  • Direct search-and-import (up to 10,000 results)
Imports run as a background with progress tracking.

Deduplication
Imported articles are tracked using:
  • openAlexId

The OpenAlex ID is used as an additional signal during duplicate detection across:
  • PubMed imports
  • ClinicalTrials.gov imports
  • Existing project records
This ensures accurate cross-source deduplication.

User Flow Summary
  1. Navigate to Search Query Generation
  2. Select the OpenAlex tab
  3. Enter Query
  4. Review results and apply filters
  5. Validate recall
  6. Import selected or bulk works
  7. Imported articles appear in the project list (deduplicated)

Best Practices & Tips
  • Use clear, specific research objectives
  • Add known key works to improve recall
  • Validate identifiers before bulk import
  • Apply filters carefully to avoid unintended exclusions
  • Document final query and result count in your protocol

Too Many Irrelevant Results?
  • Narrow search terms
  • Apply filters
  • Increase specificity in your objective

Are AI credits used when generating an OpenAlex query?
No. AI credits are not consumed for OpenAlex query generation.

Benefits of OpenAlex Query Generation
  • Expands search coverage beyond traditional databases
  • Supports multidisciplinary reviews
  • Measures recall before import
  • Enables structured, large-scale imports
  • Improves transparency and reproducibility
The OpenAlex integration ensures your literature search process remains comprehensive, structured, and methodologically rigorous within EasySLR.

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