On Jun 29, 2026, at 1:22 PM, Amy Schuler <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I have access to the web of science starter api (formerly known as api
> lite), but it is not sufficient for my needs.  Specifically I'm looking to
> use the WC field tag (subject category), which is not supported by the web
> of science api.
> 
> I'm looking into a subscription to the web of science expanded api, which
> does support use of the WC tag.
> 
> Since the (free) openalex API supports use of the category fields
> (field/subfield/topic tags), I am wondering if anyone can comment on how
> the openalex api compares to the wos expanded api, generally speaking.
> 
> -- 
> Amy C. Schuler (she/her)
> Director, Information Services & Library
> Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
> www.caryinstitute.org


I may be able to help.

I have used the WOS API to search... WOS and save bunches o' rudimentary citations: authors, titles, dates, DOIs, etc. The citations lacked abstracts. I then took the DOIs and applied them to OpenAlex which gave me more complete citations, abstracts, and probably subject headings. Thus, OpenAlex rounded out my WOS search results. I then went a step further. More specifically, I used the OpenAlex API to identify open access versions of the DOIs so I could actually get the articles. Cool!? Using this process I could create whatever sort of WOS query I desire, download rudimentary bibliographics, enhance the bibliographics, and finally actually get the articles. Okay, not all of the articles, but if my searches result in hundreds (if not thousands) of articles and I am able to get more than 50% of them, then I think I'm doing alright. I will root through my archives to see what I can find.

--
Eric Morgan <[log in to unmask]>