Ask questions about a PDF using AI

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Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Internal Wiki automation workflows
AI RAG automation workflows
intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.vectorstorepinecone, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chattrigger, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent, n8n-nodes-base.set, n8n-nodes-base.googledrive, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.documentdefaultdataloader

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by David Roberts.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title: Ask questions about a PDF using AI
Workflow name: Ask questions about a PDF using AI

The workflow first populates a Pinecone index with vectors from a Bitcoin whitepaper. Then, it waits for a manual chat message. When received, the chat message is turned into a vector and compared to the vectors in Pinecone. The most similar vectors are retrieved and passed to OpenAI for generating a chat response.

Note that to use this template, you need to be on n8n version 1.19.4 or later.

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Sticky Note

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 2 - Sticky Note1

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 3 - Sticky Note2

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 4 - When clicking 'Test Workflow' button

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger - manualTrigger
Config choices: Version 1

Block 5 - Pinecone Vector Store

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.vectorStorePinecone - vectorStorePinecone
Config choices: Version 1

Block 6 - When chat message received

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chatTrigger - chatTrigger
Config choices: Version 1.1

Block 7 - Question & Answer

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent - agent
Config choices: Version 1.8

Block 8 - Set Google Drive file URL

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices: Version 3.4

Block 9 - Google Drive

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleDrive - googleDrive
Config choices: Version 3

Block 10 - Default Data Loader

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.documentDefaultDataLoader - documentDefaultDataLoader
Config choices: Version 1

Block 11 - Recursive Character Text Splitter

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.textSplitterRecursiveCharacterTextSplitter - textSplitterRecursiveCharacterTextSplitter
Config choices: Version 1

Block 12 - Embeddings OpenAI1

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.embeddingsOpenAi - embeddingsOpenAi
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 13 - Embeddings OpenAI

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.embeddingsOpenAi - embeddingsOpenAi
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 14 - Pinecone Vector Store1

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.vectorStorePinecone - vectorStorePinecone
Config choices: Version 1

Block 15 - OpenAI Chat Model

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenAi - lmChatOpenAi
Config choices: Version 1.2

3. Summary Table

Workflow	Ask questions about a PDF using AI
Complexity	intermediate
Nodes	15
Categories	Internal Wiki, AI RAG
Author	David Roberts
Published	03 Oct 2023

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/1960/1960.json as the source template for this automation.
2. Import the template into n8n

Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.
3. Configure credentials and variables

Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.
4. Test with sample data

Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.
5. Activate and monitor

Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Download workflow JSON Original n8n.io source Internal Wiki workflows AI RAG workflows

Frequently asked questions

What does Ask questions about a PDF using AI do?

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Internal Wiki, AI RAG use case.

David Roberts

18 workflows

Nodes

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.vectorstorepinecone @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chattrigger @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent n8n-nodes-base.set n8n-nodes-base.googledrive @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.documentdefaultdataloader

Complexity

intermediate

Published 03 Oct 2023

Likes 0

View on n8n.io Download Workflow

Install path: /data/workflows/1960/1960.json

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Ask questions about a PDF using AI

Workflow preview

Important notice

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Tools used

Source and attribution

1.1 Workflow description

1.2 Logical Blocks

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Sticky Note

Block 2 - Sticky Note1

Block 3 - Sticky Note2

Block 4 - When clicking 'Test Workflow' button

Block 5 - Pinecone Vector Store

Block 6 - When chat message received

Block 7 - Question & Answer

Block 8 - Set Google Drive file URL

Block 9 - Google Drive

Block 10 - Default Data Loader

Block 11 - Recursive Character Text Splitter

Block 12 - Embeddings OpenAI1

Block 13 - Embeddings OpenAI

Block 14 - Pinecone Vector Store1

Block 15 - OpenAI Chat Model

3. Summary Table

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

2. Import the template into n8n

3. Configure credentials and variables

4. Test with sample data

5. Activate and monitor

5. General Notes & Resources

Frequently asked questions