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Build academic citation networks with PDF Vector API for Gephi visualization

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Build academic citation networks with PDF Vector API for Gephi visualization preview
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Important notice

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

1. Workflow Overview

This workflow contains community nodes that are only compatible with the self hosted version of n8n. Build Citation Networks from Research Papers Automatically build and visualize citation networks...

Best for

  • Document Extraction automation workflows
  • Multimodal AI automation workflows
  • intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.set, n8n-nodes-base.code, n8n-nodes-pdfvector.pdfvector, n8n-nodes-base.writebinaryfile

Source and attribution

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

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Build academic citation networks with PDF Vector API for Gephi visualization
Workflow name
Build academic citation networks with PDF Vector API for Gephi visualization

This workflow contains community nodes that are only compatible with the self-hosted version of n8n.

Build Citation Networks from Research Papers

Automatically build and visualize citation networks by fetching papers and their references. Discover influential works and research trends in any field.

Workflow Features:

  • Start with seed papers (DOIs, PubMed IDs, etc.)
  • Fetch cited and citing papers recursively
  • Build network graph data
  • Export to visualization tools (Gephi, Cytoscape)
  • Identify key papers and research clusters

Process Flow:

  1. Input: Seed paper identifiers
  2. Fetch Papers: Get paper details and references
  3. Expand Network: Fetch cited papers (configurable depth)
  4. Build Graph: Create nodes and edges
  5. Analyze: Calculate metrics (centrality, clusters)
  6. Export: Generate visualization-ready data

Applications:

  • Research trend analysis
  • Finding seminal papers in a field
  • Grant proposal background research

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 - Configuration

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

Block 2 - Set Parameters

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

Block 3 - Split Paper IDs

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

Block 4 - PDF Vector - Fetch Papers

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-pdfvector.pdfVector - pdfVector
Config choices
Version 1

Block 5 - Fetch Citing Papers

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-pdfvector.pdfVector - pdfVector
Config choices
Version 1

Block 6 - Build Network Data

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

Block 7 - Combine Network

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

Block 8 - Export Network JSON

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

Block 9 - Generate GEXF

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

3. Summary Table

Workflow Build academic citation networks with PDF Vector API for Gephi visualization
Complexity intermediate
Nodes 9
Categories Document Extraction, Multimodal AI
Author PDF Vector
Published 14 Aug 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/7356/7356.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

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

  4. 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. 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does Build academic citation networks with PDF Vector API for Gephi visualization do?

This workflow contains community nodes that are only compatible with the self hosted version of n8n. Build Citation Networks from Research Papers Automatically build and visualize citation networks...

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 Document Extraction, Multimodal AI use case.