Description

n8n-nodes-paperless-ngx

This is an n8n community node. It lets you use Paperless-ngx in your n8n workflows.

Paperless-ngx is a document management system that allows you to scan, archive, and organize your documents with OCR capabilities.

n8n is a fair-code licensed workflow automation platform.

Installation
Development
Operations
Credentials
Compatibility
Usage
Resources

Installation

Follow the installation guide in the n8n community nodes documentation.

Development

You can test your node as you build it by running it in a local n8n instance.

Prerequisites

1. Install n8n using npm:

   npm install n8n -g
   

Testing Your Node Locally

1. When you are ready to test your node, publish it locally:

   # In your node directory
   npm run build
   npm link
   

2. Install the node into your local n8n instance:

   # In the nodes directory within your n8n installation
   # node-package-name is the name from the package.json
   npm link <node-package-name>
   

   Check your directory: Make sure you run npm link <node-name> in the nodes directory within your n8n installation. This can be:

   • ~/.n8n/custom/
   • ~/.n8n/<your-custom-name>: if your n8n installation set a different name using N8N_CUSTOM_EXTENSIONS.

3. Start n8n:

   n8n start
   

4. Open n8n in your browser. You should see your nodes when you search for them in the nodes panel.

Node names: Make sure you search using the node name, not the package name. For example, if your npm package name is n8n-nodes-paperless-ngx, and the package contains nodes named get-documents-by-tags, get-all-documents, get-all-tags, you should search for get-documents-by-tags, not paperless-ngx.

Troubleshooting

For troubleshooting issues with running nodes locally, see the n8n documentation on running nodes locally.

Operations

Paperless Documents Node

• Get Documents by Tags – Retrieve documents filtered by specific tags
• Get All Documents – Retrieve all documents with pagination and ordering

Paperless Tags Node

• Get All Tags – Retrieve all tags with pagination and ordering
• Get Tag by ID – Retrieve a specific tag by its ID

Paperless Document Details Node

• Get Document by ID – Retrieve detailed information about a specific document
• Get Document Metadata – Retrieve metadata for a specific document
• Get Document History – Retrieve history for a specific document

Credentials

To use this node, you need to authenticate with your Paperless-ngx instance:

1. Base URL – The URL of your Paperless-ngx instance (e.g., http://192.168.1.105)
2. Token – Your authentication token from Paperless-ngx
3. Port (optional) – Custom port if different from default HTTP/HTTPS ports

Getting Your Token

1. Log into your Paperless-ngx instance
2. Go to your user profile
3. Generate an authentication token
4. Copy the token and use it in the credentials

Compatibility

• n8n version: 1.0.0 or later
• Paperless-ngx version: 6.0.0 or later
• Node.js version: 20.15 or later

Usage

Basic Workflow Example

1. Get Documents by Tags

   • Use the "Paperless Documents" node
   • Select "Get Documents by Tags" operation
   • Enter tag names (comma-separated)
   • Configure pagination and ordering as needed

2. Get Document Details

   • Use the "Paperless Document Details" node
   • Select "Get Document by ID" operation
   • Enter the document ID
   • Retrieve detailed document information

3. Get Available Tags

   • Use the "Paperless Tags" node
   • Select "Get All Tags" operation
   • Browse available tags in your Paperless-ngx instance

Advanced Workflow Example

Start → Paperless Tags (Get All Tags) → Paperless Documents (Get Documents by Tags) → Paperless Document Details (Get Document by ID)

This workflow:

1. Gets all available tags
2. Uses those tags to filter documents
3. Gets detailed information for each document

Resources

• n8n community nodes documentation
• Paperless-ngx API documentation
• Paperless-ngx project

License

MIT