# Build a PDF search system with Mistral and Weaviate DB: n8n workflow

> Started by someone submitting a form. It calls services over plain HTTP rather than through connectors. 10 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-pdf-search-system-with-mistral-and-weaviate-db (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Documents and files](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Documents+and+files#library)

# Build a PDF search system with Mistral and Weaviate DB

Started by someone submitting a form. It calls services over plain HTTP rather than through connectors. 10 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fbuild-a-pdf-search-system-with-mistral-and-weaviate-db)

**10 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**0** Services by connector: it calls them over plain HTTP

## The flow

Starts it 2 Model 7 Logic 1

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Cohere Embeddings** Embeddings Cohere *Model*
- 2 **Cohere Reranker** Reranker Cohere *Model*
- 3 **Text Splitter** Text Splitter Recursive Character Text Splitter *Model*
- 4 **Upload PDF** Form trigger *Starts it*
- 5 **Search Knowledge Base** Vector Store Weaviate *Model*
- 6 **Store in Vector Database** Vector Store Weaviate *Model*
- 7 **Document Loader** Document Default Data Loader *Model*
- 8 **Extract Text from PDF** Mistral Ai *Model*
- 9 **MCP Knowledge Server** Mcp trigger *Starts it*
- 10 **Prepare Document Data** Set *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone submitting a form
- **Steps:** 10
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Nothing by connector; it calls services over plain HTTP
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement
- **Retrieval:** Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on someone submitting a form.

Does it use AI?

No. Every step is fixed logic or a call to a service, so it does the same thing every time.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 10 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 10 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fbuild-a-pdf-search-system-with-mistral-and-weaviate-db)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Workflows like it

Also documents and files, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Auto file organizer for Google Drive: sort PDFs, images** 10 steps · Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/auto-file-organizer-for-google-drive-sort-pdfs-images)
- [**Auto-generate and auto-fill business documents** 10 steps · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/auto-generate-and-auto-fill-business-documents)
- [**Automated daily workflow backup to GitHub** 10 steps · GitHub](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-daily-workflow-backup-to-github)
- [**Automatic Microsoft Outlook attachment storage to OneDrive** 10 steps · Excel, Outlook](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automatic-microsoft-outlook-attachment-storage-to-onedrive)
- [**Automatic PDF compression with Google Drive** 10 steps · Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automatic-pdf-compression-with-google-drive)
- [**Back up workflow JSON files to Google Drive** 10 steps · Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/back-up-workflow-json-files-to-google-drive)