database-search

Search local literature databases for papers by keywords, metadata, and citations.

Updated Mar 6, 2026

Search Tags:#database #research papers #literature search #scientific literature #citation analysis #metadata search

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/ryan-ressmeyer/llm-skills --skill database-search

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: database-search
Source: https://github.com/ryan-ressmeyer/llm-skills/tree/main/database-search
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ryan-ressmeyer/llm-skills --skill database-search

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires pyyaml, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill enables efficient searching of a local literature database, allowing users to quickly find relevant papers based on keywords, authors, subjects, publication years, or citation connections.

Core Features & Use Cases

Metadata Search: Find papers by title, author, journal, and publication year.
Full-Text Search: Search within paper summaries and theme documents.
Citation Graph Analysis: Discover papers that cite or are cited by a specific publication, or find related works.
Use Case: Quickly locate all papers published after 2020 on "orientation selectivity" in the "macaque" subject, or find all papers that cite a key paper by "Smith Jones 2019".

Quick Start

Search the local database for papers about "receptive field" published between 2015 and 2023, filtering for the "macaque" subject.

Frequently Asked Questions about database-search

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I search a local literature database for scientific papers by author and publication year?▼

You can search a local literature database for scientific papers using metadata filters for author, title, journal, and publication year. The Skill indexes YAML and Markdown files to retrieve papers matching your specific query criteria.

Can I find papers that cite a specific publication using citation graph analysis?▼

Yes, citation graph analysis allows you to discover inter-paper relationships, finding specific papers that cite or are cited by a target publication. It utilizes Python scripts to query these citation connections within your local database.

How do I search within paper summaries and theme documents for specific keywords?▼

Full-text search allows you to look for specific keywords within paper summaries and theme documents. This operates alongside metadata search to provide comprehensive literature retrieval from indexed local files.

Does this literature search tool require YAML and Markdown files to function?▼

Yes, the tool requires local YAML and Markdown files to function, utilizing Python scripts and the pyyaml dependency to index and query your scientific literature database for comprehensive retrieval.

What is the best way to find related works for a paper published after 2020 on a specific subject?▼

The best way to find related works is combining metadata filters for publication year and subject with citation graph analysis. This approach locates target papers and discovers inter-paper relationships like cited-by links.

Are there limitations when searching a local literature database compared to online scientific literature platforms?▼

A limitation of local literature database search is that retrieval is restricted to the YAML and Markdown files you have indexed locally. It does not query external online scientific literature platforms or dynamically fetch new metadata.