Analyses and visualises a collection's full text for digital humanities research.
Paper Machines has Atlas grade B (use with care) because it launches programs on your computer. It's a Zotero 6 plugin, so Zotero 7 and later can't load it. What to use instead. Last checked 6 Nov 2026.
Downloads a .xpi file (21 MB). In Zotero, open Tools → Plugins and install it from the file.
In useAn estimate of how many copies of Zotero have it: Zotero downloads each new version once for every copy that has the plugin, so we count the downloads of its most-downloaded recent release. Rounded. Plugins that update from outside GitHub count low.
1.3k
DownloadsAll-time downloads of its release files from GitHub, counting every update. Installs from elsewhere aren't counted.
1,436
ReleasesVersions published on GitHub. Everyone who has the plugin downloads each one again, which adds up in Downloads.
2
StarsPeople who starred the repository on GitHub: a rough measure of interest.
227
ContributorsPeople who have committed code to the repository.
3
LicenceThe licence the code is published under, as GitHub reports it.
BSD-2-Clause
B
Atlas gradeUse with care
A+ABBC
because it launches programs on your computer
Next rung: A, once every finding in the code comes out low.
Applies to v0.4.11, released 12 Mar 2016Code checked · not yet tested in a live Zotero
Legacy plugin for Zotero 6 onlyUses the old plugin format. Zotero 7 and later can't load it.
What we found in the codeSets the gradeThe worst finding in these three areas sets the grade.
Code transparencyReadable code; not yet checked against the published sourceThe developer uploaded the release file from the corajr account. We haven't yet checked whether this file matches the public source code. 2 code files couldn't be parsed and were only scanned for known patternsUnknownWe couldn't check this yet.
Updates
Updates come from www.papermachines.orgThe update address has no version for Zotero 4
Where your data goesOnly contacts services we could identify5 addresses in 1 group.LowLow concern: normal for plugins that do this job. Listed so you know.
Scholarly services (5)
dbpedia.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.jstor.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.spotlight.dbpedia.orgsws.geonames.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.ws.geonames.org
Where we found it
spotlight.dbpedia.orgchrome/content/papermachines/processors/dbpedia.py · line 20
ws.geonames.orgchrome/content/papermachines/processors/geoparser.py · line 210
query_url = 'http://ws.geonames.org/' \
Powerful capabilitiesLaunches programs on your computer, and 5 moreMediumMedium concern: worth reading before you install. One medium finding makes the grade B.
Medium concern (1)
Launches programs on your computer
Low concern (5)
Uses the clipboardWorks with files on your computerAdds Zotero translators it shipsKeeps its own database fileIts pages ask for web scripts, which Zotero blocks
Where we found it
Launches programs on your computerchrome/content/papermachines/papermachines.js · line 506
var proc = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/process/util;1"]
Before you installShown, not gradedFacts to help you decide. They don't change the grade.
Works withZotero 6 only (legacy plugin)Doesn't work with the current Zotero (10)MediumMedium concern: worth reading before you install. One medium finding makes the grade B.
Analyses and visualises a collection's full text for digital humanities research. It offers word clouds, phrase nets, maps of places mentioned, topic modelling and DBpedia annotation from the collection's right-click menu. Needs Java.
Lets historians and other researchers explore a large corpus without programming skills. It is unmaintained and no longer works on current Zotero; its author suggests Voyant Tools.
What you'll need
Detected automatically
We haven't detected any setup requirements. That isn't the same as none: check the developer's README.
Where your data goes
We found: only contacts services we could identify. 5 addresses in 1 group.
Scholarly services (5)
dbpedia.orgnamed in its codejstor.orgnamed in its codespotlight.dbpedia.orgsws.geonames.orgnamed in its codews.geonames.org
Evidence · file and line
spotlight.dbpedia.orgchrome/content/papermachines/processors/dbpedia.py · line 20
ws.geonames.orgchrome/content/papermachines/processors/geoparser.py · line 210
query_url = 'http://ws.geonames.org/' \
Forks and copies
2 listed forks.
The developer's response
The developer hasn't responded. Developers can reply here, and their reply sits next to our findings.I'm the developer
Ratings and reviews
What people who use it say. This is separate from the grade, which is what the code does, and never changes it.
No ratings yet.
Write a review
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