# Figshare Research Data Scraper (`parseforge/figshare-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes Figshare research items by search, category, institution, or date. Returns title, authors, DOI, downloads, and publication date for each item.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/figshare-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Other, Education, Automation
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 89.7% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $8.24 / 1,000 result items

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Figshare Research Data Scraper

**Scrape Figshare research data, datasets, papers, and DOIs from any search, category, or institution.** Every item comes with its title, authors, DOI, downloads, and publication date. No API key or login. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

Figshare's official API requires an account and API key, and rate-limits you. This reads the public search and browse feeds directly, filtered by item type, category, institution, or publication date, and returns each match in one fixed schema.

| Who uses it | What they scrape Figshare for |
|---|---|
| Academic researchers | Gathering datasets and papers for a literature review |
| Data journalists | Finding open research data to support a story |
| University librarians | Monitoring institutional repository output |
| Startup founders | Sourcing public datasets for product development |
| Policy analysts | Tracking research output by institution or field |

### What it does

This Actor collects Figshare research items by search query, category, institution, or publication date, and returns each one as a flat row.

- 🔎 **Search by keyword:** title, author, or free text across all public items.
- 📁 **Filter by item type:** dataset, paper, figure, thesis, code, and more.
- 🏛️ **Institution filter:** restrict results to a specific institutional repository.
- 📅 **Published since:** only include items published on or after a date.
- 📊 **Flat output:** each item is one row with title, authors, DOI, downloads, and date.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with Figshare data

**📚 Build a literature review.**

A PhD student searches for 'machine learning' and filters to papers published since 2022, then exports the DOIs to a reference manager.

**📈 Monitor institutional output.**

A university librarian runs the Actor weekly with the institution ID to track new datasets and theses deposited by faculty.

**🗞️ Find data for a story.**

A data journalist searches for 'climate change' and filters to datasets to locate open data for an investigation.

**💡 Source datasets for a product.**

A startup founder searches for 'public health' and filters to datasets to find training data for a prototype.

**🔬 Track research trends.**

A policy analyst filters by category and publication date to see which fields are producing the most open research.

### Why choose this scraper

|  | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No API key** | Uses public feeds, no registration or OAuth |
| **Fixed schema** | Every item returns the same fields for easy analysis |
| **Flexible filters** | Combine search, type, category, institution, and date |
| **Export anywhere** | CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML for your workflow |

### How it compares

This Actor offers the same core Figshare scraping as the competitor, with additional filters for institution and publication date.

| Feature | ParseForge | Figshare Research Data Scraper - Datasets, Papers & DOIs |
|---|---|---|
| Search by keyword | Yes | Yes |
| Filter by item type | Yes | Not listed |
| Filter by category | Yes | Not listed |
| Filter by institution | Yes | Not listed |
| Filter by publication date | Yes | Not listed |
| Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, XML | Yes | Yes |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor from a search query, category ID, institution ID, or publication date, alone or together, and filters run as each item is read so only matches reach your dataset. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
  "maxItems": 10,
  "search": "machine learning"
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
  "maxItems": 200,
  "search": "machine learning"
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.01099 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $1.10 |
| 1,000 results | $10.99 |
| 10,000 results | $109.90 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Figshare Research Data Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/figshare-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Figshare through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=parseforge/figshare-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check your search query and filters. If you set a category or institution ID, make sure it is valid. Also try removing the publishedSince date to see if older items exist.

**Why did the run stop before reaching maxItems?**

The Actor stops when there are no more matching items. Try broadening your search or removing filters.

**Why are some items missing fields?**

Not all Figshare items have every field, such as DOI or downloads. The Actor returns what is available.

**How do I get more than 1,000,000 items?**

The maximum is 1,000,000 per run. You can split your query by date or category and run multiple times.

**Why is the run slow?**

Figshare's public feeds may be rate-limited. Reduce maxItems or add filters to narrow the result set.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need a Figshare API key? | No. This Actor reads the public Figshare search and browse feeds directly, so no account or key is required. |
| What item types can I filter by? | You can filter by Figshare item type using the numeric ID: 1=Figure, 2=Media, 3=Dataset, 4=Fileset, 5=Poster, 6=Paper, 7=Presentation, 8=Thesis, 9=Code, 10=Metadata, 11=Preprint, 13=Book, 14=Chapter. |
| How do I restrict results to one institution? | Set the institutionId input to the numeric ID of the institutional repository. You can find IDs via the Figshare API documentation. |
| Can I search by author or title? | Yes, the search input accepts free text and matches across titles and descriptions, including author names. |
| What date range can I filter? | Use the publishedSince input with a YYYY-MM-DD date to include only items published on or after that date. |
| How many items can I collect per run? | Set maxItems to any number from 1 to 1,000,000. The Actor stops after reaching that count. |
| What fields are returned for each item? | Each item returns a flat row with title, authors, DOI, downloads, publication date, and other metadata. The exact fields are shown in the sample output. |
| Can I export the data? | Yes, you can export the dataset to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML from the Apify platform. |
| Is this legal? | This Actor only accesses publicly available data on Figshare. You are responsible for complying with Figshare's terms of service and any applicable laws. |
| How do I find a category ID? | Category IDs are listed in the Figshare API documentation at https://docs.figshare.com/#private\_list\_categories. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Figshare, LLC. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

How many articles to collect per run.

## `search` (type: `string`):

Free text search across titles and descriptions.

## `itemType` (type: `integer`):

Filter by Figshare item type. 1=Figure, 2=Media, 3=Dataset, 4=Fileset, 5=Poster, 6=Paper, 7=Presentation, 8=Thesis, 9=Code, 10=Metadata, 11=Preprint, 13=Book, 14=Chapter.

## `categoryId` (type: `integer`):

Figshare category ID. See https://docs.figshare.com/#private\_list\_categories.

## `institutionId` (type: `integer`):

Restrict results to an institutional repository.

## `publishedSince` (type: `string`):

Only include items published on or after this date.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "maxItems": 10,
  "search": "machine learning"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "maxItems": 10,
    "search": "machine learning"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/figshare-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "maxItems": 10,
    "search": "machine learning",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/figshare-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "maxItems": 10,
  "search": "machine learning"
}' |
apify call parseforge/figshare-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/figshare-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/5aI3nCwQRODXPMWVR/builds/qjTfyLl2ERYSfB1Ve/openapi.json