---
title: "Connect The Old Reader to OpenAlex - APIANT.ai"
description: "When \"New item\" fires in The Old Reader, your agent runs \"Classify text topics\" in OpenAlex."
canonical: "https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-openalex"
---

# Connect The Old Reader to OpenAlex

When **New item** fires in [The Old Reader](https://apiant.ai/connections/the-old-reader), your agent runs **Classify text topics** in [OpenAlex](https://apiant.ai/connections/openalex). Describe the whole flow and it is built, tested on every scenario and kept running.

The Old Reader **1** trigger The Old Reader **12** actions OpenAlex **7** actions

What the catalog holds today. Ask for anything missing and your agent reads the API documentation and adds it.

## What do you want The Old Reader and OpenAlex to do together?

Give your AI client this address.

`https://mcp.apiant.ai`

One connection does both: ask your client to act in an app once, or have it build an automation that keeps running. Any client that takes a remote MCP server. Nothing to install. Create your free account, then sign in once in your browser.

### Set it up in your client

### Claude Code

Run this in the directory you want to work in.

`claude mcp add --transport http -s project apiant-ai https://mcp.apiant.ai`

Start Claude Code there, approve the server, and sign in in the browser page it opens.

[Claude Code guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp/claude-code)

### Claude, web and desktop

Open Customize, then Connectors, then Add custom connector, and paste the address. On Team and Enterprise an owner adds it first.

[Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp)

### Cursor

Add the address to your MCP configuration as a server URL. Cursor signs you in in your browser.

[Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp)

### Zed

Open Settings, then AI, then MCP Servers, then Add Server, then Add Remote Server.

[Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp)

### Codex and the ChatGPT desktop app

Open Settings, then MCP servers, then Add server, and choose Streamable HTTP. From the terminal, Codex takes the address with its own add command and then signs you in.

[Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp)

### Any other MCP client

Paste the address where the client asks for a remote MCP server URL, and name the server apiant-ai where it lets you. APIANT's skills reach the client over the same connection.

[Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp)

Example flows

## What The Old Reader can start in OpenAlex

- When **New item** in The Old Reader then **Classify text topics** in OpenAlex
- When **New item** in The Old Reader then **Find entities by autocomplete** in OpenAlex

Starting points drawn from the triggers and actions in the catalog today. Describe the flow you need, at any depth, and your agent builds it and tests every scenario before it ships.

Everything your agent can do with The Old Reader and OpenAlex

## Triggers and actions 1 trigger · 19 actions

- Trigger

**New item**

Triggers when a new item arrives in your reading list, a folder or a subscription.

- Action

**Add subscription**

Subscribes the account to a feed or website by its URL and returns the new subscription's stream id.

- Action

**Delete folder**

Deletes a folder in The Old Reader and moves its subscriptions to the default folder.

- Action

**Delete subscription**

Unsubscribes from a feed in The Old Reader.

- Action

**Get items**

Returns the full contents (title, body, author, feed, read/starred state) of one or more items by their ids.

- Action

**Get unread counts**

Returns unread item counts for the whole reading list and for each folder, subscription and friend.

- Action

**List folders**

Returns the list of folders in your The Old Reader account.

- Action

**List items**

Returns the items (articles) in a stream such as your reading list, starred items, a folder or a subscription.

- Action

**List subscriptions**

Returns every feed subscription in your The Old Reader account, with each feed's title, folders, site URL and icon.

- Action

**Mark all items as read**

Marks all items in a stream (everything, a folder, a subscription or a friend's shares) as read, optionally only those older than a given time.

- Action

**Update folder**

Renames a folder in The Old Reader.

- Action

**Update item**

Updates an item's state: marks it read or unread, starred, liked or shared.

- Action

**Update subscription**

Renames a subscription or moves it between folders.

- Action

**Classify text topics**

Classify arbitrary text (e.g. title/abstract) into OpenAlex topics ("Aboutness" endpoint).

- Action

**Find entities by autocomplete**

Type-ahead search across a given entity type (works, authors, sources, institutions, etc), returning quick display hints.

- Action

**Get funder**

Get a single funder by OpenAlex ID.

- Action

**Get publisher**

Get a single publisher by OpenAlex ID.

- Action

**Get source**

Get a single source by OpenAlex ID or external ID (ISSN etc).

- Action

**List publishers**

List/search publishers with filter/search params.

- Action

**List topics**

List/search research topics with filter/search params.

## Each app on its own

- [ **The Old Reader** RSS reader](https://apiant.ai/connections/the-old-reader)
- [ **OpenAlex** OpenAlex is an open catalog of the global scholarly record.](https://apiant.ai/connections/openalex)

Reviews

## What our customers say

## More from The Old Reader

- [ **The Old Reader to Trello** Trello is a visual collaboration tool that organizes projects into boards, lists, and cards.](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-trello)
- [ **The Old Reader to Zoom** Zoom unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, group messaging, and a software-based...](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-zoom)
- [ **The Old Reader to Twilio** Cloud communications platform for sending SMS/MMS messages, making and managing voice calls, and looking up...](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-twilio)
- [ **The Old Reader to Typeform** Build and publish online forms, surveys, and quizzes with Typeform.](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-typeform)
- [ **The Old Reader to Webflow** Webflow is a professional website builder and CMS for designing, building, and launching responsive...](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-webflow)
- [ **The Old Reader to Wix** The Wix website builder gives businesses of any size the tools to create, manage and grow a fully integrated...](https://apiant.ai/connect/the-old-reader-to-wix)

## More into OpenAlex

- [ **HubSpot to OpenAlex** HubSpot is your all-in-one stop for all of your marketing software needs.](https://apiant.ai/connect/hubspot-to-openalex)
- [ **Salesforce to OpenAlex** Salesforce is a leading enterprise customer relationship management (CRM) platform.](https://apiant.ai/connect/salesforce-to-openalex)
- [ **Slack to OpenAlex** Slack is a messaging platform for teams. Post messages, manage channels, users, reminders, and react to...](https://apiant.ai/connect/slack-to-openalex)
- [ **Google Sheets to OpenAlex** Google Sheets](https://apiant.ai/connect/google-sheets-to-openalex)
- [ **Gmail to OpenAlex** Gmail is Google’s email service, featuring spam protection, search functions, and seamless integration with...](https://apiant.ai/connect/gmail-to-openalex)
- [ **Google Calendar to OpenAlex** Google Calendar is a time management tool providing scheduling features, event reminders, and integration...](https://apiant.ai/connect/google-calendar-to-openalex)

Questions

## The Old Reader and OpenAlex, answered

###

### What can start an automation from The Old Reader?

Any of The Old Reader's 1 trigger in the catalog, including New item. Describe the moment in plain language and your agent picks the right one.

###

### What can your agent do in OpenAlex when something happens in The Old Reader?

Any of OpenAlex's 7 actions, including Classify text topics, Find entities by autocomplete, Get funder and Get publisher. Your agent maps the data both ways and tests every scenario before it ships.

###

### Can it also run from OpenAlex to The Old Reader?

OpenAlex has no triggers in the catalog today, so automations start in The Old Reader. If you need the other direction, ask: your agent reads OpenAlex's API documentation and adds it.

###

### Do I have to build a connector for The Old Reader or OpenAlex?

No. Both are in the catalog with their triggers and actions. You describe the automation; your agent builds it, tests every scenario and keeps it running.

###

### Can my AI client use The Old Reader and OpenAlex without building an automation?

Yes. With your AI client connected to APIANT, ask it to do something in either app once and it runs that action on the spot. Ask for an automation and your agent builds it, tests every scenario and keeps it running. One connection covers both.

###

### What happens when something fails?

Your agent works that out for you. It plans the failure paths along with the happy path, then tests every scenario before it ships.

###

### Is there a free plan?

Yes. Every plan includes the agent, including free, and building from your own AI client spends no assistant credits.
