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YouTube Connector

Overview​

The YouTube Connector is a powerful tool designed to extract and index content from YouTube videos, making it searchable and accessible through our products ACE Search and Chat. This connector automatically transcribes video content, extracts metadata, and allows you to search through video information using natural language queries. Whether you need to analyze specific videos, channels, or playlists, the YouTube Connector provides a seamless way to incorporate video content into your knowledge base.

Table of Contents​

Required Inputs​

Basic Configuration​

To add a YouTube Connector, navigate to Knowledge Management > Add Knowledge, then scroll down to find YouTube and click on the plus icon.

You'll need to choose one of two scrape methods:

  • CSV File: Upload a file containing multiple YouTube links
  • Single Link: Provide a direct YouTube video URL

For either method, you'll also need to provide:

  • Knowledge Name: A descriptive name for this knowledge source
    • Used for identification in the knowledge management system

Using the CSV File Method​

If you select the "CSV File" method:

  1. You'll see an upload area where you can add your CSV file
  2. You can upload up to two CSV files at once
  3. Each file can be up to 100MB in size
  4. The platform provides a sample CSV file that you can download
  5. Your CSV must follow the exact format of the sample file

Sample CSV Format​

The CSV file should contain YouTube video links in a specific format. Download the sample file from the UI to ensure your CSV follows the required structure.

If you select the "Single Link" method:

  1. You'll see a field where you can paste a YouTube video URL
  2. Enter the complete URL of the video you want to analyze
  3. Provide a knowledge name
  4. Add appropriate permissions
  5. Save to add the knowledge

Understanding the YouTube Connector UI​

After adding your YouTube knowledge source:

  • You'll be redirected to the "Existing YouTube" tab
  • Here you'll see:
    • Knowledge name
    • Scrape method used
    • Files (if using CSV method)
    • Status (Enabled/Success)
    • Connector details (with Review button)
    • Actions (Delete button)

Reviewing YouTube Knowledge​

When you click the "Review" button:

  • You'll be directed to the Manage Knowledge page for that particular YouTube knowledge source
  • You can view all configuration details
  • The "Indexing Attempts" section shows the scraping progress and logs
  • The "Knowledge Objects" section displays all the YouTube data that has been scraped and added
  • The number of knowledge objects depends on how many YouTube links you included in your CSV or if you added a single link

Connector Features​

Content Extraction​

The YouTube Connector extracts the following elements:

  • Video Transcripts
    • Automatically generated or creator-provided captions
    • Time-stamped text for precise searching
  • Video Metadata
    • Title, description, and tags
    • Upload date and channel information
    • View count, likes, and comments count
  • Channel Information (when using Channel ID)
    • Channel name and description
    • Subscriber count and total video count
  • Playlist Details (when using Playlist ID)
    • Playlist title and description
    • Video ordering and relationships

Content Limitations​

Please note the following limitations:

  • Videos must have captions available (auto-generated or creator-provided)
  • Videos longer than 4 hours may have partial transcription
  • Private or unlisted videos are only accessible if your API key has appropriate permissions
  • Content in languages other than English may have varying transcription quality

Advanced Configuration​

Content Filtering​

You can refine which videos are processed with these filters:

  • Date Range
    • Set start and end dates to limit videos by upload date
    • Example: Only videos published in the last 6 months
  • Video Count Limit
    • Set maximum number of videos to process from a channel or playlist
    • Helps manage processing time for large channels
  • Keyword Filtering
    • Include only videos containing specific keywords in title or description
    • Exclude videos with certain keywords

Scheduled Updates​

The YouTube Connector currently does not support scheduled recurring updates. All YouTube content is extracted during the initial setup only.

If you need to update your YouTube knowledge with new content:

  • Create a new knowledge source with updated links
  • Alternatively, delete the existing knowledge and recreate it with updated content

Permission Management​

Control who can access your YouTube content:

  • During setup, select user groups that should have access
  • Multiple groups can be selected for broader access
  • Only users in selected groups will be able to search this content
  • Permissions can be modified later through knowledge management

Best Practices​

  • Start Small
    • Begin with a single video or small playlist to test the configuration
    • Gradually expand to larger channels or playlists
  • Choose High-Quality Sources
    • Select videos with clear audio and accurate captions
    • Official channel content typically has better metadata
  • Optimize API Usage
    • Be mindful of YouTube API quotas (default is 10,000 units per day)
    • Each video extraction uses approximately 5-10 units
    • Schedule updates appropriately to avoid quota issues
  • Use Specific Identifiers
    • When possible, use specific video IDs rather than entire channels
    • For channels, consider creating separate connectors for different content categories
  • Regular Maintenance
    • Periodically review extracted content for quality
    • Update configurations as channel structure or content focus changes

Troubleshooting​

IssueSolution
API key errorsVerify the key is valid and has YouTube Data API access
No transcripts availableCheck if the video has captions enabled
Missing videos from channelVerify the channel ID and check for private videos
Quota exceededReduce update frequency or limit the number of videos processed
Low-quality transcriptionsConsider using videos with manual captions for better accuracy

Use Cases​

Training and Education​

Extract content from educational videos and tutorials to create searchable knowledge bases for learning platforms.

Research and Analysis​

Analyze video content from specific channels or on particular topics to identify trends and insights.

Technical Documentation​

Incorporate video tutorials and walkthroughs into your technical documentation knowledge base.

Customer Support​

Add product demos, FAQs, and troubleshooting videos to enhance customer support resources.

FAQ​

Q: Can I extract content from age-restricted videos?
A: Yes, as long as your API key has access to those videos and captions are available.

Q: How are video updates handled?
A: If a video's content is updated, it will be re-indexed during the next scheduled update.

Q: Does the connector download the actual video files?
A: No, only the metadata and transcripts are extracted. Video files remain on YouTube.

Q: Can I extract content from live streams?
A: Live streams can be processed after they've ended and captions have been generated.

Q: How accurate are the transcriptions?
A: Accuracy varies based on audio quality, speaker clarity, and whether captions are auto-generated or manually created.