The developers of the CDH Research Software Lab (RSLab) are currently working on a new upload feature for the text search and exploration Textcavator (formerly I-Analyzer). For the final development phase, they are looking for researchers who would like to test this new functionality.

Do you have a dataset you would like to use in Textcavator? Sign up for the pilot and help the RSLab further improve the tool!

What does the new upload feature do?

The upload feature allows researchers to add their own dataset directly to Textcavator. This makes the tool even more accessible and easier to use. The developers are now in the final development stage and would like to test the feature in practice with users.

Who can see my dataset?

You decide. In Textcavator, you can specify for each dataset whether it is:

  • publicly accessible,
  • available only within the university,
  • restricted to a specific group, or
  • visible only to yourself.

Who can participate in the pilot?

All researchers within the Faculty of Humanities and other faculties at Utrecht University are welcome to participate.

What kind of data can you upload?

Textcavator is designed for collections of texts. You can upload your own research data or an open access dataset you want to use in Textcavator. Both small and large datasets are welcome.

Data must be provided in a CSV or Excel file. The developers can advise you on structuring or cleaning your data if needed.

Aim of the pilot

The RSLab has been developing Textcavator since 2017 for the Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University. The tool is designed to make text search and exploration as accessible and easy as possible. With the new upload feature, Textcavator will become even more efficient.

The pilot is intended to test this new functionality. The developers are ready to help if anything is unclear or not working properly. Your feedback will be used to further improve the upload feature.

The developers would also love to hear your ideas: which features are missing? What kind of support would be useful? What could be improved?

What’s in it for you?

  1. You can explore your own dataset using all Textcavator’s features.
  2. You make a contribution to a more powerful and user-friendly text search and exploration tool for all researchers at Utrecht University (with a focus on the humanities) and beyond. Unlike many other tools, Textcavator is open source and non-commercial. By joining this pilot, you contribute to an accessible, high-quality research tool developed for and with researchers. Both large and small research projects will benefit from your input.

Sign up

Register for the pilot before 15 February 2026 by emailing cdh@uu.nl. After registering, you will receive further instructions.

Want to learn more?

Read the interview with developer Luka van der Plas about Textcavator and the pilot.