It’s time for the third tutorial in a series of n8n tutorial videos by Ben Young.
In this beginner’s guide, Ben gives 5 crucial keys to know before starting.
Take a watch, and then we’ll unpack what he says.
The complete series of tutorials is listed below.
Let’s go!
n8n Tutorial #3 Explained
Learning n8n can seem challenging, but we’re here to make it easy. We’ll cover the key features of n8n’s interface. First, we’ll show you how to navigate and send messages to groups of customers.
Once you set up your n8n account, you’ll find many tools to manage your workflows. We’ll explore templates and the workflow editor. Let’s start our journey with n8n together.
Key Takeaways
- We can easily navigate n8n’s interface to create workflows.
- Templates help us start projects quickly and efficiently.
- n8n automates data handling, making workflows smoother and faster.
- n8n includes built-in credential encryption, ensuring secure management of sensitive data.
Getting Started with n8n
Navigating the Interface
Learning n8n can feel overwhelming, but we’ll guide you. When you log in, you see the main interface. The left sidebar has several options. At the top, there are Templates and All Executions for workflow logs. There’s also a Help section for documentation and a forum.
Clicking the three dots at the bottom of the sidebar opens settings. You can choose between light and dark mode. The main area shows all your workflows. You can start from scratch or use a template.
Using templates is a quick way to start. Click on Templates to search for and select a Quick Start option. Once you find and use a Quick Start template, it imports into your self-hosted instance.
n8n includes a Credentials Manager for secure authentication details. This helps manage your connections in one place, improving organization and security.
Self-Hosting n8n
If you self-hosted n8n, you’ll see a signup page for an admin account. Setting it up is easy and quick. After signing up, you’ll land on the main n8n interface.
To create workflows, follow a simple left-to-right structure. Each workflow canvas has buttons for zooming and dragging. Double-clicking on any node shows its details, including inputs and outputs.
n8n automatically iterates through data items, saving us from manual loops and simplifying data processing. We can add and customize new nodes as we explore more, making n8n powerful for automation. If you run n8n from source, it typically requires Node.js version 16 or higher.
Workflow Management
Navigating the Main Window
In the main window of n8n, we see all our workflows. The left sidebar offers several options. At the top, there are templates to help us start. Below, we find all executions, which log our workflows’ status. There’s also a help section with documentation and a forum. We can adjust settings at the bottom under the three dots, including toggling between light and dark mode.
Once we have workflows set up, we can add a new workflow using the “start from scratch” button or the orange “add workflow” button. Using templates can be faster, as n8n offers pre-built workflows created by the community. n8n also supports concurrency management, so multiple workflows can run simultaneously.
Execution Log
The execution log is key for tracking our workflows. It shows which workflows have run and if they succeeded or failed. By accessing this log, we can spot any issues that need fixing.
We can check the log to see what went wrong if a workflow doesn’t work properly. It provides timestamps, error messages, and data for detailed debugging.
Adding and Managing Workflows
When we create a new workflow, we can choose from templates or start fresh. To import a template, we search for it in the templates menu. Once found, we can import it into our instance.
You can also export your workflows in JSON format, making it easier to maintain version control.
As we build our workflow, it flows from left to right, making the steps involved easy to see. While editing nodes, we can test them to refine our workflow and focus on the data we want to extract.
Adding new nodes is simple. We click the plus button to get options tailored to our needs.
Using Templates
Accessing Templates
To start using templates in n8n, click “Templates” in the left sidebar. This opens a collection of pre-built templates from n8n and its community. These templates save us time by providing workflows for various needs. There are hundreds of community-contributed templates for different use cases.
- Finding a Template: The search bar allows us to search for specific templates. For example, typing “Quick Start” will show matching results.
- Exploring Templates: After selecting a template, we can explore it in detail. This shows us the nodes included in the template.
- Importing a Template: When we decide to use a template, we have options for importing it. The most common choice is to import it directly into our self-hosted instance, making it ready for use.
Quick Start Template
We can choose the “Very Quick Quick Start” template for a quick setup. After selecting it, we click on “Use Workflow.”
Import Options:
- Import directly into our instance.
- Copy the template as JSON and paste it elsewhere.
Once imported, the workflow is laid out from left to right. Each node shows inputs and outputs, helping us understand data flow.
- Navigating the Canvas: We can zoom in and out using the provided buttons, making it easy to manage the view of our workflow.
- Interacting with Nodes: Double-clicking on a node lets us see its details and test its function. This ensures the workflow works as intended before finalizing it.
Using these templates and walkthroughs makes the process smoother. It helps us understand how to use n8n effectively.
Exploring Workflow Editor
Canvas Navigation
To navigate the workflow canvas, we use several tools. The buttons at the bottom let us zoom in, zoom out, reset our zoom, and fit everything into the canvas space. We can also click and drag on the canvas to select multiple elements. Holding down the spacebar lets us move around the canvas easily.
Node Detail View
Double-clicking on a node opens the node detail view. Here, we see inputs on the left, details in the middle, and outputs on the right. Each node follows this pattern. For example, one node lets us retrieve customer data, showing options for getting one or all people. Within this view, you can also see a preview of your input/output data, which helps debugging and validation.
Understanding Inputs and Outputs
Inputs and outputs are key in our workflows. For example, in a node that handles customer data, we pull out specific info like customer IDs and names. After setting this up, we can run the test step, which shows the output in various formats, such as table or JSON.
n8n automatically processes lists, so we don’t have to create loops for handling multiple items.
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Data Manipulation
Extracting Customer Data
We begin by getting customer information from n8n. In our workflow, we use a demo node to get customer data. By clicking the test step button, we see five customer data records.
The data is shown in different formats, like a table or JSON, but the information remains the same.
Once we have the data, we need to extract specific details. This involves choosing only the essential fields we want to keep. The necessary fields here are the customer ID, name, and description.
By setting this up correctly, we can streamline the data that will go into the next part of our workflow. Also, if you need advanced transformations, you can use the Function Node to apply custom JavaScript.
Data Iteration and Processing
Next, we need to process the extracted data. n8n allows us to automatically loop through our data without creating an additional complex process. As we test our workflow, we can see it iterates through each of the five customer records.
It extracts the three fields we defined earlier, forming a new list with the needed information.
Adding a new node to our workflow is easy. We can click the plus button and explore options to enhance our process. This way, we can ensure efficient workflow while managing our data seamlessly. For conditional logic, n8n offers If and Switch nodes, enabling more complex branching workflows.
Useful Suggestions
Getting Started: If we are new to n8n, it helps us register our admin account on the signup page. After that, we will see the main interface where we can begin working with workflows.
Using Templates: On the left sidebar, we can access templates. These pre-built options help us get started quickly. For example, we can search for “Quick Start” and choose the quick Quick Start template to simplify our process.
Navigating Workflows: In the workflow canvas, we can pan around by dragging down the spacebar. Zooming functions like zoom in, zoom out, and fit to canvas help us better manage our view of the workflows.
Working with Nodes: Each node typically shows inputs, outputs, and relevant details. We can test each node and see the data output. It’s practical to pin the data for a static view during testing.
Extracting Information: To capture only what we need, we can create new fields in a node, such as customer ID, name, and description. Testing the node is essential to ensure we are getting the correct data.
Automatic Iteration: n8n will loop through data lists without us needing to create manual loops. This feature simplifies workflow creation and helps us focus on building without coding the iterations.
Adding New Nodes: We can add more nodes using the plus button. We can explore and select from the available node options based on our requirements. You can also back up your workflows regularly and use credentials encryption for secure automation.
Applying these tips allows us to navigate and utilize n8n efficiently for our workflow needs.
Tutorial Series
- n8n Tutorial #1: Why Choose n8n to Build AI Agents
- n8n Tutorial #2: Ways to Self-Host n8n
- n8n Tutorial #3: Beginners Guide for Getting Started
- n8n Tutorial #4: Understanding Webhooks & API Calls
More tutorials to come.
FAQ
1. What do beginners like best about n8n?
n8n is a workflow automation platform. It helps you connect and automate services, APIs, and data sources without heavy coding. It has a great community to help beginners get started.
2. How can I quickly create my first workflow?
You can start with the ‘Quick Start’ or ‘Very Quick Quick Start’ template from the Templates section. These pre-built workflows demonstrate basic setup and help you learn the fundamentals.
3. Which hosting options are available for n8n?
n8n can be hosted on the n8n cloud service or self-hosted using Docker or other environments. Self-hosting gives you full control of your data and configurations.
4. Is coding knowledge required to use n8n?
No, you don’t need to know how to code. n8n has a user-friendly interface and predefined nodes for building workflows visually.
5. How does n8n handle multiple items of data?
n8n automatically goes through each item of data. This means you don’t have to set up loops manually. It makes handling large amounts of data easier and faster.
6. What are the benefits of using templates?
Templates are a big time-saver. They offer pre-made workflows for different tasks and integrations. You can easily import them into your n8n instance and customize them as needed.
7. Can n8n integrate with external APIs?
Yes, n8n can connect with external APIs. It comes with core nodes and allows you to create custom HTTP requests or function nodes. This way, you can integrate with almost any REST or GraphQL API.
8. How do I troubleshoot a failing workflow?
To fix a workflow, check the ‘All Executions’ log. It shows detailed error messages. Look for the step where the problem happens. Then, adjust or fix the relevant node based on the log information.
9. Are there best practices for workflow organization?
Yes, there are. Use clear names for nodes and group-related tasks. Add notes to explain each node’s purpose. Also, regularly review your logs to keep your workflows running smoothly and reliably.
10. Where can I learn more or get support?
For help, check the official n8n documentation, community forum, and tutorials. You can also connect with the community for advice, solutions, and workflow examples.
