Process Multiple Files with Forms: A Tutorial on Binary Data and Loops — n8n Workflow

Low complexity⚡ Trigger5 nodes🏷️ File Management👁 185 viewsby Wyeth

Overview

Let a user load multiple files with a Form node, and process the binary data. A very important workflow for many tools.

This is a learning example of several core concepts that are hard to grasp in n8n: $binary data Loop and $runIndex Split Out

The Save File deomonstrates how to access the binary data correctly, but could be swapped to POST the files to an AI, for example.

Nodes used

Loop Over ItemsSave Each FileSplit Out FilesForm - Load Multiple FilesSticky Note4Continue Once

Workflow Preview

Learning n8n

Loops, Multiple Binary Files, {{$runIndex}}

Loops are rarely needed in n8n, but here is one example

Use a Form to load multiple files.

This is a case where n8n will NOT fire an event per fil

However, we want to process the fi

Split Out will fix this, firing one event for

*We must make sure to pass binary data along.*

Now we can use a Loop to handle each file, on

With this setup, the special {{$runIndex}} can be used

We use it to get the correct binary file, which has bee

We typically only want to proceed downstream

Loop Over Items

Save Each File

Split Out Files

⚡

Form - Load Multiple Files

Continue Once

5 nodes5 edges

How it Works

1
Trigger
The workflow starts with a trigger trigger.
2
Process
Data flows through 5 nodes, connecting formtrigger, readwritefile, splitinbatches.
3
Output
The workflow completes its automation and delivers the result to the configured destination.

Node Details (5)

Loop Over Items

splitInBatches

Save Each File

readWriteFile

Split Out Files

splitOut

Form - Load Multiple Files

formTrigger

Sticky Note4

stickyNote

Continue Once

noOp

How to Import This Workflow

1Click Download JSON button on the right to save the workflow file.
2Open your n8n instance. Go to Workflows → New → Import from file.
3Select the downloaded process-multiple-files-with-forms-a-tutorial-on-binary-data-and-loops file and click Import.
4Set up credentials for each service node (API keys, OAuth, etc.).
5Click Test Workflow to verify everything works, then activate it.

Or paste directly in n8n → Import from JSON:

{ "name": "Process Multiple Files with Forms: A Tutorial on Binary Data and Loops", "nodes": [...], ...}

Integrations

formtriggerreadwritefilesplitinbatchessplitout

Get This Workflow

Download and import in one click

Download JSON View on n8n.io

Nodes5

Complexitylow

Triggertrigger

CategoryFile Management

Created by

Wyeth

@wyeth

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