Key Benefits
Self-Hosted Option
Run n8n on your own infrastructure for complete data control
Generous Free Tier
n8n cloud offers a complimentary plan for getting started
Full Automation Management
Programmatically create, update, duplicate, and delete automations
Flexible Data Transformation
Use n8n’s powerful expression system to transform data
Installation
- From Nodes Panel (Recommended)
- From Settings
- Self-Hosted
Setting Up Credentials
Get Your API Key
- Log in to your DocsAutomator account
- Navigate to Settings > API Key
- Copy your API key
Creating Documents
Select an Automation
Choose the automation you want to use from the Automation dropdown
Only automations with API or n8n as the data source will appear in this list.
Map Placeholder Values
For each placeholder in your template, provide a value. You can enter static text or use n8n expressions to map data from previous nodes.
Configure Line Items (Optional)
If your template includes line items, expand the Line Items section.
Set Processing Options
- Preview Mode: Enable to generate a preview document (doesn’t count against credits)
- Async Processing: Enable to return immediately with a job ID
Working with Line Items
Line items must be provided as a JSON array of objects. Each object represents one row, with keys matching your placeholder names.Multiple Line Item Sets
If your template has multiple line item sections:- Click Add Line Item
- Select the line item type (e.g., “Line Items 1”, “Line Items 2”)
- Provide the JSON array for that section
Transforming Data
Use n8n’s built-in nodes to transform data:- Code node: Write JavaScript to transform complex data structures
- Split Out node: Convert arrays into individual items
- Aggregate node: Combine multiple items into an array
Managing Automations
The n8n node provides full CRUD operations for automations:| Operation | Description |
|---|---|
| Get Many | List all automations in your workspace |
| Get | Retrieve a single automation by ID |
| Create | Create a new automation |
| Update | Modify an existing automation’s settings |
| Duplicate | Create a copy of an automation |
| Delete | Remove an automation |
Expression Tips
Common n8n expressions for DocsAutomator:Best Practices
Use Preview Mode for Testing
Use Preview Mode for Testing
Enable Preview Mode to verify placeholder mapping and document formatting without using credits.
Error Handling
Error Handling
- Enable Continue On Fail to prevent workflow failure
- Use an Error Trigger workflow to handle failures gracefully
- Check error output for detailed messages
Async Processing for Large Documents
Async Processing for Large Documents
For documents that take longer to generate:
- Enable Async Processing to receive a job ID immediately
- Use a Wait node to pause for processing
- Check the job status using the DocsAutomator API
FAQ
Which automations appear in n8n?
Which automations appear in n8n?
Only automations with API or n8n as the data source will appear. To use an automation with n8n, go to DocsAutomator, open your automation settings, and change the Data Source to “API” or “n8n”.
How do I handle errors in my workflow?
How do I handle errors in my workflow?
Use Continue On Fail on the DocsAutomator node, create an Error Trigger workflow, or use an IF node to check for error conditions.
E-Signatures and PDF Templates
DocsAutomator supports e-signatures with all data sources, including n8n. After generating a document, you can automatically route it for signing. DocsAutomator also supports PDF templates in addition to Google Doc templates.
Resources
n8n Documentation
Official n8n documentation
Community Nodes Guide
Learn about n8n community nodes
DocsAutomator API
API reference documentation
Template Guide
Learn the template syntax