n8n-workflow

name	n8n-workflow
description	Create, debug, and manage n8n workflows. Use for building automations, analyzing workflow executions, fixing errors, and optimizing performance.
license	MIT

n8n Workflow Management

Complete workflow for creating, debugging, and managing n8n automations.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Creating new n8n workflows
• Debugging failed workflow executions
• Analyzing workflow performance
• Migrating or copying workflows
• Building integrations between services

Prerequisites

MCP Tools Available

The n8n MCP server provides these tools:

Tool	Description
n8n_list_workflows	List all workflows with status
n8n_get_workflow	Get workflow details by ID
n8n_get_workflow_structure	Get nodes and connections only
n8n_create_workflow	Create new workflow
n8n_update_full_workflow	Full workflow update
n8n_update_partial_workflow	Incremental updates (add/remove nodes)
n8n_delete_workflow	Delete workflow
n8n_list_executions	List execution history
n8n_get_execution	Get execution details
n8n_validate_workflow	Validate workflow structure
n8n_autofix_workflow	Auto-fix common issues
n8n_trigger_webhook_workflow	Trigger webhook workflow
n8n_workflow_versions	Get workflow version history
n8n_health_check	Check n8n instance health
n8n_diagnostic	Run diagnostic checks on workflows

Access

• URL: https://n8n.dirk-schulenburg.net
• API: Via n8n MCP Gateway

Quick Start

List All Workflows

n8n_list_workflows({
  limit: 100,
  active: true  // Optional: filter by active status
})

Get Workflow Details

// Full workflow with parameters
n8n_get_workflow({ id: "123" })

// Structure only (nodes + connections)
n8n_get_workflow_structure({ id: "123" })

// Minimal info
n8n_get_workflow_minimal({ id: "123" })

Check Executions

// Recent executions for a workflow
n8n_list_executions({
  workflowId: "123",
  limit: 10
})

// Get execution details
n8n_get_execution({
  id: "456",
  mode: "summary"  // preview, summary, filtered, full
})

Creating Workflows

Basic Workflow Structure

n8n_create_workflow({
  name: "My Automation",
  nodes: [
    {
      id: "trigger-1",
      name: "Webhook Trigger",
      type: "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
      typeVersion: 1,
      position: [250, 300],
      parameters: {
        path: "my-webhook",
        httpMethod: "POST"
      }
    },
    {
      id: "http-1",
      name: "HTTP Request",
      type: "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      typeVersion: 4,
      position: [450, 300],
      parameters: {
        url: "https://api.example.com/data",
        method: "GET"
      }
    }
  ],
  connections: {
    "trigger-1": {
      main: [[{ node: "http-1", type: "main", index: 0 }]]
    }
  }
})

Common Node Types

Node Type	Use Case
n8n-nodes-base.webhook	HTTP trigger
n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger	Cron/interval trigger
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest	API calls
n8n-nodes-base.set	Set/transform data
n8n-nodes-base.if	Conditional logic
n8n-nodes-base.switch	Multiple conditions
n8n-nodes-base.code	Custom JavaScript
n8n-nodes-base.emailSend	Send emails
n8n-nodes-base.slack	Slack integration

Workflow Patterns

Pattern 1: Webhook → Process → Respond

{
  nodes: [
    { type: "webhook", id: "1", position: [250, 300] },
    { type: "set", id: "2", position: [450, 300] },
    { type: "respondToWebhook", id: "3", position: [650, 300] }
  ],
  connections: {
    "1": { main: [[{ node: "2" }]] },
    "2": { main: [[{ node: "3" }]] }
  }
}

Pattern 2: Schedule → Fetch → Notify

{
  nodes: [
    { type: "scheduleTrigger", id: "1", position: [250, 300] },
    { type: "httpRequest", id: "2", position: [450, 300] },
    { type: "if", id: "3", position: [650, 300] },
    { type: "slack", id: "4", position: [850, 200] },
    { type: "noOp", id: "5", position: [850, 400] }
  ],
  connections: {
    "1": { main: [[{ node: "2" }]] },
    "2": { main: [[{ node: "3" }]] },
    "3": { main: [[{ node: "4" }], [{ node: "5" }]] }
  }
}

Debugging Workflows

Step 1: Check Execution History

// List recent executions
n8n_list_executions({
  workflowId: "123",
  status: "error",
  limit: 5
})

Step 2: Analyze Failed Execution

// Get execution with full data
n8n_get_execution({
  id: "456",
  mode: "full",
  includeInputData: true
})

Step 3: Identify Error

Look for:

• Node that failed: Check error field
• Input data: What data reached the failing node
• Error message: API errors, validation errors, etc.

Step 4: Fix and Test

// Update specific node
n8n_update_partial_workflow({
  id: "123",
  operations: [
    {
      type: "updateNode",
      nodeId: "http-1",
      parameters: {
        url: "https://correct-url.com/api"
      }
    }
  ]
})

Common Issues & Fixes

Issue	Cause	Fix
ECONNREFUSED	API unreachable	Check URL, network
401 Unauthorized	Bad credentials	Update API key
undefined in expression	Missing data	Add null check
Workflow could not be activated	Missing credentials	Configure credentials

Updating Workflows

Partial Update (Recommended)

// Add a node
n8n_update_partial_workflow({
  id: "123",
  operations: [
    {
      type: "addNode",
      node: {
        id: "new-node",
        name: "New Step",
        type: "n8n-nodes-base.set",
        typeVersion: 3,
        position: [600, 300],
        parameters: {}
      }
    },
    {
      type: "addConnection",
      sourceNodeId: "existing-node",
      targetNodeId: "new-node"
    }
  ]
})

Full Update

n8n_update_full_workflow({
  id: "123",
  name: "Updated Name",
  nodes: [...],  // Complete node array
  connections: {...}  // Complete connections
})

Validation & Auto-Fix

Validate Workflow

n8n_validate_workflow({
  id: "123",
  options: {
    validateNodes: true,
    validateConnections: true,
    validateExpressions: true,
    profile: "runtime"  // minimal, runtime, ai-friendly, strict
  }
})

Auto-Fix Issues

// Preview fixes
n8n_autofix_workflow({
  id: "123",
  applyFixes: false  // Preview only
})

// Apply fixes
n8n_autofix_workflow({
  id: "123",
  applyFixes: true,
  confidenceThreshold: "high"
})

Workflow Templates

Template: Daily Report

n8n_create_workflow({
  name: "Daily Report",
  nodes: [
    {
      id: "schedule",
      name: "Daily 8am",
      type: "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
      typeVersion: 1,
      position: [250, 300],
      parameters: {
        rule: {
          interval: [{ field: "cronExpression", expression: "0 8 * * *" }]
        }
      }
    },
    {
      id: "fetch",
      name: "Fetch Data",
      type: "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      typeVersion: 4,
      position: [450, 300],
      parameters: {
        url: "={{ $env.API_URL }}/report",
        method: "GET"
      }
    },
    {
      id: "email",
      name: "Send Report",
      type: "n8n-nodes-base.emailSend",
      typeVersion: 2,
      position: [650, 300],
      parameters: {
        fromEmail: "[e-mail]",
        toEmail: "[e-mail]",
        subject: "Daily Report - {{ $now.format('yyyy-MM-dd') }}",
        text: "={{ $json.reportContent }}"
      }
    }
  ],
  connections: {
    "schedule": { main: [[{ node: "fetch", type: "main", index: 0 }]] },
    "fetch": { main: [[{ node: "email", type: "main", index: 0 }]] }
  }
})

Template: Webhook API Proxy

n8n_create_workflow({
  name: "API Proxy",
  nodes: [
    {
      id: "webhook",
      name: "Incoming Request",
      type: "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
      typeVersion: 1,
      position: [250, 300],
      parameters: {
        path: "proxy",
        httpMethod: "POST",
        responseMode: "responseNode"
      }
    },
    {
      id: "transform",
      name: "Transform",
      type: "n8n-nodes-base.set",
      typeVersion: 3,
      position: [450, 300],
      parameters: {
        mode: "manual",
        duplicateItem: false,
        assignments: {
          assignments: [
            { name: "processed", value: "={{ $json.data }}", type: "string" }
          ]
        }
      }
    },
    {
      id: "respond",
      name: "Respond",
      type: "n8n-nodes-base.respondToWebhook",
      typeVersion: 1,
      position: [650, 300],
      parameters: {
        respondWith: "json",
        responseBody: "={{ $json }}"
      }
    }
  ],
  connections: {
    "webhook": { main: [[{ node: "transform", type: "main", index: 0 }]] },
    "transform": { main: [[{ node: "respond", type: "main", index: 0 }]] }
  }
})

Best Practices

Naming Conventions

• Workflows: [Category] Description (e.g., [Email] Daily Newsletter)
• Nodes: Descriptive action (e.g., Fetch User Data, Send Slack Alert)

Error Handling

• Use continueOnFail for non-critical nodes
• Add error workflows for critical processes
• Log errors to external service

Performance

• Limit data early with filters
• Use pagination for large datasets
• Batch operations when possible

Security

• Use credentials instead of hardcoded secrets
• Validate webhook input
• Limit webhook exposure (authentication)

Troubleshooting

Workflow Won't Activate

// Check for issues
n8n_validate_workflow({ id: "123" })

// Common causes:
// - Missing credentials
// - Invalid expressions
// - Disconnected nodes

Execution Timeout

// Check execution time
n8n_get_execution({ id: "456", mode: "preview" })

// Solutions:
// - Split into smaller workflows
// - Add pagination
// - Use async patterns

Memory Issues

• Reduce data size with Set node
• Use pagination
• Process in batches

---

Version 1.1 - Added workflow_versions, health_check, diagnostic tools (2026-03-12)