Who is this workflow for? This workflow offers a streamlined method to count the number of items returned by a specific node within an n8n automation process. By utilizing a Set node with the Execute Once option and applying the $input.all().length expression, users can efficiently tally items for enhanced data handling and decision-making..

What does this workflow do?

  • Trigger Node: Initiates the workflow through a Webhook, HTTP Request, or another triggering mechanism based on your specific use case.
  • Data Retrieval Node: Fetches data from a source such as a Customer Datastore, GitHub, or another integrated service, resulting in multiple items being passed forward.
  • Set Node Configuration:
  • Add Set Node: Incorporate a Set node into the workflow after the data retrieval node.
  • Enable Execute Once: Activate the Execute Once option to ensure this node runs a single time, regardless of the number of incoming items.
  • Define Variable: Create a new field (e.g., itemCount) and set its value using the expression $input.all().length. This expression retrieves all incoming items and calculates their total count.
  • Subsequent Actions: Use the itemCount value in further nodes to perform actions such as conditional branching, logging, or responding via Webhook or HTTP Request based on the count.

🤖 Why Use This Automation Workflow?

  • Accurate Item Counting: Precisely determine the number of items a node outputs without manual intervention.
  • Streamlined Data Processing: Facilitate conditional logic based on item counts, enabling more dynamic workflows.
  • Improved Workflow Efficiency: Automate the counting process, reducing the potential for errors and saving time.

👨‍💻 Who is This Workflow For?

This workflow is ideal for automation engineers, data analysts, and business professionals who use n8n to automate processes and need to monitor or act upon the number of items processed by specific nodes within their workflows.

🎯 Use Cases

  1. Data Validation: Ensure that a data retrieval node returns the expected number of records before proceeding to subsequent steps.
  2. Conditional Routing: Direct the workflow to different paths based on whether the item count meets certain criteria.
  3. Reporting and Analytics: Automatically generate summaries or reports that include the number of items processed during a workflow execution.

TL;DR

This n8n workflow template provides a simple yet effective approach to counting the number of items returned by a node. By leveraging the Set node with the Execute Once option and the $input.all().length expression, users can enhance their workflows with precise item counting, enabling more informed and efficient automation processes.

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A curated directory of the best n8n templates for workflow automations.