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CloudConvert

Use CloudConvert to convert files, create thumbnails, merge files, add watermarks and more!

Actions8

Overview

The node integrates with CloudConvert, a cloud-based file conversion and processing service. It allows users to perform various file operations such as converting files between formats, creating thumbnails, merging multiple files into one, archiving files, optimizing/compressing files, adding watermarks, extracting metadata, and capturing website screenshots or PDFs.

For the Get Metadata operation specifically, the node extracts metadata information from input files. This is useful for scenarios where you need to analyze file properties (e.g., image dimensions, document info, video details) without modifying the file itself.

Practical examples:

  • Extracting EXIF data from photos before uploading them to a gallery.
  • Retrieving PDF metadata like author or creation date for document management.
  • Getting video codec or resolution details for media processing workflows.

Properties

Name Meaning
Authentication Method of authenticating with CloudConvert: either OAuth2 (recommended) or API Key.
Binary Input Data Whether the input file should be taken from a binary field in the incoming data. If false, the file content must be provided as text.
Input File Content The textual content of the file to upload when not using binary input data. Required if Binary Input Data is false.
Input Filename The name of the input file including its extension. Required if Binary Input Data is false.
Binary Property The name of the binary property containing the file data when Binary Input Data is true. Defaults to "data".
Additional Options A JSON dictionary of extra options to customize the metadata extraction task. These options correspond to CloudConvert's job builder parameters and allow advanced configuration.

Output

The node outputs JSON data containing the extracted metadata from the input file. The structure depends on the file type and the metadata available but typically includes fields such as:

  • File format details
  • Dimensions (for images/videos)
  • Duration (for audio/video)
  • Document properties (author, title, creation date)
  • Other technical metadata specific to the file type

No binary output is produced by the Get Metadata operation since it only extracts information.

Dependencies

  • Requires an active CloudConvert account.
  • Needs either an OAuth2 authentication setup or an API key credential configured in n8n.
  • Internet access to call CloudConvert's API endpoints.
  • No additional environment variables beyond standard n8n credential configurations.

Troubleshooting

  • Common issues:

    • Invalid or expired API credentials will cause authentication failures.
    • Providing incorrect binary property names or missing input data will result in errors.
    • Unsupported file types may lead to empty or incomplete metadata results.
    • Network connectivity problems can cause request timeouts or failures.

  • Error messages:

    • "Invalid operation metadata": Indicates the operation parameter was not recognized; ensure "Get Metadata" is selected.
    • "Missing input file data": Occurs if neither binary data nor file content is provided.
    • "Authentication failed": Check that your API key or OAuth2 token is valid and has necessary permissions.
    • "CloudConvert API error": Generic error indicating issues on the CloudConvert side or malformed requests; review additional options and input data.

To resolve errors, verify credentials, confirm input data presence and correctness, and consult CloudConvert API documentation for supported file types and options.

Links and References

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