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n8n for File Upload - Extracting PDF Data (Part 2)

Becca Lough

n8n is a powerful automation platform, and one of its most valuable tools is the Extract PDF node. This feature streamlines workflows that require pulling data from PDF files—turning previously manual, error-prone steps into seamless automation. In this blog post, we’ll walk through how to harness the Extract PDF node to capture and process PDF data, using lessons straight from SOLVD.cloud’s consultants.

Why Extract PDF Data?

Modern business workflows often revolve around documents such as invoices, contracts, and reports. With n8n’s Extract PDF node, it’s possible to automatically pull essential information from these documents, making it accessible for further action—whether that’s updating a spreadsheet, pushing to Notion, or integrating with AI tools like OpenAI for advanced processing.

Step-by-Step: Extracting Data from PDFs in n8n

As demonstrated in the SOLVD.cloud video series, here’s how to configure your workflow to extract data from uploaded PDF files:

1. Form Submission Workflow

Start by setting up a form in n8n that allows users to upload PDF files. After form submission, the PDF is captured as binary data in the workflow.

2. Adding the Extract PDF Node

  • Click the plus icon in your workflow editor.
  • Search for and add the Extract from PDF node.
  • Set the binary field input to your upload file variable (often named uploadfile). This step ensures the node knows which file to process.

3. Executing and Understanding Output

Once configured, execute the Extract PDF node. The node reads the PDF and outputs the contents as JSON data. Depending on your document, this can include text blocks, tables, and other structured elements. This output becomes available for the next steps in your workflow—for example, sending parsed data to Google Sheets or Notion.

4. Practical Example

If your PDF contains simple text, such as a title and body, those will appear in the JSON output. For more complex PDFs, the node can extract larger amounts of text and even table data, all represented in the JSON output for easy integration with other tools.

What’s Next?

Now that you’re able to extract data from PDFs, your workflow can side-step manual data entry and accelerate automation. In the next part of our SOLVD.cloud series, the workflow will be extended further: connecting your extracted PDF data to an OpenAI model, enabling transformative AI-driven document processing.

Stay tuned for the next blog in the series, where we’ll show you how to unleash even more potential in your automation workflows with n8n and AI!