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Download and compress folder from S3 to ZIP file

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Download and compress folder from S3 to ZIP file preview
Open on n8n.io

Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

This workflow downloads all files from a specific folder in a S3 Bucket and compresses them so you can download it via n8n or do further processings. Fill in your Credentials and Settings in the No...

Best for

  • File Management automation workflows
  • intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.awss3, n8n-nodes-base.aggregate, n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.compression

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Marcel Claus-Ahrens.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Download and compress folder from S3 to ZIP file
Workflow name
Download and compress folder from S3 to ZIP file

This workflow downloads all files from a specific folder in a S3 Bucket and compresses them so you can download it via n8n or do further processings.

Fill in your Credentials and Settings in the Nodes marked with "*".

Might serve well as Blueprint or as manual Download for S3 Folders.

Since I found it rather tricky to compress all binary files into one zip file I figured might it be an interesting Template.

Hint: This is the expression to get every binary key to compress them dynamically. {{ Object.keys($binary).join(',') }} (used in the "Compress"-Node)

Enjoy the Workflow! ❤️ https://let-the-work-flow.com Workflow Automation & Development

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - When clicking ‘Test workflow’

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger - manualTrigger
Config choices
Version 1

Block 2 - List ALL Files*

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.awsS3 - awsS3
Config choices
Version 2

Block 3 - Download ALL Files from Folder*

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.awsS3 - awsS3
Config choices
Version 2

Block 4 - All into one Item (include Binary)

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.aggregate - aggregate
Config choices
Version 1

Block 5 - Note3

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 6 - Compress all of them to a ZIP

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.compression - compression
Config choices
Version 1.1

3. Summary Table

Workflow Download and compress folder from S3 to ZIP file
Complexity intermediate
Nodes 6
Categories File Management
Author Marcel Claus-Ahrens
Published 04 Oct 2024

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/2451/2451.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

    Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.

  4. 4. Test with sample data

    Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.

  5. 5. Activate and monitor

    Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Frequently asked questions

What does Download and compress folder from S3 to ZIP file do?

This workflow downloads all files from a specific folder in a S3 Bucket and compresses them so you can download it via n8n or do further processings. Fill in your Credentials and Settings in the No...

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your File Management use case.