Skip to main content

Execute multiple command lines based on text file inputs

Workflow preview

Workflow preview
100%
Execute multiple command lines based on text file inputs 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 takes a text file as input. It pulls the information from the text file and used it as a parameter to execute a command for each text line. This workflow references a file /home/n8n/f...

Best for

  • DevOps automation workflows
  • intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.readbinaryfile, n8n-nodes-base.movebinarydata, n8n-nodes-base.function, n8n-nodes-base.executecommand, n8n-nodes-base.if, n8n-nodes-base.noop

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by jason.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Execute multiple command lines based on text file inputs
Workflow name
Execute multiple command lines based on text file inputs

This workflow takes a text file as input. It pulls the information from the text file and used it as a parameter to execute a command for each text line.

This workflow references a file /home/n8n/filelist.txt in the Read Binary File node which will need to be changed to work properly. You can also edit the Execute Command node to modify what happens for each of these lines of text.

Note: This workflow requires the Execute Command node which is only available on the on-premise version of n8n.

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 - On clicking 'execute'

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

Block 2 - Read Binary File

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

Block 3 - Move Binary Data

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

Block 4 - Function

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

Block 5 - Execute Command

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

Block 6 - IF

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

Block 7 - NoOp

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

3. Summary Table

Workflow Execute multiple command lines based on text file inputs
Complexity intermediate
Nodes 7
Categories DevOps
Author jason
Published 31 Jan 2021

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/913/913.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 Execute multiple command lines based on text file inputs do?

This workflow takes a text file as input. It pulls the information from the text file and used it as a parameter to execute a command for each text line. This workflow references a file /home/n8n/f...

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 DevOps use case.