Generate summaries from uploaded files using OpenAI Assistants API

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Important notice

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

1. Workflow Overview

Generate Summaries from Uploaded Files using OpenAI Assistants API Overview Upload a document (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, TXT, CSV, JSON, or Markdown) and receive an AI generated summary containing: title...

Best for

Document Extraction automation workflows
AI Summarization automation workflows
intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.formtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.if, n8n-nodes-base.wait

Source and attribution

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

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title: Generate summaries from uploaded files using OpenAI Assistants API
Workflow name: Generate summaries from uploaded files using OpenAI Assistants API

Generate Summaries from Uploaded Files using OpenAI Assistants API

📑 Overview

Upload a document (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, TXT, CSV, JSON, or Markdown) and receive an AI-generated summary containing:

title – 5-10 words
summary – 1-2 sentences
bullets – 3-5 key points
tags – 3-6 short keywords

The workflow:

Stores the file in OpenAI.
Runs an Assistant with File Search and Code Interpreter enabled.
Polls until the run finishes.
Retrieves the summary JSON.

✅ Prerequisites

OpenAI Assistant

Create one at <https://platform.openai.com/assistants>
Enable File Search and Code Interpreter
Note: The assistant ID starts with asst_

OpenAI API credential setup in n8n

Go to Credentials → New → HTTP Header Auth
Header name: Authorization
Value: Bearer YOUR-OPENAI-API-KEY (replace YOUR-OPENAI-API-KEY with your OpenAI API secret key for your assistant, starts with sk-)
Name it: openAIApiHeader

🔧 Setup

Import the workflow JSON.
When n8n prompts for a credential, choose openAIApiHeader for every HTTP Request node.
Open Run Assistant → Body and replace
```
"assistant_id": "REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_ASSISTANT_ID"
```
with your real ID (starts with asst_…). Save.

🚀 How it works

#	Node	Purpose
1	On form submission	User uploads a file (`File`).
2	Upload File	`POST /v1/files` (multipart) → returns `file_id`.
3	Create Thread	Creates a thread and attaches the uploaded file.
4	Run Assistant	Starts the run using your `assistant_id`.
5	Poll Run Status → Wait 2 s → IF	Loops until `status = completed`.
6	Fetch Summary	`GET /v1/threads/{thread_id}/messages` → summary JSON.

🖌️ Customisation ideas

Edit the user prompt in Create Thread to change summary length, tone, or language.
Add an HTTP Response node after Fetch Summary to return plaintext to the uploader.
Replace the polling loop with OpenAI’s forthcoming wait-for-run endpoint when available.

No community nodes required. Works on any n8n Cloud plan (Starter, Pro, Enterprise) or self-hosted Community Edition.

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 form submission

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

Block 2 - Create Thread

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

Block 3 - Poll Run Status

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

Block 4 - Is Not Complete?

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

Block 5 - Wait 2s

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

Block 6 - Fetch Summary

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

Block 7 - Run Assistant

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices: Version 4.2

Block 8 - Upload File

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices: Version 4.2

3. Summary Table

Workflow	Generate summaries from uploaded files using OpenAI Assistants API
Complexity	intermediate
Nodes	8
Categories	Document Extraction, AI Summarization
Author	Sam Robertson
Published	13 Jun 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/4911/4911.json as the source template for this automation.
2. Import the template into n8n

Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.
3. Configure credentials and variables

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

Download workflow JSON Original n8n.io source Document Extraction workflows AI Summarization workflows

Frequently asked questions

What does Generate summaries from uploaded files using OpenAI Assistants API do?

Generate Summaries from Uploaded Files using OpenAI Assistants API Overview Upload a document (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, TXT, CSV, JSON, or Markdown) and receive an AI generated summary containing: title...

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 Document Extraction, AI Summarization use case.

Sam Robertson

1 workflow

Nodes

n8n-nodes-base.formtrigger n8n-nodes-base.httprequest n8n-nodes-base.if n8n-nodes-base.wait

Complexity

intermediate

Published 13 Jun 2025

Likes 0

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Install path: /data/workflows/4911/4911.json

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Generate summaries from uploaded files using OpenAI Assistants API

Workflow preview

Important notice

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Tools used

Source and attribution

1.1 Workflow description

Generate Summaries from Uploaded Files using OpenAI Assistants API

📑 Overview

✅ Prerequisites

🔧 Setup

🚀 How it works

🖌️ Customisation ideas

1.2 Logical Blocks

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - On form submission

Block 2 - Create Thread

Block 3 - Poll Run Status

Block 4 - Is Not Complete?

Block 5 - Wait 2s

Block 6 - Fetch Summary

Block 7 - Run Assistant

Block 8 - Upload File

3. Summary Table

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

2. Import the template into n8n

3. Configure credentials and variables

4. Test with sample data

5. Activate and monitor

5. General Notes & Resources

Frequently asked questions