Block 1 - Aggregate
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.aggregate - aggregate
- Config choices
- Version 1
Make OpenAI citation for file retrieval RAG
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Important notice
This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.
1. Workflow Overview
Make OpenAI Citation for File Retrieval RAG Use case In this example, we will ensure that all texts from the OpenAI assistant search for citations and sources in the vector store files. We can also...
Best for
- Engineering automation workflows
- AI RAG automation workflows
- advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates
Tools used
n8n-nodes-base.aggregate, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.memorybufferwindow, n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chattrigger, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openai, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.splitout, n8n-nodes-base.set
Source and attribution
This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Davi Saranszky Mesquita.
Original n8n.io source1.1 Workflow description
- Title
- Make OpenAI citation for file retrieval RAG
- Workflow name
- Make OpenAI citation for file retrieval RAG
Make OpenAI Citation for File Retrieval RAG
Use case
In this example, we will ensure that all texts from the OpenAI assistant search for citations and sources in the vector store files. We can also format the output for Markdown or HTML tags.
This is necessary because the assistant sometimes generates strange characters, and we can also use dynamic references such as citations 1, 2, 3, for example.
What this workflow does
In this workflow, we will use an OpenAI assistant created within their interface, equipped with a vector store containing some files for file retrieval.
The assistant will perform the file search within the OpenAI infrastructure and will return the content with citations.
- We will make an HTTP request to retrieve all the details we need to format the text output.
Setup
Insert an OpenAI Key
How to adjust it to your needs
At the end of the workflow, we have a block of code that will format the output, and there we can add Markdown tags to create links. Optionally, we can transform the Markdown formatting into HTML.
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 2 - Window Buffer Memory
- Type / Role
- @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.memoryBufferWindow - memoryBufferWindow
- Config choices
- Version 1.3
Block 3 - Sticky Note4
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 4 - Sticky Note
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 5 - Create a simple Trigger to have the Chat button within N8N
- Type / Role
- @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chatTrigger - chatTrigger
- Config choices
- Version 1.1
Block 6 - OpenAI Assistant with Vector Store
- Type / Role
- @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi - openAi
- Config choices
- Version 1.7
Block 7 - Sticky Note1
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 8 - Get ALL Thread Content
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
- Config choices
- Version 4.2
Block 9 - Sticky Note2
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 10 - Split all message iterations from a thread
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.splitOut - splitOut
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 11 - Split all content from a single message
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.splitOut - splitOut
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 12 - Split all citations from a single message
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.splitOut - splitOut
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 13 - Retrieve file name from a file ID
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
- Config choices
- Version 4.2
Block 14 - Regularize output
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.set - set
- Config choices
- Version 3.4
Block 15 - Sticky Note3
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 16 - Sticky Note5
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 17 - Sticky Note6
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 18 - Optional Markdown to HTML
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.markdown - markdown
- Config choices
- Version 1
Block 19 - Finnaly format the output
- Type / Role
- n8n-nodes-base.code - code
- Config choices
- Version 2
3. Summary Table
| Workflow | Make OpenAI citation for file retrieval RAG |
|---|---|
| Complexity | advanced |
| Nodes | 19 |
| Categories | Engineering, AI RAG |
| Author | Davi Saranszky Mesquita |
| Published | 02 Jan 2025 |
4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch
-
1. Download the workflow JSON
Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/2693/2693.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.
Frequently asked questions
What does Make OpenAI citation for file retrieval RAG do?
Make OpenAI Citation for File Retrieval RAG Use case In this example, we will ensure that all texts from the OpenAI assistant search for citations and sources in the vector store files. We can also...
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 Engineering, AI RAG use case.