Automated Large File Transfer using TransferNow and Web Form - n8n Workflow

• Businesses requiring a simple, high-limit file upload solution.


• Developers needing robust n8n templates for complex, multi-part API uploads.


• Users who want to automate secure large document delivery without manual intervention.


• Teams integrating TransferNow functionality into their existing systems using n8n.

Handling large file uploads can be challenging due to API limits and multi-part upload requirements. This specialized n8n workflow overcomes these limitations by utilizing the powerful TransferNow API combined with a user-friendly n8n trigger form. This solution allows anyone to upload a single large file (up to 5GB) through a public link. The n8n automation takes care of calculating the file size, initializing the transfer, retrieving the temporary upload URL, performing the high-throughput file upload using the HTTP Request n8n node, and finally, finalizing the transfer and providing the secure download link. This n8n workflow streamlines what is typically a complex development task into a reliable, repeatable automation.

The process begins with the designated n8n trigger:

1. Form Submission: The automation starts when a user submits the built-in ‘On form submission’ n8n trigger, providing the recipient’s email, transfer subject, message, and the large file itself.


2. Size Calculation: A Code n8n node runs a script to accurately calculate the binary size and extract the filename, required for the TransferNow API.


3. Transfer Initialization: An HTTP Request n8n node calls the TransferNow API to initialize the transfer, passing the file metadata (name and size), recipient information, and transfer settings.


4. Retrieve Upload URL: A subsequent HTTP Request n8n node fetches the unique, temporary upload URL necessary for uploading the binary content of the large file part.


5. Merge and Upload: The data streams are merged, and the 'Send UploadUrl' HTTP Request n8n node performs a PUT request, streaming the binary file content directly to the secured TransferNow URL.


6. Finalization: A series of HTTP Request n8n nodes (Send Transfer and Upload done) signal the TransferNow API that the file upload is complete and finalize the transfer setup.


7. Link Retrieval: The automation retrieves the complete transfer data, constructs the final secure download link using a Set n8n node, and presents the confirmation and download URL back to the user via the Completion Form.

To deploy this n8n workflow, follow these steps:

1. Import: Copy the provided JSON code and import it directly into your n8n instance as a new n8n workflow.


2. TransferNow Setup: Create a free account on TransferNow and obtain your API key.


3. Credential Setup: Within n8n, you must configure the 'Header Auth TransferNow' credential used by all HTTP Request n8n node instances. The credential type must be 'HTTP Header Auth'.

1. Activate: Save the n8n workflow and set the toggle to 'Active' so that the 'On form submission' n8n trigger is listening for submissions.


2. Test: Access the public URL generated by the initial n8n trigger node to test the file upload functionality.

On form submission (n8n trigger): The starting point of the n8n workflow. It generates a public web form designed to capture the file (data), recipient email (To), subject (Title), and message (Message).
Calculate size (Code n8n node): Essential for large file handling. It uses JavaScript code (this.helpers.getBinaryDataBuffer) to read the file size in bytes, which is required by the TransferNow API structure.
Set Transfer (HTTP Request n8n node): Initializes the multi-part transfer process with TransferNow. It uses expressions to dynamically set the recipient email and transfer metadata based on the form submission data. Requires 'Header Auth TransferNow' credentials.
Get Upload Url (HTTP Request n8n node): Retrieves the specific, pre-signed URL required for uploading the raw binary data of the file chunk.
Send UploadUrl (HTTP Request n8n node): This is the core upload step. It executes a PUT request, configured to send the file's binary data (Content-Type: application/octet-stream) directly to the pre-signed URL.
Is complete? (If n8n node): Checks the API response after the multi-part upload step to ensure the file was successfully processed before proceeding to finalize the transfer.
Get transfer data (HTTP Request n8n node): Fetches the completed transfer object from TransferNow, which contains all necessary information to generate the secure download link.
Form (Form n8n node): Acts as the final output, displaying a successful completion message and the secure download link to the user who initiated the n8n trigger.