Automated Workflow Inventory Dashboard using API and Google Sheets - n8n Workflow

• n8n platform administrators seeking better oversight.


• Technical users who manage hundreds of deployed n8n workflow instances.


• Teams requiring documentation or reporting on which n8n node types are most frequently used.


• Anyone who needs a centralized, automatically updated inventory of their n8n templates and configuration details.

Managing a large library of automated processes can become challenging. This n8n workflow solves the problem of decentralized documentation by providing a continuous, automatically updated inventory of every n8n workflow deployed on your instance. By leveraging the n8n API, this n8n template extracts crucial metadata—such as activation status, creation dates, applied tags, and the specific n8n node types used within each workflow—and deposits this information into a structured Google Sheet. This dashboard acts as a central control panel, allowing administrators to easily search, filter, and audit their entire library of n8n templates. The design ensures efficiency by using the 'Append or Update' feature in Google Sheets, meaning that subsequent runs of this n8n workflow only update existing records, keeping the inventory current without creating duplicates.

This automation starts with a dual-choice n8n trigger: either a scheduled timer (Schedule Trigger) for recurring updates or a manual start (When clicking ‘Execute workflow’) for immediate execution.

1. Data Retrieval: The Get All Workflows n8n node utilizes the n8n API to fetch the complete list of all workflow definitions (n8n workflow JSON data) from the host instance.


2. Batch Processing: The Loop Through Each Workflow node (Split In Batches) iterates over every individual n8n workflow returned by the API call, processing them one at a time.


3. Data Transformation: The Extract Workflow Details Code n8n node processes the complex workflow JSON. It extracts the name, ID, and collapses the workflow tags into a single text field. Crucially, it parses the nodes array to generate a unique list of all n8n node types (e.g., Google Sheets, HTTP Request, Set) used within that specific n8n workflow.


4. Google Sheet Update: The Add/Update Row in Google Sheet n8n node performs the core action. It uses the workflow ID as the matching column to ensure the row is updated if it exists or appended if it is a new n8n workflow. It maps the extracted details (ID, Link, Tags, Nodes List, Active Status, Timestamps) to the corresponding Google Sheet columns.


5. Rate Limit Management: The Pause to Avoid Rate Limits n8n node introduces a brief delay after processing each workflow. This is essential for large instances to prevent the automation from hitting API rate limits imposed by the Google Sheets or n8n API endpoints, ensuring the overall stability of the n8n workflow.

To deploy this useful n8n workflow template, follow these steps:

1. Import: Copy the provided JSON data and import it directly into your n8n instance.


2. n8n API Credentials: Click on the Get All Workflows n8n node. You must set up an n8n API credential (using an API key generated in your n8n settings) to allow the workflow to query itself.


3. Google Sheets Credentials: Click on the Add/Update Row in Google Sheet n8n node. Connect your Google Sheets account via OAuth2. Ensure this account has write access to your desired spreadsheet.


4. Sheet Configuration: In the Google Sheet node, select your target Spreadsheet ID and Sheet Name.


5. Matching Column Setup: CRITICAL: Ensure the id column is explicitly defined as the 'Matching Column' under the node's settings. This prevents duplicate entries every time the n8n workflow runs.


6. Activate Trigger: Choose whether you want the Schedule Trigger (for automated, periodic runs) or the When clicking ‘Execute workflow’ (for manual runs) and delete the other, then activate the master n8n workflow.

• Schedule Trigger / Manual Trigger (n8n trigger): Initiates the n8n workflow. Choose one for automated scheduling (e.g., daily) or manual execution.


• n8n (Get All Workflows): This n8n node interacts with the local n8n API. It retrieves a comprehensive JSON object containing metadata for all available n8n templates and workflows on the instance.


• Split In Batches (Loop Through Each Workflow): This logic n8n node ensures that the large list of workflows is processed sequentially, one item at a time, facilitating accurate data extraction and safe looping.


• Code (Extract Workflow Details): A custom n8n node used to parse the raw workflow JSON. It extracts simple fields (ID, Name, Tags) and uses JavaScript to aggregate and list all unique node.type values found in the specific n8n workflow definition.


• Google Sheets (Add/Update Row in Google Sheet): The destination n8n node. It is configured to Append or Update data. It maps extracted fields like workflow ID, Title, Link, Tags, Node Types, Active Status, and timestamps.


• Wait (Pause to Avoid Rate Limits): A flow control n8n node that introduces a brief delay after processing each workflow item, protecting against API rate limits and ensuring smooth execution across many iterations.