Stéphane Heckel This workflow corresponds to n8n.io template #16608 — we link there as the canonical source.
The workflow JSON
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{
"id": "9H9ejftVvqcyq41z",
"name": "Evaluating the KeyValue Community Node",
"tags": [],
"nodes": [
{
"id": "2ccbdfe4-0f78-4281-8a01-1b9752c668c2",
"name": "When clicking \u2018Execute workflow\u2019",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger",
"position": [
-1536,
-528
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "67ebfe97-49a8-4fdb-8a41-3bf30d4203f8",
"name": "workflowid",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"onError": "continueErrorOutput",
"position": [
-1280,
-528
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "counter",
"operation": "get",
"counterName": "={{ $workflow.id }}"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "d5dfbb7e-0810-496b-9aae-9663eaaea897",
"name": "alreadyexecuted",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.noOp",
"position": [
-992,
-704
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "f390c17e-ceae-4346-8d32-cdc6d1f1e84e",
"name": "Sticky Note",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-1056,
-560
],
"parameters": {
"color": 5,
"width": 464,
"height": 304,
"content": "## The very first time the workflow is executed, this logic is processed, and will never be again\nUse a Counter based on $workflow.id"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "882260ab-c796-409c-b0d6-280d746dc78e",
"name": "check_value",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"onError": "continueErrorOutput",
"position": [
-1472,
128
],
"parameters": {
"key": "={{ $workflow.id }}",
"resource": "record",
"directoryName": "businessprocess"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "0932de91-e0a0-49ff-a1aa-6ef066fe9508",
"name": "run_your_logic",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.noOp",
"position": [
-1008,
144
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "ed760b1a-f1f7-45d0-bace-e55d59ce4f36",
"name": "logic_already_executed",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.noOp",
"position": [
-1008,
-128
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "69324234-2087-43de-a198-9e455e581d81",
"name": "logic_executed",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-768,
144
],
"parameters": {
"key": "={{ $workflow.id }}",
"value": "={{ $now.format('yyyy-MM-dd') }}",
"resource": "record",
"operation": "write",
"frontmatter": {},
"directoryName": "=businessprocess"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "557c77ff-39cd-4b8a-92da-831d3533a2e2",
"name": "Sticky Note1",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-1056,
32
],
"parameters": {
"color": 5,
"width": 448,
"height": 272,
"content": "## Workflow can be executed once a day only\nUse a Key Value based on $workflow.id"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "486beb52-0d8a-467a-b5a3-d0a5658f59f7",
"name": "Sticky Note2",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-1632,
-768
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 1104,
"height": 560,
"content": "# 1] Run a specific logic when the workflow is executed the first time\n\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "1445fc98-39c9-4a2f-a5f9-e68b19f75156",
"name": "specific_logic",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.noOp",
"position": [
-992,
-416
],
"parameters": {},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "e164cf99-7781-48d5-8c32-392e4d9b9d6e",
"name": "Sticky Note3",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-1632,
-144
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 1104,
"height": 560,
"content": "# 2] This workflow can be executed only once a day\n\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "e5e6aa78-9a40-496e-b87f-d3aa0f55a928",
"name": "flag_workflowid",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-800,
-416
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "counter",
"counterName": "={{ $workflow.id }}"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "f934f9fc-6b3c-4f21-91c7-b3d21c03cd10",
"name": "Sticky Note4",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-512,
-624
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 720,
"height": 528,
"content": "## Which counters have been set ? Select the 'counters' directory, then list the records\n\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "8102ba49-ef27-49b3-b9e4-98bfa34b0f1d",
"name": "select_counters",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-448,
-480
],
"parameters": {
"operation": "list",
"directoryFilter": "counters"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "a54a7e33-7268-4658-8495-3c8412377e06",
"name": "list_counters",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-208,
-480
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "record",
"operation": "list",
"directoryName": "={{ $json.directory }}"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "7921bcd8-5b2b-49ae-83f4-249508720c78",
"name": "reset_counter",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-448,
-272
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "counter",
"operation": "reset",
"counterName": "loop"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "3960e899-bc94-4b8d-bc9d-b6468fd7b1cc",
"name": "increment_counter",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-208,
-272
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "counter",
"counterName": "loop"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "2c1d11d4-ec72-4a75-96ff-0ec9a684a9cc",
"name": "get_counter",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
0,
-272
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "counter",
"operation": "get",
"counterName": "loop"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "35d6b78a-8877-4eac-85d9-da7f702ba0d4",
"name": "create_directory",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"onError": "continueErrorOutput",
"position": [
0,
-64
],
"parameters": {
"directoryName": "toto"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "0109c1a4-1bed-40e7-989f-a4c2412d6ec3",
"name": "write_record",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-448,
144
],
"parameters": {
"key": "k1",
"resource": "record",
"operation": "write",
"frontmatter": {},
"directoryName": "dir1"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "5e40f084-b009-4417-aaea-2fa16d3703be",
"name": "list_records",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-224,
144
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "record",
"operation": "list",
"directoryName": "dir1"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "e2c2ce44-f632-4fd5-b18d-52a7239b5a3e",
"name": "Sticky Note5",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-2800,
-624
],
"parameters": {
"width": 1104,
"height": 1408,
"content": "# Evaluating the KeyValue Community Node\n\n## Summary \nThe **KeyValue** node provides a lightweight filesystem-based key-value store for n8n, allowing you to store, retrieve, list and delete key-value pairs using plain directories and text files. It can also act as a simple **Counter** system to persist and increment values across workflow executions without relying on an external database. The node is available on [GitHub](https://github.com/stephaneheckel/n8n-nodes-keyvalue) and published on [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/n8n-nodes-keyvalue). \n\n## When to use this node \n\nUse **KeyValue** when you need simple, local persistence in your workflows without adding extra infrastructure. It is **not** a replacement for a full database; think of it as a convenient local key-value store that trades scalability and querying for simplicity. \n\n## How it works (datamodel) \n\nUnder the hood, the node uses your n8n host filesystem as a store:\n\n- A **root directory** (for example `~/.n8n-keyvalue/`) contains all key-value data. \n- Each key maps to a file on disk; the **filename is the key**, and the **file content is the value**. \n- Operations (set, get, list, delete) are simple file operations, so persistence depends entirely on how your n8n instance mounts and preserves that directory. \n\n## Node Installation\n- Goto Settings / Community node and install **n8n-nodes-keyvalue**\n- Read the [README](https://github.com/stephaneheckel/n8n-nodes-keyvalue)\n\n## How to use the template \n\nThis template is split into two parts to showcase both the counter and key-value features:\n\n1. **Part 1 \u2013 Counter feature** \n - Run the workflow once and observe the initial counter value. \n - Re-run it and check what is executed\n\n2. **Part 2 \u2013 KeyValue feature** \n - Run the second part to create, read, list, and delete keys in the store. \n - Inspect the execution data to see how keys and values are represented and how you can reference them in subsequent nodes. \n\n## Requirements \n- **KeyValue** Community Node : n8n-nodes-keyvalue\n- **n8n** version: tested on 2.26.8 (Ubuntu & Windows 11)\n\n## Need Help?\nFeel free to comment this [post](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/n8n-about_n8n-keyvalue-activity-7474559561253818368-KjI6/).\nContact me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaneheckel/) or ask in the [Forum](https://community.n8n.io/)!\n\n## Limitations and caveats \n\nTo avoid surprises in production:\n\n- No **concurrency control**: Concurrent writes to the same key could overwrite each other. \n- No **transactions** or partial rollbacks: Each operation is a simple file write or delete. \n- No built-in **TTL / expiration**: Cleanup or rotation logic must be implemented in your workflows. \n- **Plain-text** storage: Values are written as-is; do not store secrets unless your filesystem and host are secured appropriately."
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "f63ad82e-4192-4403-aad1-a72b1c849133",
"name": "json_as_text",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"position": [
-1248,
688
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "c3fc1ee4-be7a-4618-8686-5495d892498e",
"name": "text",
"type": "string",
"value": "[ { \"firstName\": \"James\", \"lastName\": \"Mitchell\", \"address\": { \"line1\": \"14 Baker Street\", \"line2\": \"Marylebone\", \"city\": \"London\", \"postcode\": \"NW1 6XE\", \"country\": \"UK\" }, \"telephone\": \"+1234567890\", \"mobile\": \"+1234567890\", \"email\": \"user@example.com\", \"dateOfBirth\": \"1985-03-12\", \"company\": \"Mitchell Consulting Ltd\", \"role\": \"Director\", \"active\": true }, { \"firstName\": \"Sarah\", \"lastName\": \"Thompson\", \"address\": { \"line1\": \"742 Evergreen Terrace\", \"city\": \"Springfield\", \"state\": \"IL\", \"zipCode\": \"62701\", \"country\": \"US\" }, \"telephone\": \"+1234567890\", \"mobile\": \"+1234567890\", \"email\": \"user@example.com\", \"dateOfBirth\": \"1990-07-28\", \"company\": \"Acme Corp\", \"role\": \"Senior Engineer\", \"active\": true }, { \"firstName\": \"Oliver\", \"lastName\": \"Bennett\", \"address\": { \"line1\": \"Flat 3, 27 Canning Street\", \"city\": \"Edinburgh\", \"postcode\": \"EH3 8EG\", \"country\": \"UK\" }, \"telephone\": \"+1234567890\", \"mobile\": \"+1234567890\", \"email\": \"user@example.com\", \"dateOfBirth\": \"1978-11-05\", \"company\": \"Bennett & Co Solicitors\", \"role\": \"Partner\", \"active\": false } ]"
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 3.4
},
{
"id": "f8ce85d6-8f90-43e7-a8da-883c0c0ffea1",
"name": "write_json",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-1008,
688
],
"parameters": {
"key": "sample",
"value": "={{ $json.text }}",
"resource": "record",
"operation": "write",
"frontmatter": {},
"directoryName": "json"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "c420d8e3-1c45-45e4-8e58-d468f0ee6673",
"name": "read_json",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-784,
688
],
"parameters": {
"key": "sample",
"mode": "body",
"resource": "record",
"directoryName": "json"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "a7675b2a-1a7a-4a14-87b8-65e1291c1cfd",
"name": "Split Out",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.splitOut",
"position": [
-560,
688
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"fieldToSplitOut": "value"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "92aff5ee-db5c-4324-816a-b02106713fb0",
"name": "extract_values",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.set",
"position": [
-64,
704
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"assignments": {
"assignments": [
{
"id": "4e50971f-8f6e-4cbe-8697-661317d45bed",
"name": "firstName",
"type": "string",
"value": "={{ $json.firstName }}"
},
{
"id": "b32aa6de-627f-4217-9674-f9ed924d986f",
"name": "lastName",
"type": "string",
"value": "={{ $json.lastName }}"
},
{
"id": "b360f17d-2f38-441c-9141-0e94856a14e7",
"name": "city",
"type": "string",
"value": "={{ $json.address.city }}"
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 3.4
},
{
"id": "206a4727-d878-40a0-849a-d102f620fd3e",
"name": "loop_json",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.splitInBatches",
"position": [
-336,
688
],
"parameters": {
"options": {}
},
"typeVersion": 3
},
{
"id": "b1f109bd-86be-4d0d-a35a-81f4728d963a",
"name": "Sticky Note6",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-1648,
432
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 1072,
"height": 560,
"content": "# 3] Auto-detect/parsing JSON\nWhen you write a record whose value is a valid JSON object or array ({...} / [...]), it is stored as structured JSON and automatically parsed back on Read and List:\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "0cc21386-6281-4d06-b5da-b7dae1dcab9c",
"name": "Sticky Note7",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-1056,
592
],
"parameters": {
"color": 5,
"width": 448,
"height": 272,
"content": "## Auto-detect JSON\n"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "5f447719-da73-496b-ab3b-1dc3db3c81c5",
"name": "If1",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"position": [
240,
144
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"version": 3,
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"id": "820f5c47-ec98-435d-98c0-dfa7890f012e",
"operator": {
"type": "boolean",
"operation": "true",
"singleValue": true
},
"leftValue": "={{ $json.exists }}",
"rightValue": false
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.3
},
{
"id": "a199fbe8-2d20-4c1d-aa03-5315a407d4fc",
"name": "exists",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
32,
144
],
"parameters": {
"key": "k6",
"resource": "record",
"operation": "exists",
"directoryName": "dir1"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "a348c442-e66a-4104-90c2-6decf2972535",
"name": "count_records",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-208,
432
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "record",
"operation": "count",
"directoryName": "dir1"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "e4af11ea-c3e9-41d6-8fa5-5908c0c80ff3",
"name": "list_records1",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-448,
432
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "record",
"operation": "list",
"directoryName": "dir1"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "23e9ca25-55ef-447c-adeb-79a592646f48",
"name": "list_directories",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-448,
-64
],
"parameters": {
"operation": "list"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "343b35de-422e-4873-8355-18d26a7d4ad9",
"name": "Append to a record",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
32,
432
],
"parameters": {
"key": "k1",
"value": "={{ $now.format('yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.SSS') }}",
"resource": "record",
"operation": "append",
"separator": "\\n",
"directoryName": "dir1"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "60bc9a34-51c6-403c-a456-0d2491ecfd47",
"name": "Delete records",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
272,
432
],
"parameters": {
"resource": "record",
"keyFilter": "k1",
"operation": "delete",
"directoryName": "dir1"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "e1209f5c-aab5-412a-97f9-38f172de9d25",
"name": "Delete directory",
"type": "n8n-nodes-keyvalue.keyValue",
"position": [
-208,
-64
],
"parameters": {
"operation": "delete",
"directoryName": "toto"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "2db898bd-3a32-45e8-b6fa-764f3e1f40d9",
"name": "If_today",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"position": [
-1264,
32
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"version": 3,
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"id": "0ffc8ac8-70e2-4924-99b6-0431210bd5a8",
"operator": {
"type": "dateTime",
"operation": "equals"
},
"leftValue": "={{ $json.value }}",
"rightValue": "={{ $now.format('yyyy-MM-dd') }}"
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.3
}
],
"active": false,
"settings": {
"binaryMode": "separate",
"availableInMCP": false,
"executionOrder": "v1"
},
"versionId": "739cf122-d3fd-4985-95dd-3f7ed12f1835",
"nodeGroups": [],
"connections": {
"exists": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "If1",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"If_today": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "logic_already_executed",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "run_your_logic",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Split Out": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "loop_json",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"loop_json": {
"main": [
[],
[
{
"node": "extract_values",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"read_json": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Split Out",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"workflowid": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "alreadyexecuted",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "specific_logic",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"write_json": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "read_json",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"check_value": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "If_today",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "run_your_logic",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"json_as_text": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "write_json",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"list_records": {
"main": [
[]
]
},
"write_record": {
"main": [
[]
]
},
"list_counters": {
"main": [
[]
]
},
"list_records1": {
"main": [
[]
]
},
"extract_values": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "loop_json",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"run_your_logic": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "logic_executed",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"specific_logic": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "flag_workflowid",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"select_counters": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "list_counters",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"create_directory": {
"main": [
[]
]
},
"increment_counter": {
"main": [
[]
]
},
"When clicking \u2018Execute workflow\u2019": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "workflowid",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
}
}
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About this workflow
This workflow demonstrates the n8n KeyValue community node by using a counter to run one-time initialization logic per workflow, storing a per-day execution flag to allow the main logic only once per day, and showcasing basic directory, record, and counter operations. Starts…
Source: https://n8n.io/workflows/16608/ — original creator credit. Request a take-down →
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