Convert to File

A Convert to File node (convert_to_file) turns one value into a file that is kept with the run for 30 days. Set three things:

Configuration

• Format — Markdown (.md), text (.txt), JSON, CSV, HTML, PDF, Word (.docx) or Excel (.xlsx).
• Source — what to write, usually an expression such as {{ upstream.report-writer.output.text }}.
• File name — expressions allowed, for example report-{{ trigger.body.day }}. The format's extension is added when the name lacks it.
• Who can use the file — This workflow only (the default) or Every workflow in this project.

What each format expects of its source:

Using a file from another workflow

A file belongs to the workflow that made it. AI Prompt attachments, Send Email, HTTP Request, FTP and app nodes can read it only from that workflow, and a file id that arrives some other way (for example in a webhook payload) does not change that.

To hand a file to a second workflow, set Who can use the file to Every workflow in this project on the Convert to File node that makes it, then pass the file's fileId along (for example in the webhook payload that starts the second workflow). Sharing never crosses a project, and never crosses an organization. A workflow in another project is refused with a message that names the fix.

A shared file is kept for the same 30 days as any other.

PDFs use a font that covers every EU language, including Greek and Cyrillic. In a CSV, a text cell that starts with =, +, - or @ is prefixed with ' so a spreadsheet does not run it as a formula.

Output

The node's output is {{ upstream.<nodeId>.output.file }} — the same file reference a Form Trigger upload produces, so an AI Prompt node can read it as an attachment. file.filename, file.contentType, file.sizeBytes and file.text (the content as text) are there too.

In the node editor's Output pane, a run's file shows its name, type and size with a Download button. After 30 days the file is deleted and the button says so.

Limits and errors

• Files are capped at 25 MB and kept for 30 days.
• A source that does not fit the format — not an array for CSV or Excel — fails the node with the reason.

Example

name: Weekly report PDF
description: Writes the weekly report and saves it as a PDF.
graph:
  nodes:
    - id: weekly
      type: trigger_recurrence
      position: { x: 0, y: 0 }
      data: { mode: cron, cronExpression: 0 7 * * 1, timezone: Europe/Sofia }
    - id: write
      type: ai_prompt
      position: { x: 280, y: 0 }
      data:
        llm_slot: writer-model
        model_id: gpt-4o
        instructions: "Write last week's report in Markdown. Today is {{ run.startedAt }}."
        outputFormat: text
    - id: to-pdf
      type: convert_to_file
      position: { x: 560, y: 0 }
      data:
        sourceExpression: '{{ upstream.write.output.completionText }}'
        format: pdf
        filename: weekly-report
        shareWith: workflow
  edges:
    - { id: weekly-to-write, source: weekly, target: write }
    - { id: write-to-pdf, source: write, target: to-pdf }

In a Package

• Travels: sourceExpression, format, filename, shareWith
• Converted: none
• Never carried: none