The very quick quickstart

This quickstart gives you a quick taste of n8n. Its aim is to allow you to try out the UI, and introduce you to two key features: workflow templates and expressions. It doesn't include detailed explanations or explore concepts.

You will:

• Load a workflow from the workflow templates library
• Add a node and configure it using expressions.
• Run your first workflow

Step one: Sign up for n8n

Skip this section if you've already installed n8n or signed up for a Cloud account

n8n is available as a Cloud service, npm module, and Docker image. For this quickstart, n8n recommends using Cloud. A free trial is available for new users.

Step two: Open a workflow template

n8n provides a quickstart template using training nodes. This allows you to work with fake data, and avoids setting up credentials.

1. Select Templates. n8n opens the templates library on the website.
2. Search for Very quick quickstart.
3. Select the Very quick quickstart template to preview it.
4. Select Use template to view the options for using the template.
5. Select Import template to cloud workspace to load the template into your Cloud instance.

This workflow:

1. Gets example data from the Customer Datastore node.
2. Uses the Edit Fields node to extract just the data you want, and assign that data to variables. In this example, you use the customer name, ID, and description.

The individual pieces in an n8n workflow are called nodes. Double click a node to explore its settings and how it processes data.

Step three: Run the workflow

Select Test Workflow. This runs the workflow, loading the data from the Customer Datastore node, then transforming it with Edit Fields. You need this data available in the workflow so that you can work with it in the next step.

Step four: Add a node

Add a third node to message each customer and tell them their description. Use the Customer Messenger node to send a message to fake recipients.

1. Select the Add node connector on the Edit Fields node.
2. Search for Customer Messenger. n8n shows a list of nodes that match the search.
3. Select Customer Messenger (n8n training) to add the node to the canvas. n8n opens the node automatically.
4. Use expressions to map in the Customer ID and create the Message:
   1. Drag customer_id from the INPUT panel into the Customer ID field in the node settings.
   2. Hover over Message. Select the Expression tab, then select the expand button to open the full expressions editor.
   3. Copy this expression into the editor:

      Hi {{$json.customer_name}},  Your description is {{$json.customer_description}}
      

5. Close the expressions editor, then close the Customer Messenger node by clicking outside the node or selecting Back to canvas.
6. Select Test Workflow. n8n runs the workflow.

The complete workflow should look like this:

Next steps

• Read n8n's longer try it out tutorial for a more complex workflow, and an introduction to more features and n8n concepts.
• Take the courses.