Directus

Consume Directus API

Actions100

Overview

The Directus n8n node, when configured with the Resource: Folder and Operation: Create Multiple, allows you to create multiple folders in a Directus instance in a single API call. This is particularly useful for batch operations where you need to set up several folder structures at once, such as initializing a new project, migrating data, or organizing assets programmatically.

Practical examples:

Creating a set of categorized folders (e.g., "Nature", "Cities") for asset management.
Automating the setup of folder hierarchies during onboarding of new clients or projects.
Bulk importing folder structures from another system into Directus.

Properties

Name	Type	Meaning
Data (JSON)	json	An array of partial folder objects. Each object must include at least the `name` property. Optionally, you can specify a `parent` folder ID.

Output

The output will be a single item with a json field containing the response from the Directus API after creating the folders.
The structure of the json field typically matches the Directus folder object(s), which may include properties like:
- id: Unique identifier of the folder
- name: Name of the folder
- parent: Parent folder ID (if specified)
- Other metadata fields managed by Directus

Example output:

{
  "json": [
    {
      "id": "123",
      "name": "Nature",
      "parent": "0fca80c4-d61c-4404-9fd7-6ba86b64154d"
    },
    {
      "id": "124",
      "name": "Cities",
      "parent": null
    }
  ]
}

If an error occurs and "Continue On Fail" is enabled, the output will contain an error field with the error message.

Dependencies

Directus API: You must have access to a running Directus instance.
API Credentials: The node requires valid Directus API credentials (directusApi) configured in n8n.
n8n Configuration: No special environment variables are required beyond standard credential setup.

Troubleshooting

Common issues:

Invalid JSON in Data (JSON): If the input is not valid JSON, the node will throw a parsing error. Ensure your input is a properly formatted JSON array.
Missing Required Fields: Each folder object must have a name. Omitting this will result in an error from the Directus API.
Permission Errors: The API credentials used must have permission to create folders in Directus.
Parent Folder Not Found: If you specify a parent ID that does not exist, the operation may fail.

Error messages and resolutions:

"Unexpected token ... in JSON": Check your JSON syntax in the Data (JSON) property.
"name is required": Make sure every folder object includes a name.
"403 Forbidden" or "401 Unauthorized": Verify your Directus API credentials and permissions.
"Parent folder not found": Double-check the parent IDs provided.