Google Maps Scraper

Overview

The node integrates with a Google Maps Scraper API to manage scraping jobs that collect data from Google Maps based on specified keywords and locations. Specifically, the Download Results operation allows users to download the results of a previously created scraping job as a CSV file.

This node is beneficial in scenarios where automated extraction of business or location data from Google Maps is needed, such as market research, lead generation, or competitive analysis. For example, a user can create a scraping job to find coffee shops in New York, then later download the collected data for further processing or reporting.

Properties

Output

The output contains both JSON and binary data:

• json:

  • jobId: The ID of the job for which results were downloaded.
  • filename: The suggested filename for the CSV file (format: job_<jobId>_results.csv).
  • data: The content of the CSV file as a string.
  • mimeType: The MIME type of the data, always "text/csv".

• binary:

  • data: The raw CSV file data as a binary buffer.
  • mimeType: "text/csv".
  • fileName: The filename for the binary data, matching the JSON filename.

This structure allows easy access to the CSV content either as text or as a downloadable file within n8n workflows.

Dependencies

• Requires an API key credential for authenticating with the Google Maps Scraper API.
• The node expects the base URL of the API to be configured in the credentials.
• Network access to the Google Maps Scraper API endpoint is necessary.

Troubleshooting

• Common issues:

  • Missing or invalid Job ID: The node requires a valid Job ID to download results. If not provided or incorrect, it will throw an error.
  • Invalid API base URL: If the configured API URL is malformed, the node will raise an error indicating an invalid base URL.
  • Network or authentication errors: Failure to connect or authenticate with the API will cause request failures.

• Error messages:

  • "Job ID is required. The AI model should provide this value automatically." — Indicates the Job ID parameter was empty or missing. Ensure the Job ID is correctly set.
  • "Invalid base URL: <url>" — The API base URL in credentials is not a valid URL. Check and correct the URL format.
  • HTTP errors from the API (e.g., 401 Unauthorized, 404 Not Found) indicate issues with credentials or non-existent job IDs.

• Resolution tips:

  • Verify the Job ID is correct and corresponds to an existing job.
  • Confirm the API key credential is valid and has proper permissions.
  • Check network connectivity and API endpoint availability.

Links and References

• Google Maps Scraper API Documentation (Replace with actual URL if available)
• n8n Documentation on Creating Custom Nodes
• CSV File Format Reference