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ZAppwrite

Use Appwrite's API from inside N8N, updated by @ZachHandley

Overview

This node integrates with the Appwrite API to create a file access token for a specific file stored in an Appwrite storage bucket. The "Create File Token" operation generates a temporary token that can be used to securely access or share a file without exposing permanent credentials.

Common scenarios:

  • Generating a time-limited URL or token to allow external users or systems to download or access a file.
  • Automating secure file sharing workflows where direct file access needs to be controlled and limited by expiry.
  • Integrating with other systems that require a token-based authentication to fetch files from Appwrite storage.

Practical example:
You have a file stored in an Appwrite bucket containing sensitive reports. You want to send a link to a client that expires after 24 hours. Using this node, you create a file token with an expiry date set 24 hours ahead, then provide the token to the client for secure access.

Properties

Name Meaning
Bucket ID Unique identifier of the storage bucket where the file is located.
File ID Unique identifier of the file for which the token will be created.
Expire Optional ISO 8601 formatted date/time string specifying when the token should expire.

Output

The output JSON contains the response from the Appwrite API representing the created file token object. This typically includes:

  • The token string itself (used for accessing the file).
  • Metadata such as creation time, expiry time (if set), and associated file and bucket IDs.

No binary data is output by this operation; it strictly returns JSON metadata about the token.

Dependencies

  • Requires an active connection to an Appwrite server via its REST API.
  • Needs an API key credential configured in n8n to authenticate requests to Appwrite.
  • The Appwrite Storage service must be enabled and properly configured with buckets and files.

Troubleshooting

  • Invalid Bucket ID or File ID: If either ID does not exist or is incorrect, the API will return an error. Verify the IDs are correct and that the file exists in the specified bucket.
  • Expired or Malformed Expiry Date: If the Expire property is provided but not in valid ISO 8601 format, the request may fail. Ensure the expiry date string is correctly formatted.
  • Authentication Errors: Missing or invalid API credentials will cause authentication failures. Confirm the API key credential is valid and has sufficient permissions.
  • Permission Denied: The API user must have permission to generate tokens for the specified bucket and file.
  • Network Issues: Connectivity problems with the Appwrite server will result in errors. Check network access and server availability.

Links and References

Discussion