Google Drive to FTP Transfer Workflow - Setup Guide

Overview

This n8n workflow automatically transfers files from Google Drive to an FTP server on a scheduled basis. It includes comprehensive logging, email notifications, and error handling.

Features

• Automated Scheduling: Runs every 6 hours (customizable)
• Manual Trigger: Webhook endpoint for on-demand transfers
• File Filtering: Supports specific file types and size limits
• Comprehensive Logging: Detailed transfer reports saved to Google Drive
• Email Notifications: HTML reports sent after each run
• Error Handling: Graceful handling of failed transfers
• Batch Processing: Files processed individually to prevent rate limits

Prerequisites

Before setting up this workflow, ensure you have:

1. n8n instance running (self-hosted or cloud)
2. Google Drive account with files to transfer
3. FTP server with upload permissions
4. Email service for sending reports (SMTP)

Step-by-Step Setup Instructions

1. Google Drive API Setup

1.1 Create Google Cloud Project

1. Go to Google Cloud Console
2. Create a new project or select existing one
3. Enable the Google Drive API:
   • Navigate to "APIs & Services" → "Library"
   • Search for "Google Drive API"
   • Click "Enable"

1.2 Create OAuth2 Credentials

1. Go to "APIs & Services" → "Credentials"
2. Click "Create Credentials" → "OAuth client ID"
3. Configure consent screen if prompted
4. Choose "Web application" as application type
5. Add your n8n instance URL to authorized redirect URIs:

   https://your-n8n-instance.com/rest/oauth2-credential/callback
   

6. Note down the Client ID and Client Secret

1.3 Configure n8n Credential

1. In n8n, go to "Credentials" → "Add Credential"
2. Select "Google Drive OAuth2 API"
3. Enter your Client ID and Client Secret
4. Complete OAuth flow by clicking "Connect my account"
5. Set credential ID as: your-google-drive-credentials-id

2. FTP Server Setup

2.1 FTP Server Requirements

• Ensure FTP server is accessible from your n8n instance
• Verify you have upload permissions
• Note the server details:
  • Host/IP address
  • Port (usually 21 for FTP)
  • Username and password
  • Destination directory path

2.2 Configure n8n FTP Credential

1. In n8n, go to "Credentials" → "Add Credential"
2. Select "FTP"
3. Enter your FTP server details:
   • Host: your-ftp-server.com
   • Port: 21 (or your custom port)
   • Username: your-ftp-username
   • Password: your-ftp-password
4. Set credential ID as: your-ftp-credentials-id

3. Email Setup (SMTP)

3.1 Choose Email Provider

Configure SMTP settings for one of these providers:

• Gmail: smtp.gmail.com, port 587, use App Password
• Outlook: smtp-mail.outlook.com, port 587
• Custom SMTP: Your organization's SMTP server

3.2 Configure n8n Email Credential

1. In n8n, go to "Credentials" → "Add Credential"
2. Select "SMTP"
3. Enter your SMTP details:
   • Host: smtp.gmail.com (or your provider)
   • Port: 587
   • Security: STARTTLS
   • Username: your-email@example.com
   • Password: your-app-password
4. Set credential ID as: your-email-credentials-id

4. Workflow Configuration

4.1 Import Workflow

1. Copy the workflow JSON from the artifact above
2. In n8n, click "Import from JSON"
3. Paste the workflow JSON and import

4.2 Update Credential References

1. Google Drive nodes: Verify credential ID matches your-google-drive-credentials-id
2. FTP node: Verify credential ID matches your-ftp-credentials-id
3. Email node: Verify credential ID matches your-email-credentials-id

4.3 Customize Parameters

FTP Server Settings (Upload to FTP node)

{
  "host": "your-ftp-server.com",           // Replace with your FTP host
  "username": "your-ftp-username",         // Replace with your FTP username
  "password": "your-ftp-password",         // Replace with your FTP password
  "path": "/remote/directory/{{ $json.validFiles[$json.batchIndex].name }}", // Update destination path
  "port": 21                               // Change if using different port
}

Email Settings (Send Report Email node)

{
  "sendTo": "admin@yourcompany.com",       // Replace with your email address
  "subject": "Google Drive to FTP File Transfer - Report"
}

File Filter Settings (Filter & Validate Files node)

In the JavaScript code, update these settings:

const transferNotes = {
  settings: {
    maxFileSizeMB: 50,                     // Change maximum file size
    allowedExtensions: [                   // Add/remove allowed file types
      '.pdf', '.doc', '.docx', '.txt', 
      '.jpg', '.png', '.zip', '.xlsx'
    ],
    autoDeleteAfterTransfer: false,        // Set to true to delete from Drive after transfer
    verifyTransfer: true                   // Keep true for verification
  }
};

Google Drive Notes Storage (Upload Notes to Drive node)

{
  "parents": {
    "parentId": "your-notes-folder-id"     // Replace with actual folder ID from Google Drive
  }
}

5. Schedule Configuration

5.1 Modify Schedule Trigger

In the "Schedule Trigger" node, adjust the interval:

{
  "rule": {
    "interval": [
      {
        "field": "hours",
        "hoursInterval": 6               // Change to desired interval (hours)
      }
    ]
  }
}

Alternative schedule options:

• Daily: "field": "days", "daysInterval": 1
• Weekly: "field": "weeks", "weeksInterval": 1
• Custom cron: Use cron expression for complex schedules

5.2 Webhook Configuration

The webhook trigger is available at:

POST https://your-n8n-instance.com/webhook/webhook-transfer-status

Use this for manual triggers or external integrations.

6. Testing and Validation

6.1 Test Connections

1. Test Google Drive: Run "Get Drive Files" node manually
2. Test FTP: Upload a test file using "Upload to FTP" node
3. Test Email: Send a test email using "Send Report Email" node

6.2 Run Test Transfer

1. Activate the workflow
2. Click "Execute Workflow" to run manually
3. Monitor execution in the workflow editor
4. Check for any error messages or failed nodes

6.3 Verify Results

• FTP Server: Confirm files appear in destination directory
• Email: Check you receive the transfer report
• Google Drive: Verify transfer notes are saved to specified folder

7. Monitoring and Maintenance

7.1 Workflow Monitoring

• Execution History: Review past runs in n8n interface
• Error Logs: Check failed executions for issues
• Performance: Monitor execution times and resource usage

7.2 Regular Maintenance

• Credential Renewal: Google OAuth tokens may need periodic renewal
• Storage Cleanup: Consider archiving old transfer notes
• Performance Tuning: Adjust batch sizes or schedules based on usage

8. Troubleshooting

8.1 Common Issues

Google Drive Authentication Errors:

• Verify OAuth2 credentials are correctly configured
• Check if Google Drive API is enabled
• Ensure redirect URI matches n8n instance URL

FTP Connection Failures:

• Verify FTP server credentials and connectivity
• Check firewall settings allow FTP connections
• Confirm destination directory exists and has write permissions

Email Delivery Issues:

• Verify SMTP credentials and server settings
• Check if email provider requires app-specific passwords
• Ensure sender email is authorized

File Transfer Failures:

• Check file size limits in filter settings
• Verify allowed file extensions include your file types
• Monitor FTP server disk space

8.2 Debug Mode

Enable debug mode by:

1. Adding console.log statements in code nodes
2. Using "Execute Workflow" with step-by-step execution
3. Checking node outputs for data validation

9. Advanced Customizations

9.1 Additional File Filters

Add custom filtering logic in the "Filter & Validate Files" node:

// Example: Filter by modification date
const isRecentFile = new Date(file.modifiedTime) > new Date(Date.now() - 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000); // Last 7 days

// Example: Filter by folder location
const isInSpecificFolder = file.parents && file.parents.includes('specific-folder-id');

9.2 Enhanced Reporting

Customize the email report template in "Send Report Email" node:

<h2>📊 File Transfer Report</h2>
<div>
  <h3>Summary</h3>
  <ul>
    <li><strong>Date:</strong> {{ new Date().toLocaleString('en-US') }}</li>
    <li><strong>Success Rate:</strong> {{ Math.round((successfulTransfers / totalFiles) * 100) }}%</li>
    
  </ul>
</div>

9.3 Integration with Other Services

Add nodes to integrate with:

• Slack: Send notifications to team channels
• Discord: Post updates to Discord servers
• Webhook: Trigger other workflows or systems
• Database: Log transfers to MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.

10. Security Considerations

10.1 Credential Security

• Use environment variables for sensitive data
• Regularly rotate FTP and email passwords
• Implement least-privilege access for service accounts

10.2 Network Security

• Use SFTP instead of FTP when possible
• Implement VPN connections for sensitive transfers
• Monitor network traffic for unusual patterns

10.3 Data Privacy

• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations
• Implement data retention policies for transfer logs
• Consider encryption for sensitive file transfers

Support and Resources

Documentation Links

• n8n Documentation
• Google Drive API Documentation
• n8n Community Forum

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

1. Check the troubleshooting section above
2. Review n8n execution logs for error details
3. Search the n8n community forum for similar issues
4. Create a support ticket with detailed error information

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Note: Replace all placeholder values (URLs, credentials, IDs) with your actual configuration before running the workflow.