The n8n UI
1. The n8n UI
Welcome to n8n. In this short demo, we'll walk through the main parts of the interface and how to build our first workflow. We'll use the DataCamp version of n8n, which may vary slightly, but the core features are the same everywhere. When we open n8n, we start on the Dashboard, where all our workflows live. Each workflow shows its active or inactive status; using the three-dot menu, we can open, share, duplicate, or archive it. We can also search, sort, and filter workflows by name, date, tags, or status. Tags are great for organizing automations, such as grouping by "marketing" or "data cleanup". On the menu above, we'll find Credentials and Executions. The Credentials section securely stores API keys and logins for the apps we connect to, like Slack, Google Sheets, or Notion. The Executions page lists all workflow runs, showing their status, start time, duration, and ID. We can check whether a workflow succeeded or failed, open an execution to inspect what happened, or delete old runs to keep things tidy. At the bottom left, we'll see the Help section. We can access n8n's Quickstart guide, Documentation, Forum, and Course links. These resources are built into the interface, so we can quickly find answers, troubleshoot issues, or explore examples while we work. Now, let's create a new workflow. Click "New Workflow" in the top-right corner to open the Canvas, the workspace where we design automations. At the top, we can rename our workflow by double-clicking its default name. We can also add existing tags or create new ones. Other features include zoom controls, a Tidy-up button, and a way to view execution logs once our workflow runs. To start building, click the plus button in the center of the canvas or press Tab. We'll see a list of available nodes. Every workflow begins with a Trigger, which defines when it runs, for example, a webhook, a schedule, or a manual "Execute Workflow" trigger for testing. Once the trigger is added, save our workflow. In the top-right corner, we can toggle its Active state, so it runs automatically when triggered, or keep it inactive while testing. Next, add a Set node to create or modify data fields. For example, create a variable called "Name" and set its value to "Frank". We can switch between Table, Schema, and JSON views to explore our data in different formats. When we click Execute Node, we'll instantly see the output below, which is useful for debugging as we build. If our canvas looks cluttered, click Tidy Up to realign nodes automatically. We can zoom in, drag nodes to reposition them, or right-click to add sticky notes for quick reminders. WE can connect nodes by dragging from one to another. Hover over a connection to insert a new node or delete the link. For instance, we might insert a Code node to run custom JavaScript between two steps. After running our workflow, open Executions again to review results. We’ll see logs for each node, including inputs, outputs, and errors. We can switch between runs, tag specific executions, or copy an execution to the editor to recreate the same scenario, perfect for debugging or reproducing earlier results. If something doesn't work as expected, use Undo, CTRL + Z on Windows or Command + Z on Mac, to revert recent changes. And remember to save frequently, as n8n doesn't autosave during editing. We can export workflows as JSON files, import from a URL, or upload existing workflows from our computer, making sharing and reusing automations easy. And that's the core of the n8n interface: the Dashboard for managing workflows, Credentials for connecting apps, Executions for monitoring runs, and the Canvas, where we design and test every step. Next, we'll engage in hands-on exercises, exploring the n8n UI, experimenting with nodes, and creating our own automations.2. Let's practice!
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