Automation library · Documents and files

Generate DOCX documents from Gmail with OpenAI

Started by an arriving email, and works across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 20 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: OpenAI

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20 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
2Branches: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
3Services it connects to

The flow

Starts it 1Model 2Logic 11Service 6

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

  1. 1When New Email ReceivedGmail triggerStarts it
  2. 2Set Deployment ConfigurationSetLogic
  3. 3Validate Sender & Extract RequestCodeLogic
  4. 4If Sender AuthorizedIfLogic
  5. 5Fetch Template CatalogGoogle SheetsService
  6. 6Ignore Unauthorized RequestNo OpLogic
  7. 7Build Template Catalog for AICodeLogic
  8. 8AI Match Template & Extract DataOpen AiModel
  9. 9Parse Template Match DecisionCodeLogic
  10. 10If Template Successfully MatchedIfLogic
  11. 11Download Template DocumentGoogle DriveService
  12. 12Prepare No-Match ReplySetLogic
  13. 13Generate Markdown from TemplateOpen AiModel
  14. 14Send No-Match EmailGmailService
  15. 15Parse AI Markdown OutputCodeLogic
  16. 16Convert Markdown to DOCXHttp RequestService
  17. 17Upload Document to DriveGoogle DriveService
  18. 18Attach Document LinkCodeLogic
  19. 19Prepare Email Reply ContentSetLogic
  20. 20Reply with Document AttachedGmailService

How it's built

Starts on
An arriving email
Steps
20, with 2 branches
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets
Model
OpenAI

Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Gmail, Google Drive and Google Sheets accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an arriving email.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 20 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

Before you run it

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 20 steps before you point it at anything that matters.