Automation library · Documents and files

Make OpenAI citation for file retrieval RAG

Started by someone opening a chat with it. It calls services over plain HTTP rather than through connectors. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 12 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

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12 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
0Branches: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
0Services by connector: it calls them over plain HTTP

The flow

Starts it 1Model 2Logic 7Service 2

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

  1. 1Window Buffer MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  2. 2Create a simple Trigger to have the Chat button within N8NChat triggerStarts it
  3. 3OpenAI Assistant with Vector StoreOpen AiModel
  4. 4Get ALL Thread ContentHttp RequestService
  5. 5Split all message iterations from a threadSplit OutLogic
  6. 6Split all content from a single messageSplit OutLogic
  7. 7Split all citations from a single messageSplit OutLogic
  8. 8Retrieve file name from a file IDHttp RequestService
  9. 9Regularize outputSetLogic
  10. 10AggregateAggregateLogic
  11. 11Finnaly format the outputCodeLogic
  12. 12Optional Markdown to HTMLMarkdownLogic

How it's built

Starts on
Someone opening a chat with it
Steps
12
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Nothing by connector; it calls services over plain HTTP
Model
OpenAI
Retrieval
Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

Questions

What does it need to run?

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

What starts it?

It starts on someone opening a chat with it.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Its answers draw on documents you give it, not on the model alone. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 12 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 12 steps before you point it at anything that matters.