Description
n8n-nodes-pdfops
n8n community node for the PDFops API: fill PDF forms,
merge, split, rotate, watermark, number, protect and unlock PDFs, read and set
metadata, and generate invoice PDFs. The processing runs on the hosted API, so
there is no headless browser and no native dependency to install.
Works without an API key (100 requests per IP per month). A free API key
(250 requests/month, no card) raises the quota and unlocks usage introspection:
get one in 60 seconds at pdfops.dev/docs/signup#n8n.
The node is also usable as a tool by n8n’s AI Agent; every operation and
parameter carries a description written for that.
Installation
This community node is verified by n8n. On a self-hosted instance install it
from Settings → Community Nodes → Install → n8n-nodes-pdfops.
Operations
Since 0.4.0 operations are grouped by resource: Form (Fill, Inspect Fields), Document
(Delete Pages, Extract Pages, Merge, Rotate Pages, Split PDF), Stamp (Add Page Numbers, Add
Watermark), Security (Protect, Unlock), Metadata (Get, Set), Invoice (Generate) and
Account (Get Usage). Workflows built on 0.2.x keep their original five operations.
Every PDF operation reads the input PDF from a binary field (default data).
Operations that return a PDF write it to an output binary field (default data)
and set fileName on the item JSON.
| Resource → Operation | What it does | Key parameters |
| — | — | — |
| Form → Inspect Fields | Lists a PDF’s AcroForm fields (names, types, options, current values, optional label) plus a paste-ready fill template. Use it first on unfamiliar PDFs. | Input Binary Field, Input PDF Password |
| Form → Fill | Fills AcroForm fields and outputs the filled PDF. Field names are matched forgivingly; when a key was not an exact match, the item JSON carries field_map ({ "what you sent": "field it resolved to" }). | Fields (JSON object), Flatten, Input PDF Password |
| Document → Merge | Merges the PDFs from all incoming items (in item order) into one PDF. The Input PDF Password applies to every input. | Input Binary Field, Input PDF Password |
| Invoice → Generate | Turns structured JSON (from, to, items, tax, currency…) into a US-Letter invoice PDF, no template needed. | Invoice (JSON) |
| Document → Extract Pages | Keeps only the listed pages, in the order given (also reorders or duplicates pages). | Pages, e.g. 1-3,5,8- |
| Document → Delete Pages | Removes the listed pages; the rest stay in order. Deleting every page is an error. | Pages to Delete, e.g. 2,4-6,9- |
| Document → Rotate Pages | Rotates all or selected pages. | Degrees (90, 180, 270, -90), Pages (empty = all) |
| Document → Split PDF | Splits a PDF into parts. Emits one item per part, each with its own PDF binary and JSON { pages, page_count, part }. | Split By: Page Ranges (1-2,3-5) or Chunk Size (pages per part); Output File Name is the part-name prefix |
| Stamp → Add Watermark | Stamps text over the pages. | Watermark Text; options: Opacity (0.05-1, default 0.15), Size, Color, Rotation (default 45), Position (center/top/bottom); Pages |
| Stamp → Add Page Numbers | Stamps page numbers. | Options: Format (default {n} / {total}), Position (six corners/edges), Size, Start Number, Margin; Pages |
| Security → Unlock | Saves a PDF without encryption and without print/copy/modify restrictions. It does not crack passwords: it opens files you can already open (give the Input PDF Password if opening needs one). note is set on the item when the input was not encrypted. | Input PDF Password |
| Security → Protect | Encrypts a PDF with an open password and/or an owner password, optionally limiting what viewers may do. Output is not byte-stable between calls (encryption is salted). | Open Password, Owner Password (at least one), Allowed Permissions (print, copy, modify, annotate, fill forms) |
| Metadata → Get | Returns JSON: page count, page sizes and rotation, title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, dates, encrypted, hasform, formfield_count. | Input PDF Password |
| Metadata → Set | Sets title, author, subject, keywords or creator and outputs the updated PDF. | Metadata fields (at least one) |
| Account → Get Usage | Returns tier, quota, used, remaining and reset date for your API key (needs a credential). | – |
Page specs are 1-based: comma-separated pages and ranges, 8- meaning page 8
to the end. All operations except Invoice → Generate and Account → Get Usage accept an Input PDF Password
for inputs that need one to open. Output is deterministic (the same input gives
a byte-identical PDF) for every operation except Security → Protect.
Errors carry the API’s own message (for example which AcroForm field name was
wrong). With Continue on Fail a failing item becomes { error, message }
and the other items still complete.
Credentials
Create a PDFops API credential with your API key (sent as X-API-Key).
It is optional for every operation except Account → Get Usage; without it, requests
count against the anonymous per-IP quota (100/month).
Example: invoice on every Stripe payment
1. Stripe Trigger (payment_intent.succeeded)
2. PDFops: Invoice → Generate, mapping customer and line items into the invoice JSON
3. Write Binary File / email / upload the resulting PDF
More workflows and recipes: pdfops.dev/pdf-api-for-n8n.
Resources
License
MIT
