---

name: n8n description: Triggers and manages n8n workflows via MCP integration. Use when listing workflows, running executions, inspecting failures, or updating automation definitions in n8n.

n8n Automation

Purpose

Operate n8n workflows through connected MCP tools: discover workflows, trigger runs with payloads, inspect executions, and apply focused definition changes safely.

When to Use

• User mentions n8n workflows, nodes, executions, or webhooks.
• Triggering or debugging an automation run.
• Finding why a workflow failed (node error, credentials, payload).
• Enabling/disabling or updating a workflow when write tools exist.

When NOT to Use

• Make or Zapier automations → make, zapier.
• General scripting outside n8n → implementation skills.
• Skill repo authoring → create-skill / publish-skill.

Expected Outcome

• Workflow ID/name and execution status from tool output.
• Error node, message, and I/O snippets when debugging failures.
• Clear boundary when MCP cannot reach the n8n instance.

Inputs to Gather

• Workflow name or ID; environment (prod vs test).
• Trigger payload fields and required credentials.
• Execution ID for failed runs.
• Whether the user wants a one-off test vs production trigger.

Workflow

1. List or search workflows if ID unknown.
2. Get workflow definition for context (trigger type, key nodes).
3. Trigger with validated payload; capture execution ID.
4. Poll or fetch execution until terminal state.
5. Summarize output data and errors; suggest node-level fixes.
6. For edits, confirm impact on scheduled/webhook triggers.

Domain guidance

1. Resolve workflow first — name-to-ID lookup before trigger or update.
2. Executions are source of truth — never assume success without status from tools.
3. Credentials — failures often credential or expression related; cite node name from execution.
4. Idempotency — warn on duplicate triggers for billing/side-effect workflows.
5. Tool schemas — use only MCP-exposed operations; do not invent REST paths.

Examples

User: "Run the Slack digest workflow for team=platform." → Find workflow, trigger with { "team": "platform" }, return execution ID and final status.

User: "Why did last night's sync fail?" → Fetch latest failed execution, identify failing node and error message, suggest credential or mapping fix.

Tool Availability Rules

Access	Behavior
Full tool access	Trigger, inspect, and apply approved workflow changes.
Read-only	List/get workflows and executions; document change plan for writes.
No integration	Do not fabricate execution results.

Related tool sets

• n8n
• task-manager

Review / Decision / Execution Criteria

• Cite execution ID and terminal status in every trigger summary.
• Confirm production triggers that send email, charge, or mutate external systems.

Output Format

1. Workflow and action taken.
2. Execution ID, status, duration.
3. Output summary or error node details.
4. Blockers.
5. Next steps.

Quality Bar

• No spreadsheet/A1 patterns—n8n is workflow automation only.

Safety and Boundaries

• Do not log secrets from credentials or webhook URLs.
• Confirm destructive or high-volume triggers with the user.

Escalation / Dispatch Rules

• Cross-platform automation comparison → make, zapier, run-automation.

References

• skills/old_skills.json (n8n) — legacy catalog (Sheets boilerplate removed).
• skills/skill.instruction.md, skills/meta.instructions.md