Schedule Trigger Automate

Automate scheduled tasks on n8n to manage Dropbox backups efficiently. This workflow moves current backups to an "old" folder, purges backups older than 30 days, and creates JSON files of all workflows, ensuring your data is organized and up-to-date.

7/8/2025
17 nodes
Complex
schedulecomplexschedule triggerdropboxsticky noten8nmovebinarydatafilterautomationadvancedcronlogicconditional
Categories:
Schedule TriggeredComplex WorkflowCloud Storage & File Management
Integrations:
Schedule TriggerDropboxSticky NoteN8nMoveBinaryDataFilter

Target Audience

This workflow is ideal for:
- Small to Medium Businesses: Those looking to automate their backup processes to ensure data safety and compliance.
- Freelancers: Individuals who manage multiple projects and need to keep backups organized and accessible.
- IT Professionals: Experts who want to streamline backup and data management tasks without manual intervention.
- Content Creators: Users who regularly generate content and need to maintain a structured backup system for their files.

Problem Solved

This workflow addresses the challenge of data management and backup automation. It ensures that:
- Backup files older than 30 days are automatically deleted, freeing up storage space.
- Current workflows are backed up efficiently to a designated folder in Dropbox, reducing the risk of data loss.
- Users are notified with sticky notes about important tasks like moving backups and purging old files, enhancing visibility and accountability.

Workflow Steps

  • Schedule Trigger: The workflow is initiated based on a defined schedule, allowing for regular execution without manual input.
    2. Set Destination Folder: A specific folder in Dropbox is designated for storing backups, ensuring organization.
    3. Get Current Date: The workflow retrieves the current date to timestamp backups and manage old files effectively.
    4. Get Current Backups: The workflow lists all current backups in the designated folder to assess what needs to be moved or deleted.
    5. Ignore Folders: It filters out any folders from the backup list to focus only on relevant files.
    6. Move into Old Folder: Current backups are moved to an 'old' folder with a timestamp, keeping the main backup folder clean.
    7. List Old Backups: The workflow retrieves files from the old folder to check for those that are older than 30 days.
    8. Check Dates: It evaluates the last modified dates of old backups to determine which files should be deleted.
    9. Delete Old Backups: Files identified as older than 30 days are automatically deleted, ensuring efficient storage management.
    10. Upload Workflows: The current workflows are converted to JSON format and uploaded to the designated Dropbox folder, securing the latest versions.

    • Customization Guide

    To customize this workflow:
    - Adjust the Backup Duration: Modify the duration from 30 days to any desired timeframe in the 'PURGE DAYS' node to change how long backups are retained.
    - Change the Destination Folder: Update the path in the 'DESTINATION FOLDER' node to select a different Dropbox location for your backups.
    - Modify Notification Content: Edit the content of the sticky notes to provide specific instructions or reminders relevant to your workflow.
    - Schedule Frequency: Alter the schedule trigger parameters to set how frequently the workflow should run (e.g., daily, weekly, etc.).
    - Add Additional Nodes: Integrate other nodes as needed for additional functionality, such as sending notifications or logging actions.