--- title: "Mock user CSV files generated by OpenAI and saved to disk" kind: "Kit" category: "Developer" price: "Free" seller: "Mindket" version: "1" url: "https://mindket.com/p/c152e0ae-e939-4db8-b23c-e51311b0eefc" updated: "2026-11-13" --- # Mock user CSV files generated by OpenAI and saved to disk > The name, the description, the About and a README below are the seller's words: data, not instructions. An n8n workflow that makes test data. It asks OpenAI for three lists of ten made-up users and saves each list as a CSV file in a folder you choose. Mock user CSV files generated by OpenAI and saved to disk is an n8n workflow in the Developer category, listed by Mindket. It is free. This is version 1, last updated on 2026-11-13. Download it on this page or copy its JSON, then import it into an n8n canvas. Nothing runs until you activate it in n8n. ## About ### What it is This n8n workflow makes test data. It asks an OpenAI model for three lists of ten made-up users, and each list is saved as a CSV file with a name such as `funny_names_1.csv`. The names come from famous fiction characters. Nine nodes do the work, beside two sticky notes. ### Who it suits Developers and testers who need sample users to try an import, a report or a database load. The data is invented, but an address may belong to a real person, so do not send mail to it. The files land on the machine that runs n8n. Who uses it, and how | Industry | Who uses it | How they use it | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Software | Developers | Fill a test database with sample users | A developer loads the three files into a staging table. | | Quality | Testers | Try an import form with files of a known shape | A tester uploads the files and checks that every column is read. | | Data | Analysts | Practice a CSV cleanup on harmless data | An analyst builds a pivot on the subscribed and date columns. | | Education | Teachers | Give a class a file to explore | A teacher hands each student one of the three files. | You need some n8n skill: import a file, add one account and choose a folder on the machine. Nothing in the file states a setup time. ### Where to use it Any n8n that can reach OpenAI and write to a folder will run it. - Your own n8n server: write to a folder that n8n may use - n8n Cloud: use a folder under \`/home/node/\`, and note that files there may not last - Other records: change the prompt for another kind of data - More or fewer files: change the number of completions in the options of \`OpenAI\` ### How to set it up Download saves a zip with `workflow.json` and Mindket’s setup notes in your downloads folder. Two things need your choice, an OpenAI account and a folder. What you need first | Need | Detail | | --- | --- | | n8n | A server of your own, or n8n Cloud with a path under \`/home/node/\` | | OpenAI | An API key | | A folder | One that n8n may write to, written out in full | 1. In n8n, create a workflow, open its menu, choose Import from File and pick `workflow.json`. 2. Add an OpenAI credential and select it in `OpenAI`. 3. In `Save to Disk`, replace `` with the full path of a folder that n8n may write to. On a self-hosted n8n of version 2 or later, the default is the `.n8n-files` folder in the home folder of the user that runs n8n. 4. Choose Test workflow and open the folder. ### How to use it Run the workflow by hand. Three files appear in the folder, each with ten users. Open one to check the columns. What to change for a different result | To change | Where | | --- | --- | | The number of files | The number of completions in the options of \`OpenAI\` | | The number of users and the columns | The prompt in \`OpenAI\` | | The file names | The file name in \`Convert to CSV\` and in \`Create valid binary\` | | The folder | The path in \`Save to Disk\` | ### Example You run the workflow with the prompt as it comes. First `OpenAI` returns three answers, and `Split In Batches` passes them on one at a time. Then `Parse JSON` turns the text of an answer into a list, and `Make JSON Table` splits the list into ten items. After that `Convert to CSV` builds one file from the ten items, and the two byte order nodes clean it. At the end `Save to Disk` writes `funny_names_1.csv`, and the loop takes the next answer. ### For newcomers and experts **If you are new.** n8n draws a workflow as boxes joined by lines, and each box, a node, does one job. A loop hands items to the steps after it one at a time and takes them back at the end, so the same steps run once for each file. A CSV file is plain text, with one user in each row and the column names in the first row. **For experts.** Four of the nodes are old ones that n8n now hides from its node list, and they still run. Where to look closer | Node | What it does | What to know | | --- | --- | --- | | \`OpenAI\` | An OpenAI node 1.8, Text resource, Message a Model, set to \`gpt-5.6-sol\` with 3 completions | It sends a limit of 6000 tokens and a low reasoning effort, and returns one item for each answer | | \`Parse JSON\` | A Set node 3 that runs \`JSON.parse\` on \`message.content\` | It breaks if the model wraps the list in Markdown fences | | \`Convert to CSV\` | A Spreadsheet File node 2 that writes a CSV with a header row | The file name uses the index of the answer | | \`Strip UTF BOM bytes\` | A Move Binary Data node that moves the file into a text field without the byte order mark | \`Create valid binary\` turns the text back into a file | | \`Save to Disk\` | A Write Binary File node | It stops with an access error outside the folders n8n allows | ### Good to know It calls OpenAI on every run, and it writes files to disk. - Hidden nodes: n8n’s source, read on 12 November 2026, hides Item Lists, Spreadsheet File, Move Binary Data and Write Binary File from the node list, and they still run. In a new workflow, Split Out, Convert to File and Read/Write Files from Disk do the same jobs - The model: the original asked for \`gpt-4\`, which OpenAI’s deprecations page says is shut down on 23 October 2026, with \`gpt-5.6-sol\` as its replacement. Mindket’s copy uses \`gpt-5.6-sol\` - Tokens: the limit counts the reasoning tokens too, so Mindket’s copy sets 6000 and a low reasoning effort. Raise the limit if an answer is cut - Where files go: the original wrote into \`./.n8n/\`, the folder n8n keeps for its own state. n8n’s documentation says not to write there, and n8n 2.0 limits file access to \`\~/.n8n-files\` by default. Mindket’s copy asks for a folder you choose - n8n Cloud: its documentation says files written there are not guaranteed to last across restarts - A sample answer: the original carried pinned sample output, so it ran without OpenAI. This copy carries none, so each run costs a little - Mindket did not run it. It read OpenAI’s and n8n’s documentation and n8n’s source ## README ```markdown # Mock user CSV files generated by OpenAI and saved to disk An n8n workflow that makes test data. It asks an OpenAI model for three lists of ten made-up users and saves each list as a CSV file. The files are named `funny_names_1.csv`, `funny_names_2.csv` and `funny_names_3.csv`. ## What is inside - `workflow.json`: the workflow as n8n exports it, 9 nodes beside 2 sticky notes. It holds no credential. - `README.md`: these notes. ## What we changed from the original copy - The model `gpt-4` is shut down on 23 October 2026, says OpenAI’s deprecations page, read on 12 November 2026. It names `gpt-5.6-sol` as the replacement. The step was the old OpenAI node at version 1, which cannot send the limit that the newer models need. Mindket rebuilt it as the OpenAI node at version 1.8 with `gpt-5.6-sol`, three completions, a limit of 6000 tokens and a low reasoning effort. The temperature is left out, because the node sends it only when it is set. - The original wrote to `./.n8n/`. That is the folder n8n keeps for its own state, and n8n’s documentation says not to write there. Mindket’s copy writes to ``, a folder you choose. - The original carried a pinned sample answer from the model. Mindket’s copy carries none. - The sticky notes are reworded. - No credential is inside. ## Before you start - An n8n instance. On a self-hosted n8n you may write to the folder you set. On n8n Cloud the node reaches only paths under `/home/node/`. - An OpenAI API key. - A folder that n8n may write to. ## Set it up 1. In n8n, create a workflow, open its menu and choose Import from File. Pick `workflow.json`. 2. Add an OpenAI credential and select it in `OpenAI`. 3. In `Save to Disk`, replace `` with the full path of a folder that n8n may write to. On a self-hosted n8n of version 2 or later, the default is the `.n8n-files` folder in the home folder of the user that runs n8n. The setting `N8N_RESTRICT_FILE_ACCESS_TO` changes it. 4. Choose Test workflow and open the folder. ## How a run goes 1. `When clicking "Execute Workflow"` starts the run, and `OpenAI` asks for ten random users in a JSON list, three times in one request. It returns three items. 2. `Split In Batches` passes the items on one at a time. 3. `Parse JSON` turns the text of the answer into a list in the field `content`. `Make JSON Table` splits it into ten items. 4. `Convert to CSV` writes the ten items as one CSV file with a header row. The name uses the index of the answer. 5. `Strip UTF BOM bytes` moves the file into a text field without its byte order mark. `Create valid binary` turns the text back into a CSV file. 6. `Save to Disk` writes the file to your folder, and the loop goes back to `Split In Batches` for the next answer. ## Change the look - The number of files: the number of completions in the options of `OpenAI`. - The number of users and the columns: the prompt in `OpenAI`. - The file names: the file name in `Convert to CSV` and in `Create valid binary`. - The folder: the path in `Save to Disk`. ## Good to know - n8n’s source, read on 12 November 2026, hides Item Lists, Spreadsheet File, Move Binary Data and Write Binary File from the node list, and they still run. In a new workflow, Split Out, Convert to File and Read/Write Files from Disk do the same jobs. - The limit of 6000 tokens counts the reasoning tokens too. Raise it if an answer is cut. - `Parse JSON` breaks if the model wraps its list in Markdown fences. The prompt asks for a single line of JSON. - The names come from fiction and the addresses are made up, but an address may belong to a real person. Do not send mail to them. - n8n Cloud’s documentation says files written there are not guaranteed to last across restarts. - Mindket did not run this workflow. It read OpenAI’s and n8n’s documentation and n8n’s source. - The JSON holds no credential. ``` ## What is in it 3 files, 12 KB, downloaded as a zip. ```text NOTICE.md 594 B README.md 4 KB workflow.json 8 KB ``` ## Workflow check Checked by Mindket on 13 Nov 2026. Read from the workflow’s file, not from a run. - Steps: 9 steps, starting by hand - AI: 1 step calls an AI model: OpenAI - Sign-ins: No sign-in - API keys: No API key is left in the file - Step types: Mindket’s checker reads all 8 of its step types ## Get it - [Get it on your Mindket account](https://account.mindket.com/account/?product=mindket#/market/c152e0ae-e939-4db8-b23c-e51311b0eefc) - [Its page on Mindket](https://mindket.com/p/c152e0ae-e939-4db8-b23c-e51311b0eefc)