Cannot convert binary to base64 in Code node - task runner returns "filesystem-v2"

Questions
1

Hi,

I’m on n8n 2.12.1 self-hosted with binaryMode: separate.

I’m trying to attach an Excel file to an email via the Graph API.
The binary is generated by a “Convert to File” node (xlsx).

In my Code node I tried:

// Attempt 1
const binaryBuffer = await this.helpers.getBinaryDataBuffer(item, ‘data’);
→ Unknown error (JsTaskRunnerSandbox)

// Attempt 2
const base64 = item.binary.data.data;
→ returns “filesystem-v2” instead of real base64

Is there any way to read binary data as base64 inside a Code node
when using the task runner?

Or should I use a completely different approach to attach
a generated Excel file to a Graph API sendMail call?

Thanks

2

Welcome to the n8n community @Sahbi_hanafi
filesystem-v2 is the file-backed binary reference, not the actual base64. I’d avoid converting it in Code here and send the binary directly in the HTTP Request/Graph API step instead