# Use the xlsx-populate library in Code node - n8n

**URL:** <https://community.n8n.io/t/use-the-xlsx-populate-library-in-code-node-n8n/104038>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Created:** [Avril 21, 2025, 10:16 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/use-the-xlsx-populate-library-in-code-node-n8n/104038 "2025-04-21T10:16:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dap\_D](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/dap_d/32/56765_2.png) [@Dap\_D](https://community.n8n.io/u/Dap_D)\
**Post date:** [Avril 21, 2025, 10:16 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/use-the-xlsx-populate-library-in-code-node-n8n/104038/1 "2025-04-21T10:16:32Z")

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Hello,

I am using n8n to design an automated workflow and am using a Code node to perform Excel export and import.

I am using JavaScript. The sample code is as follows:  
const XlsxPopulate = require(‘xlsx-populate’);  
const fs = require(‘fs’);  
// Read JSON passed from the command line  
const args = $input.first().json.data;  
(async () =\> {  
try {  
const workbook = await XlsxPopulate.fromFileAsync(‘/scripts/Baocao.xlsx’);

```
    // todo
	

} catch (err) {
    console.log("An error occurred:", err);
}

```

})();

After running, it reports the error: “Cannot find module ‘xlsx-populate’ [line 1]” Error: Cannot find module ‘xlsx-populate’ at /usr/local/lib/node\_modules/n8n/node\_modules/.pnpm/@n8n+task-runner@file+packages+@[n8n+task-runner\_openai@4.78.1\_encoding](mailto:n8n+task-runner_openai@4.78.1_encoding)@0.1.13\_zod@3.24.1\_/node\_modules/@n8n/task-runner/dist/js-task-runner/require-resolver.js:16:27 at VmCodeWrapper (evalmachine.:1:252) at evalmachine.:16:2 at Script.runInContext (node:vm:149:12) at runInContext (node:vm:301:6) at result (/usr/local/lib/node\_modules/n8n/node\_modules/.pnpm/@n8n+task-runner@file+packages+@[n8n+task-runner\_openai@4.78.1\_encoding](mailto:n8n+task-runner_openai@4.78.1_encoding)@0.1.13\_zod@3.24.1\_/node\_modules/@n8n/task-runner/dist/js-task-runner/js-task-runner.js:162:63) at new Promise () at JsTaskRunner.runForAllItems (/usr/local/lib/node\_modules/n8n/node\_modules/.pnpm/@n8n+task-runner@file+packages+@[n8n+task-runner\_openai@4.78.1\_encoding](mailto:n8n+task-runner_openai@4.78.1_encoding)@0.1.13\_zod@3.24.1\_/node\_modules/@n8n/task-runner/dist/js-task-runner/js-task-runner.js:156:34) at JsTaskRunner.executeTask (/usr/local/lib/node\_modules/n8n/node\_modules/.pnpm/@n8n+task-runner@file+packages+@[n8n+task-runner\_openai@4.78.1\_encoding](mailto:n8n+task-runner_openai@4.78.1_encoding)@0.1.13\_zod@3.24.1\_/node\_modules/@n8n/task-runner/dist/js-task-runner/js-task-runner.js:117:26) at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task\_queues:95:5)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jcuypers](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/jcuypers/32/54965_2.png) [@jcuypers](https://community.n8n.io/u/jcuypers)\
**Post date:** [Avril 21, 2025, 6:33 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/use-the-xlsx-populate-library-in-code-node-n8n/104038/2 "2025-04-21T18:33:32Z")

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Hi,

Did you install the library globally? (npm i -g) and set the NODE\_FUNCTION\_ALLOW\_EXTERNAL environment variable with the name of the libary?

Reg,  
J.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dap\_D](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/dap_d/32/56765_2.png) [@Dap\_D](https://community.n8n.io/u/Dap_D)\
**Post date:** [Avril 22, 2025, 12:48 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/use-the-xlsx-populate-library-in-code-node-n8n/104038/3 "2025-04-22T00:48:53Z")

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> [@jcuypers](#):
>
> NODE\_FUNCTION\_ALLOW\_EXTERNAL

Hi @jcuypers ,

Thank you for your response. Currently, I haven’t set up the variables or configured the environment. I’m using Docker to run on Kubernetes. Could you please guide me on how to set up the variables?

Thanks,

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dap\_D](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/dap_d/32/56765_2.png) [@Dap\_D](https://community.n8n.io/u/Dap_D)\
**Post date:** [Avril 22, 2025, 2:58 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/use-the-xlsx-populate-library-in-code-node-n8n/104038/4 "2025-04-22T02:58:10Z")

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Thanks @jcuypers support, i set env and run ok.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jcuypers](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/jcuypers/32/54965_2.png) [@jcuypers](https://community.n8n.io/u/jcuypers)\
**Post date:** [Avril 22, 2025, 4:03 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/use-the-xlsx-populate-library-in-code-node-n8n/104038/5 "2025-04-22T04:03:22Z")

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Hi,

Can you please accept the answer as solution? Thanks

Reg,  
J.

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**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/n8n/user_avatar/community.n8n.io/system/32/195824_2.png) [@system](https://community.n8n.io/u/system)\
**Post date:** [Avril 29, 2025, 4:03 UTC](https://community.n8n.io/t/use-the-xlsx-populate-library-in-code-node-n8n/104038/6 "2025-04-29T04:03:43Z")

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A fermé ce sujet (le Avril 29, 2025, 4:03 UTC)

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