Write To File Expression Bug

Questions
1

Describe the problem/error/question

When I write a file to {{ $execution.id }}.json it creates a file named 123.json. when I write the file to backup/{{ $execution.id }}.json the file name is {{ $execution.id }}.json.

Expressions are not working when writing outside the root folder. However, the file is created and the data is accurate.

Please share your workflow

Information on your n8n setup

  • n8n version: 1.109.2
  • Database (default: SQLite): Postgres
  • n8n EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting (default: own, main): default
  • Running n8n via (Docker, npm, n8n cloud, desktop app): npm
  • Operating system: Windows Server 2025
2

Hey @James_Stephens, hope all is well.

ran your wf, here is what’s in the container

~ $ pwd
/home/node


~ $ tree
.
└── backup
    └── 10513.json

1 directories, 1 files
~ $
3

You are on windows and npm? Doesn’t seem like a comparable example if you are not using the same setup. But it is good to know it works for some setups out there.

4

As per Jon on discord, “It should be fine, I assume when you say on windows you are using an npm install and not docker? I suspect the / might need to be \ or // or \/"

I will try to different combinations tomorrow and report back.

1 Like
5

@Jon Thanks Jon! Changing from the traditional windows \ to / between directories fixed the issue. However, this still feels like a bug, so I am not marking it resolved in hopes someone will handle this issue.