How can I convert AI Agent HTML/Markdown output to Google Docs rich text in n8n?

The Markdown and HTML nodes in n8n do let you convert between Markdown and HTML, but neither provides a direct conversion to rich text in the format that Google Docs expects. Google Docs requires its content to be formatted as rich text (for example, using a JSON structure with text style properties) so that formatting (like bold, italics, headings, etc.) is rendered as intended.

Here are a few points and possible workarounds to consider:

1. Direct Conversion Limitation:
   While you can adjust your AI Agent prompt to output HTML or Markdown, simply pasting that output into a Google Doc (even with Markdown mode enabled) will not automatically translate to rich text. The Google Docs API or node doesn’t convert the HTML/Markdown markup to formatted rich text on its own.

2. Intermediary Conversion Approach:
   You could consider using an intermediary step that converts your HTML (or Markdown converted to HTML using the Markdown node) into the Google Docs API’s rich text JSON format. This might involve:

   • Creating a custom function or code node that parses the HTML.
   • Mapping the HTML tags/styles to the equivalent rich text structures (e.g., paragraphs with text run objects, styles, etc.).
     This custom conversion isn’t provided out-of-the-box by n8n, so you’d be responsible for implementing or integrating a library that performs such a conversion.

3. Adjusting Agent Output:
   Another option is to change your AI Agent prompt so that it outputs data that is closer to the desired rich text format—potentially even outputting JSON that follows the Google Docs API format. However, this can be challenging as it requires precise control over the output structure.

4. Google Docs Node Considerations:
   Ensure that your method for updating the Google Doc is capable of handling rich text inputs. The Google Docs node in n8n is meant to interact with the Google Docs API, which expects structured data for rich formatting. If you’re just inserting a block of HTML or Markdown, Google Docs might not process it into the intended formatting.

In summary, to get a properly formatted Google Doc from your AI Agent’s output, you’ll likely need an additional conversion process that translates your HTML/Markdown into the rich text structure required by the Google Docs API. Currently, n8n provides tools to convert between HTML and Markdown, but not directly to Google Docs’ rich text format.

I hope this helps!