Resolving 'Pinned Data' Error in n8n Workflow’s Parsing Node

Below is some guidance based on common causes of this error in n8n:

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Why This May Be Happening

Even if you haven't explicitly pinned the node, n8n’s data pinning feature saves additional metadata (for linking items between nodes) that the .item() method depends on. When data is pinned—even unintentionally—the required thread information might be missing or incomplete. This means that if the output from “Concatenate Image IDs2” was ever pinned (or if the output being used elsewhere is pinned), using the .item method won’t work as usual.

In your error message, n8n is hinting that the node’s pinned state is interfering with item linking at the point where the code (or an expression) is using .item. The error may occur even if it seems like you haven’t manually pinned the node. It’s possible that:

• The node’s output was pinned in a previous run.
• There is residual pinned data in the workflow affecting item linking.
• A mismatch exists between data pinning and referencing methods (like using .item instead of alternative methods such as .first(), .last() or indexing into .all()).

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How to Resolve It

1. Check for Pinned Data:
   Open the “Concatenate Image IDs2” node’s output in your workflow editor. Look for any banner (for example, a “This data is pinned” message) indicating that the data is pinned. If you see that, manually unpin the data.

2. Unpin the Node Data (Even if Not Intentionally Pinned):
   If you identify that the output has been pinned (perhaps in an earlier testing session), use the provided “Unpin” option in the node’s output panel. This ensures that the node will fetch fresh data (complete with full item linking information) on the next execution.

3. Review Data Referencing Methods:
   If your workflow logic requires referencing data from that node, you might consider switching from using the .item method to alternatives like .first(), .last(), or even accessing .all()[index]. This change can be a more explicit way of handling cases where pinned data might not provide the necessary linking context.

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Example Adjustment

If your previous code or expression looked something like this:

JAVASCRIPTCopied
const imageIds = $('Concatenate Image IDs2').item.imageID;

You might instead use:

JAVASCRIPTCopied
const imageIds = $('Concatenate Image IDs2').first().imageID;

This alternative method avoids ambiguity when there’s more than one item or when item linking information is incomplete.

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Summary

The error essentially means that the output data of the “Concatenate Image IDs2” node is in a pinned state (even if unintentionally) which interferes with dynamic item linking using the .item method. Unpinning that node (or adjusting the method you use to reference its data) should resolve the issue.

If you continue to see issues, it might be useful to clear any residual pinned data from previous runs and then re-run your workflow to ensure fresh data is used.