# Export Data to File

**Action ID:** `export_data_to_file`

## Description

Export data to a file. The file will be stored in S3 and the URL will be returned.

## Input Parameters

| Name            | Type   | Required | Default | Description                          |
| --------------- | ------ | :------: | ------- | ------------------------------------ |
| data            | string |     ✓    | -       | Data to export to the file           |
| file\_extension | string |     -    | txt     | File extension for the exported file |

<details>

<summary>View JSON Schema</summary>

```json
{
  "description": "Export Data to File action input.",
  "properties": {
    "data": {
      "title": "Data to export",
      "type": "string"
    },
    "file_extension": {
      "default": "txt",
      "title": "File extension",
      "type": "string"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "data"
  ],
  "title": "ExportDataToFileActionInput",
  "type": "object"
}
```

</details>

## Output Parameters

| Name      | Type   | Description                            |
| --------- | ------ | -------------------------------------- |
| file\_url | string | URL of the exported file in S3 storage |

<details>

<summary>View JSON Schema</summary>

```json
{
  "description": "Export Data to file action output.",
  "properties": {
    "file_url": {
      "title": "File URL",
      "type": "string"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "file_url"
  ],
  "title": "ExportDataToFileActionOutput",
  "type": "object"
}
```

</details>

## How It Works

This node takes your data string and writes it to a file with the specified extension. The file is then uploaded to S3 cloud storage with a unique filename. The node returns a publicly accessible URL where the file can be downloaded or referenced in subsequent workflow steps.

## Usage Examples

### Example 1: Export JSON Data

**Input:**

```
data: "{\"name\": \"John Doe\", \"email\": \"john@example.com\", \"age\": 30}"
file_extension: "json"
```

**Output:**

```
file_url: "https://s3.amazonaws.com/bucket/export-12345.json"
```

### Example 2: Export CSV Data

**Input:**

```
data: "Name,Email,Age\nJohn Doe,john@example.com,30\nJane Smith,jane@example.com,25"
file_extension: "csv"
```

**Output:**

```
file_url: "https://s3.amazonaws.com/bucket/export-67890.csv"
```

### Example 3: Export Plain Text Report

**Input:**

```
data: "Workflow Execution Report\n\nTotal Records: 150\nSuccess: 145\nFailed: 5\nExecution Time: 2.3 seconds"
file_extension: "txt"
```

**Output:**

```
file_url: "https://s3.amazonaws.com/bucket/export-24680.txt"
```

## Common Use Cases

* **Data Backup**: Export workflow data to files for backup and archival purposes
* **Report Generation**: Create downloadable reports from processed data
* **Data Sharing**: Generate files that can be shared with external systems or users
* **Batch Processing Output**: Save the results of batch processing operations to files
* **Log Exports**: Export logs and execution details for analysis and auditing
* **Configuration Files**: Generate configuration files based on workflow data
* **Data Migration**: Export data in specific formats for migration to other systems

## Error Handling

| Error Type        | Cause                                          | Solution                                                                       |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Empty Data        | Data parameter is empty or null                | Ensure the data parameter contains valid content before exporting              |
| Invalid Extension | File extension contains invalid characters     | Use only alphanumeric characters for the file extension (e.g., txt, json, csv) |
| Data Too Large    | Data size exceeds maximum allowed size         | Break large data into smaller chunks and export multiple files                 |
| S3 Upload Failed  | Unable to upload file to S3 storage            | Check S3 connectivity and permissions, then retry the operation                |
| Encoding Error    | Data contains characters that can't be encoded | Ensure data is properly encoded in UTF-8 format                                |
| Permission Denied | Insufficient permissions to write to S3        | Verify that the workflow has proper S3 write permissions configured            |
| Network Error     | Connection to S3 storage failed                | Check network connectivity and S3 service status                               |

## Notes

* **File Extension**: The file extension determines the file type but doesn't validate the data format—ensure your data matches the extension.
* **Default Extension**: If no file extension is provided, the file will be saved with a .txt extension.
* **Unique Filenames**: Each export generates a unique filename to prevent overwrites and conflicts.
* **Storage Location**: Files are stored in S3 with configurable retention policies based on your setup.
* **URL Accessibility**: The returned URL is publicly accessible—avoid exporting sensitive data without encryption.
* **Data Format**: The node accepts string data, so ensure complex data structures are serialized (e.g., JSON.stringify).
* **File Size Limits**: Be aware of S3 upload limits and workflow data size constraints.
* **Cost Considerations**: S3 storage and bandwidth usage may incur costs depending on your plan and usage volume.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.agenticflow.ai/reference/nodes/export_data_to_file.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.