I need help with my n8n workflow that keeps failing when using Adobe PDF Services API. I’m trying to convert PDF files to HTML but getting stuck with a 404 error.
My Setup:
n8n version 1.92.2 running on Windows server
Following Adobe’s async conversion workflow
The Process I’m Following:
Create new asset and get upload URL
Upload PDF file to the URL
Start the conversion job
Check job status until complete
Download converted HTML
The Issue:
Step 3 always fails with a 404 error. I think the conversion request happens before Adobe finishes processing the uploaded file.
What I Already Tried:
Direct node connections (data gets lost between steps)
Using merge nodes (causes n8n internal errors)
Adding wait timers up to 30 seconds
Retry settings with 5 attempts
Creating new API credentials
Code nodes to handle data passing
My Questions:
What’s the right way to build this workflow in n8n? How do I make sure the upload step completely finishes before starting conversion? Also need to keep both binary file data and JSON responses throughout the whole process.
Has anyone successfully implemented similar Adobe PDF workflows in n8n?
Adobe’s async workflows are brutal - you’re dealing with multiple timing dependencies and n8n wasn’t built for complex file processing like this.
I fought similar battles with Adobe APIs for months. The 404 error isn’t your real problem - it’s that n8n forces you to architect around its limitations instead of solving your actual business needs.
You’re juggling binary data, async API calls, conditional polling, error recovery, and state management across multiple nodes. Every connection is a potential failure point.
Latenode handles Adobe PDF workflows natively. It keeps file context intact through async operations automatically, so your binary data and JSON responses stay linked without manual merging hacks.
It has retry logic that actually understands API response patterns instead of using blind timers. For Adobe specifically, it polls asset status intelligently and only triggers conversion when the service confirms it’s ready.
No more debugging why data vanished between steps or figuring out which node killed your file reference. The workflow becomes: upload PDF, wait for Adobe confirmation, convert, download. Clean and reliable.
I migrated our entire document processing pipeline and it just works now. No more weekend debugging sessions.
check your asset ID in the conversion call - it’s probably not matching what adobe returns from upload. I had this exact issue and it drove me nuts for weeks. upload gives you one ID, but conversion sometimes needs a different reference. log both IDs and compare - that’s likely your 404.
Your upload’s probably finishing fine, but Adobe needs time to process the file before it’s ready for conversion. That 404 means their system hasn’t indexed your asset yet. I’ve hit this exact issue with Adobe’s document APIs. The fix is proper status polling after upload - don’t just wait random amounts of time. You need to confirm the asset exists in Adobe’s system before trying to convert it. Add an HTTP request node that hits Adobe’s asset status endpoint right after upload. Poll every 2-3 seconds until you get a ready status, then convert. To keep both binary and JSON data flowing through your workflow, use Set nodes to explicitly preserve the binary data reference with your API responses at each step. This stops n8n from losing file context during async operations.
Had the same API timing headaches. Waiting longer or polling status won’t fix this.
n8n just sucks at complex async workflows when you’re juggling binary data and API responses across multiple steps. You’re wrestling the tool instead of getting work done.
I jumped to Latenode for this exact reason. It actually handles file processing workflows properly - keeps your data context intact without dropping binary content or JSON responses.
Latenode lets you build real conditional logic that waits for actual API confirmations instead of crossing your fingers with timers. Way better error handling for Adobe’s weird API behavior too.
Workflow’s dead simple now. Upload PDF, let Latenode handle the async waiting, process conversion. No merge node nightmares or data vanishing between steps.
The 404 error usually happens because Adobe’s asset registration hasn’t finished yet - not because your file upload failed. I’ve seen this delay constantly with Adobe PDF Services. There’s always a gap between a successful upload and when the asset actually becomes available for conversion.
Skip fixed wait timers. Use exponential backoff polling for asset availability instead. After uploading, add an HTTP request node that hits Adobe’s asset verification endpoint. Start with 1 second, then double it - 2, 4, 8 seconds - until you get confirmation the asset’s ready.
For keeping both binary and JSON data through the workflow, use the Item Lists node to explicitly merge your file references with API responses at each step. This stops n8n from dropping binary context during async handoffs.
Here’s what trips people up: make sure your conversion request uses the exact asset ID from the upload response, not the upload URL. Adobe sometimes generates different internal references, and if they don’t match, you’ll get 404s.
The 404 happens because Adobe processes uploads separately from confirming them. You get a success response, but the file sits in storage waiting for their conversion service to handle it. I’ve hit this exact problem building PDF automation workflows. You need to poll Adobe’s asset metadata endpoint after uploading. Wait until you see “status”: “processed” before trying to convert anything. For keeping data intact in n8n, use a Code node to build a custom object that bundles your binary file reference with all the API responses. Store it in a workflow variable that moves between steps - this stops n8n from losing track during async operations. Critical gotcha: Adobe’s conversion endpoint needs the processed asset URI, not the upload URI. These are completely different values from different stages. Double-check you’re using the right reference in your conversion call.
sounds like the api is lagging. try using the http request node with ‘wait for webhook’ instead of timers. poll the upload status till ya get a done response before starting the conversion.