Automated Academic Term Date Calendar Generation

This n8n workflow automates the process of importing university term dates from an Excel file, extracting key events using AI, and generating a shareable ICS calendar file for seamless calendar import. The process begins with a manual trigger and retrieves an Excel document from a university website via an HTTP Request node. Because AI models cannot parse Excel files directly, the workflow leverages Cloudflare’s Markdown Conversion Service to convert the spreadsheet into a markdown table that is easier for AI to interpret. Using an information extractor node powered by a GPT-based AI, the workflow parses the markdown to identify important events and their dates without converting date formats. The extracted data is then sorted by date, and a Python script constructs an ICS calendar file with weekly event entries. This ICS file is converted into a binary format and can be sent via email as an attachment through a Gmail node, allowing students or staff to easily import university term dates into their preferred calendar applications. Throughout the process, sticky notes explain each step, making the workflow accessible and easy to customize. This automation is highly practical for anyone managing repetitive calendar updates based on structured Excel data, streamlining student schedules, staff planning, or academic project timelines.