Extract Structured Data from D&B Company Reports with GPT-4o

Pull a Dun & Bradstreet Business Information Report (PDF) by DUNS, convert the response into a binary PDF file, extract readable text, and use OpenAI to return a clean, flat JSON with only the key fields you care about (e.g., report date, Paydex, viability score, credit limit). Includes Sticky Notes for quick setup help and guidance.

✅ What this template does Requests a D&B report* (PDF) for a specific DUNS* via HTTP
Converts* the API response into a binary PDF file*
Extracts** the text from the PDF for analysis
Uses OpenAI with a Structured Output Parser to return a flat JSON
Designed to be extended to Sheets, databases, or CRMs

🧩 How it works (node-by-node) Manual Trigger — Runs the workflow on demand ("When clicking 'Execute workflow'"). D&B Report (HTTP Request) — Calls the D&B Reports API for a Business Information Report (PDF). Convert to PDF File (Convert to File) — Turns the D&B response payload into a binary PDF. Extract Binary (Extract from File) — Extracts text content from the PDF. OpenAI Chat Model — Provides the language model context for the analyzer. Analyze PDF (AI Agent) — Reads the extracted text and applies strict rules for a flat JSON output. Structured Output (AI Structured Output Parser) — Enforces a schema and validates/auto-fixes the JSON shape. (Optional) Get Bearer Token (HTTP Request) — Template guidance for OAuth token retrieval (shown as disabled; included for reference if you prefer Bearer flows).

🛠️ Setup instructions (from the JSON)

1. D&B Report (HTTP Request) Auth:* Header Auth (use an n8n HTTP Header Auth* credential)
   URL:**
   https://plus.dnb.com/v1/reports/duns/804735132?productId=birstd&inLanguage=en-US&reportFormat=PDF&orderReason=6332&tradeUp=hq&customerReference=customer%20reference%20text

Headers:** Accept: application/json Credential Example:** D&B (HTTP Header Auth)
> Put your Authorization: Bearer <token> header inside this credential, not directly in the node.

2. Convert to PDF File (Convert to File) Operation:** toBinary
   Source Property:** contents[0].contentObject
   > This takes the PDF content from the D&B API response and converts it to a binary file for downstream nodes.

3. Extract Binary (Extract from File) Operation:** pdf
   > Produces a text field with the extracted PDF content, ready for AI analysis.

4. OpenAI Model(s) OpenAI Chat Model**
   Model:** gpt-4o (as configured in the JSON)
   Credential:* Your stored OpenAI API credential (do not* hardcode keys) Wiring:**
   Connect OpenAI Chat Model as ai_languageModel to Analyze PDF
   Connect another OpenAI Chat Model (also gpt-4o) as ai_languageModel to Structured Output

5. Analyze PDF (AI Agent) Prompt Type:** define
   Text:**
   ={{ $json.text }} System Message (rules):**
   You are a precision extractor. Read the provided business report PDF and return only a single flat JSON object with the fields below.
   No arrays/lists.
   No prose.
   If a value is missing, output null.
   Dates: YYYY-MM-DD.
   Numbers: plain numerics (no commas or $).
   Prefer most recent or highest-level overall values if multiple are shown.
   Never include arrays, nested structures, or text outside of the JSON object.

6. Structured Output (AI Structured Output Parser) JSON Schema Example:** { "report_date": "", "company_name": "", "duns": "", "dnb_rating_overall": "", "composite_credit_appraisal": "", "viability_score": "", "portfolio_comparison_score": "", "paydex_3mo": "", "paydex_24mo": "", "credit_limit_conservative": "" } Auto Fix:** enabled Wiring:* Connect as ai_outputParser to Analyze PDF*

7. (Optional) Get Bearer Token (HTTP Request) — Disabled example If you prefer fetching tokens dynamically: Auth:** Basic Auth (D&B username/password) Method:** POST URL:** https://plus.dnb.com/v3/token Body Parameters:** grant_type = client_credentials Headers:** Accept: application/json Downstream usage:** Set header Authorization: Bearer {{$json["access_token"]}} in subsequent calls.

> In this template, the D&B Report node uses Header Auth credential instead. Use one strategy consistently (credentials are recommended for security).

🧠 Output schema (flat JSON) The analyzer + parser return a single flat object like:

{ "report_date": "2024-12-31", "company_name": "Example Corp", "duns": "123456789", "dnb_rating_overall": "5A2", "composite_credit_appraisal": "Fair", "viability_score": "3", "portfolio_comparison_score": "2", "paydex_3mo": "80", "paydex_24mo": "78", "credit_limit_conservative": "25000" }

🧪 Test flow Click Execute workflow (Manual Trigger). Confirm D&B Report returns the PDF response. Check Convert to PDF File for a binary file. Verify Extract from File produces a text field. Inspect Analyze PDF → Structured Output for valid JSON.

🔐 Security notes Do not hardcode tokens in nodes; use Credentials (HTTP Header Auth or Basic Auth). Restrict who can execute the workflow if it's accessible from outside your network. Avoid storing sensitive payloads in logs; mask tokens/headers.

🧩 Customize Map the structured JSON to Google Sheets, Postgres/BigQuery, or a CRM. Extend the schema with additional fields (e.g., number of employees, HQ address) — keep it flat. Add validation (Set/IF nodes) to ensure required fields exist before writing downstream.

🩹 Troubleshooting Missing PDF text?* Ensure Convert to File* source property is contents[0].contentObject. Unauthorized from D&B?** Refresh/verify token; confirm Header Auth credential contains Authorization: Bearer <token>. Parser errors?** Keep the agent output short and flat; the Structured Output node will auto-fix minor issues. Different DUNS/product?** Update the D&B Report URL query params (duns, productId, etc.).

🗒️ Sticky Notes (included) Overview:** "Fetch D&B Company Report (PDF) → Convert → Extract → Summarize to Structured JSON (n8n)" Setup snippets for Data Blocks (optional) and Auth flow

📬 Contact Need help customizing this (e.g., routing the PDF to Drive, mapping JSON to your CRM, or expanding the schema)?

📧 robert@ynteractive.com
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-breen-29429625/
🌐 https://ynteractive.com