Google Drive and Sheets Resource Selection
Overview
Google Drive and Google Sheets activities use the IB-X resource selector, also called the Custom Picker Dialog, to select resources without entering their identifiers manually. The selector uses the connection configured for the activity.
Connection requirements
| Activity category | Connection | Setup guide |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Google Drive | Google Drive Connection Setup |
| Google Sheets | Google Sheets | Google Sheets Connection Setup |
Authorize the connection through OAuth 2.0 before selecting resources. The selector replaces Google Picker integration; the connection does not require a Google Picker API key or Google Cloud Project Number as an App ID.
Select a resource
- Open the activity configuration.
- Select the appropriate Connection Name.
- Open the selector for the file, folder, or spreadsheet field.
- Browse to the required resource.
- Select the resource and confirm the selection.
- Complete the remaining activity settings and save the configuration.
The available resource types depend on the field and activity.
| Field | Resource to select |
|---|---|
| File | A file supported by the activity; Export File uses a native Google Workspace file |
| Parent Folder or Target Folder | A folder accessible through the configured connection |
| Spreadsheet | A Google Sheets spreadsheet |
Each field identifies a single resource. For workflows that determine resources at runtime, bind the resource identifier through Process Data instead of selecting a fixed resource during design.
For sheet tabs, cells, and ranges within a spreadsheet, see Google Sheets Data Selection.
Access and troubleshooting
The selector can only access resources permitted by the connection's OAuth authorization and the Google account's permissions. A successful sign-in does not guarantee that every file or operation is accessible.
If a resource is missing or selection fails:
- Confirm that the activity uses the intended connection and Google account.
- Confirm that the required Google APIs are enabled.
- Verify the permissions granted during authorization and the account's access to the resource.
- Check that the resource type is supported by the activity.
- If the connection's credentials or permissions have changed, authorize it again and retry selection.
Selecting a resource does not grant additional access to it. Runtime operations remain subject to Google permissions and organizational policies.
FileDriveInfo
Many Google activities return information using the FileDriveInfo object.
FileDriveInfo represents a file stored in Google Drive and contains both file metadata and a file reference that can be used by other activities.
FileDriveInfo Structure
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Metadata | Information describing the file. |
| File Reference | Information required to retrieve the file contents. |
Metadata
Metadata contains descriptive information about the file without including the file contents.
Common metadata properties include:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Id | Unique Google Drive file identifier. |
| Name | File name. |
| Size | File size in bytes. |
| MimeType | File content type. |
| DriveId | Google Drive identifier. |
| Parents | Parent folder identifiers. |
| WebContentLink | Direct download URL provided by Google. |
| WebViewLink | Browser view URL provided by Google. |
| CreatedTime | Date and time the file was created. |
| ModifiedTime | Date and time the file was last modified. |
| SharedWithMe | Indicates whether the file is shared with the authenticated user. |
For a complete list of metadata properties, refer to the Google Drive API documentation:
Google Drive file resource reference
File Reference
The File Reference contains the information required by IB-X to retrieve file contents from Google Drive.
The File Reference includes:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Connection Name | Google connection used to access the file. |
| File ID | Unique Google Drive file identifier. |
| File Name | Name of the file. |
| Content Type | MIME type of the file. |
File References can be passed between activities to perform operations such as downloading, copying, moving, or processing files.