Export File
Description
Exports a native Google Workspace file to the selected format and stores the exported file in the specified Google Drive folder.
Common settings
Use Process Data to bind supported inputs to workflow values or upstream outputs. See Common Activity Features for shared execution, error-handling, and output-persistence settings. Availability depends on the activity.
Design-Time Configuration
Display Text
A user-defined name for the activity, displayed on the workflow canvas to help identify its purpose.
Connection Name
The configured Google Drive connection used to access Google Drive resources.
File
The source Google Workspace file to export.
You can:
- Select a file using the Custom Picker Dialog.
- Provide a file identifier dynamically through Process Data.
Target Folder
The Google Drive folder in which to store the exported file.
You can:
- Select a folder using the Custom Picker Dialog.
- Provide a folder identifier dynamically through Process Data.
Exported file name
The name to assign to the exported file. This is separate from the source File selection. Use a filename appropriate for the selected export format, such as exported-report.pdf for PDF.
If File Exists
Determines how to handle an existing file with the same name in the target folder.
| Option | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Create Copy | Create a separate exported file and retain the existing file. |
| Overwrite | Replace the existing file with the exported content. |
| Throw Error | Report a conflict and apply the configured On Error strategy. |
Google Docs File Format
Select the output format when exporting a Google Docs document.
Supported formats:
- Microsoft Word (
.docx) - PDF Document (
.pdf) - OpenDocument Format (
.odt) - Plain Text (
.txt) - Rich Text Format (
.rtf) - Web Page (
.html) (Zipped) - EPUB Publication (
.epub) - Markdown (
.md)
Google Spreadsheet File Format
Select the output format when exporting a Google Sheets spreadsheet.
Supported formats:
- Microsoft Excel (
.xlsx) - OpenDocument Spreadsheet (
.ods) - PDF Document (
.pdf) - Web Page (
.html) (Zipped) - Comma-Separated Values (
.csv) - Tab-Separated Values (
.tsv)
Google Slide File Format
Select the output format when exporting a Google Slides presentation.
Supported formats:
- Microsoft PowerPoint (
.pptx) - OpenDocument Presentation (
.odp) - PDF Document (
.pdf) - Plain Text (
.txt)
Google Drawing File Format
Select the output format when exporting a Google Drawing.
Supported formats:
- PDF Document (
.pdf) - JPEG Image (
.jpg) - PNG Image (
.png) - Scalable Vector Graphics (
.svg)
Execution settings
Configure Wait All Incoming when execution paths converge, and On Error for failure handling. Select Inherit where available to use the workflow-level error policy.
Output
Result
A File Reference representing the created file. File References are a platform-wide IB-X file abstraction that can be passed to other activities that accept file input.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Name of the file. |
| Size | Size of the file. |
| File ID | Unique identifier of the file in Google Drive. |
| Parent Folder | Parent folder containing this file. |
| Created Time | When the file was created. |
| Modified Time | When the file was last modified. |
| Web View Link | Link to view the file in Google Drive. |
Remarks
- The authenticated Google account must be able to read the source file and create files in the target folder. Overwrite also requires permission to modify the existing file.
- The selected export format must match the source resource type.
- Use If File Exists to control how naming conflicts are handled.
- Exporting creates an output file; the source Google Workspace document remains in its native format.
- Pass the returned File Reference to subsequent activities that accept file inputs.
Example: Export a document as PDF
Select a native Google Docs file, its target folder, and PDF Document as the document format. Set Exported file name to Report.pdf and choose If File Exists. Pass Result to a file-consuming activity after the export succeeds.
For spreadsheet CSV/TSV export, the export represents one sheet rather than the entire multi-tab workbook. Use XLSX when the output must retain multiple worksheets. The available export options must match the selected native resource type.