Get File
Description
Retrieves a file from Google Drive and returns a File Reference.
This activity is commonly used when subsequent activities require a File Reference instead of manually selecting a file.
Common Capabilities
Process Data Support
This activity supports dynamic configuration using variables from the Process Data drawer.
You can bind values from Agent Data, Workflow Data, Form Data, System Data, Enterprise Variables, and Activity Outputs.
Learn more → Using Process Data
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 file to retrieve.
You can:
- Select a file using the Custom Picker Dialog.
- Provide a file identifier dynamically through Process Data.
Wait All Incoming
Controls how this activity behaves when multiple incoming execution paths converge.
Determines whether the activity executes when:
- Any incoming path completes, or
- All relevant incoming paths complete before execution
Learn more → Execution Control
On Error
Defines how the workflow behaves if this activity encounters a runtime error.
Supported strategies include:
- Fault
- Continue
- Suspend
- Retry
Output
File
A File Reference representing the selected file. File References are a platform-wide IB-X file abstraction that can be passed to other activities that accept file inputs.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Name of the file. |
| Size | File size in bytes. May be empty when not available. |
| File ID | Unique identifier of the file in Google Drive. |
| MIME Type | MIME type of the file. |
| Parent Folder | Parent folder containing the 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. |
| Is Native | Indicates whether the file is a native Google Workspace file. This activity retrieves non-native files, so the returned value is False. |
Remarks
- The authenticated Google account must have access to the file.
- This activity does not download the file contents.
- Use this activity to retrieve references to non-native files stored in Google Drive.
- Use activities such as Download File when the file contents are required.
- The returned File Reference can be passed directly to any IB-X activity that accepts file inputs.