Using the Google Drive App

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Once your workspace administrator has installed and configured the Google Drive app, users can connect their accounts and start creating, viewing, and sharing files directly in Rocket.Chat.

Connect your Google account

To begin using the app, you must link your Google account.

  1. In any room, enter the slash command /google-drive connect.

  2. The google-drive.bot will send you a message. Click the Authorize button.

  3. A new browser window will open. Select the Google account you wish to authorize and click Allow to grant the app the required permissions.

  4. After a successful connection, you will receive a confirmation message from the google-drive.bot.

You may be required to re-authenticate periodically when your authentication token expires.

Manage your Google Drive files

Once connected, users can access the Google Drive app using the slash command or click the kebab menu in the room header and select Google Drive.

Create a new file

To create a new file in Google Drive,

  1. Open the app from the room header kebab menu and click + New, or use the slash command /google-drive new.

  2. Enter the file name and select the file type from the options (Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Forms).

  3. Click Create.

The google-drive.bot will send you a message with a link to your new file.

List and view your files

To view all the files in your connected Google Drive account,

  1. Open the app from the room header kebab menu or use the slash command /google-drive files.

  2. Files are listed with details including their name, type, owner, and last modified date.

  3. Use the search bar to find a specific file.

  4. Filter the list by file type and sort in ascending or descending order.

To open and view a file in your browser,

  1. From the list of files, click the kebab menu next to its name

  2. Select Open in browser.

To see detailed information about a file,

  1. From the list of files, click the kebab menu next to the file you want to view.

  2. Select File Information. It displays the following details of the file:

    • File name: The name of the file.

    • Type: The file type.

    • Extension: The file extension.

    • Size: The size of the file on Google Drive.

    • Storage used: The amount of storage the file occupies.

    • Location: The location of the file within Google Drive.

    • Owner(s): A list of the file's owners.

    • Modified: The last modified date.

    • Created: The creation date of the file.

Delete a file

To delete a file,

  1. From the list of files, click the kebab menu next to the file you want to delete.

  2. Select Delete file.

  3. Confirm by clicking Delete forever.

You can only delete files you created.

Share a file

You can share files in your Google Drive within any room in your workspace.

  1. From the list of files, click the kebab menu next to the file you want to share.

  2. Select Share in room. A link to the file is posted in the current room.

File permissions

Managing file permissions allows you to restrict the action anyone can perform on a file. A file's permission can be set when sharing the file or viewing the file information.

  • The various permissions you can set to a file include the following:

    • Share to room members and allow them to view: Restricts viewing of the file only by the member(s) of the room.

    • Share to room members and allow them to comment: All room members can view and comment on the file.

    • Share to room members and allow them to edit: Gives edit access to the member(s) of the room.

    • Share to anyone at Organization and allow them to view: Allows anyone in your organization to view the file.

    • Share to anyone at Organization and allow them to comment: Allows anyone in your organization to view and comment on the file.

    • Share to anyone at Organization and allow them to edit: Allows anyone in the organization to edit the file.

    • Share to anyone with the link and allow them to view: Allows anyone having the link to view the file.

    • Share to anyone with the link and allow them to comment: Allows anyone having the link to comment on the file.

    • Share to anyone with the link and allow them to edit: Allows anyone having the link to edit the file.

Google Drive slash commands

With your account linked, you can use the following commands:

  • /google-drive help: shows the help list.

  • /google-drive connect: starts the process to link your Google Account.

  • google-drive disconnect: remove your linked Google Account.

  • /google-drive create: creates a new Google File and saves it on your Google Drive.

  • /google-drive files: opens the contextual bar with your Google Drive files list.

With Google Drive integrated into Rocket.Chat, your workspace becomes a single hub for messaging, meetings, and document collaboration.