Google Drive Folder Reader
This document outlines the functionality and characteristics of the Google Drive Folder Reader node, which enables automated content extraction from multiple files in a Google Drive folder.
Node Inputs
Folder Selection (Choose one method)
- Select Folder: Choose a folder directly from Google Drive
- Use Link: Option to use a direct Google Drive folder URL
Supported File Types
- Google Docs/Sheets
- JSON
- CSV
- TXT
- HTML
Node Output
- Files: List of file objects from the folder. Each file object can be:
- Passed directly to file operation nodes (PDF Reader, File Reader, etc.)
- Sent to communication nodes (Slack, Gmail, etc.)
- Used with AI nodes for analysis
Note: While the output shows file names for easy reference, each item is actually a complete file object that can be processed by other nodes.
Working with File Outputs
The node’s output can be connected directly to various other nodes:
File Operations
- PDF Reader: Process PDF files directly
- File Reader: Extract content from text files
Communication
- Slack Message Sender: Share files in Slack channels
- Gmail Sender: Send files as email attachments
- Discord Message Sender: Share files in Discord
AI Processing
Note: For text-based AI processing, files must first be processed by appropriate reader nodes:
- Text files → File Reader
- PDFs → PDF Reader
Only Analyze Image and Analyze Video nodes can process the relvant media file objects directly.
Node Functionality
The Google Drive Folder Reader node provides automated batch access to contents of all files within a specified folder.
Key features include:
- Support for multiple file formats
- Extracts data from all the files
- Loop mode to process multiple folders
- Secure authentication with Gumloop
Trigger Functionality
This node can also function as a trigger to start your flow when your drive folder receives a new file upload. Learn more about triggers here: https://docs.gumloop.com/core-concepts/triggers
Example Workflows
1. Document Analysis Pipeline
2. File Distribution
3. Data Analysis
When to Use
The Google Drive Folder Reader node is particularly valuable in scenarios requiring processing of multiple files. Common use cases include:
- Document Analysis: Extract and analyze text from multiple student essays or research papers
- Invoice Processing: Batch process invoices stored as PDFs to extract payment information
- Report Compilation: Combine daily sales reports from multiple store locations into a single dataset
- Dataset Processing: Extract and combine data from multiple CSV files containing customer feedback
Some specific examples:
- Reading monthly financial statements to aggregate spending patterns
- Processing student assignments to check for plagiarism
- Extracting product information from multiple specification sheets
- Combining daily log files for system performance analysis
Important Considerations
- Requires Authentication with Google - Set up in the Credentials page
- You must have access to the folder
- Large folders or files may take longer to process
- File objects can be passed directly to file operation nodes and communication nodes, but text-based AI nodes require content extraction first
In summary, the Google Drive Folder Reader node simplifies batch processing of files in Google Drive folders, automatically handling multiple file formats and providing organized access to both file names and contents. Its output can be seamlessly integrated with other nodes for comprehensive file processing workflows.