I'm working on an Android app that uses the Google Drive API to upload images and perform OCR on them. I started with the quickstart sample, but I'm running into issues when trying to enable OCR.
Here's what I've done so far:
1. Set up the Google Drive SDK quickstart for Android
2. Modified the file upload code to include OCR:
`File file = service.files().insert(body, mediaContent).setOcr(true).execute();`
The app uploads images fine, but when I set OCR to true, I get a 400 Bad Request error. It worked a couple of times before, but now it's consistently failing.
Has anyone successfully implemented OCR with the Google Drive API on Android? Any tips on what might be causing this error or how to troubleshoot it?
I can share more code if needed, but I'm hoping someone familiar with the API might have some insights. Thanks!
hey, i’ve used google drive api for ocr before. one thing to check is ur auth token - sometimes it expires and causes weird errors. also, make sure ur using the right scope for ocr (https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.file). if that doesnt help, try loggin the full response body from the api call. it might give u more details about whats goin wrong
Have you considered using Google Cloud Vision API instead? It’s specifically designed for OCR tasks and integrates well with Android apps. I found it more reliable and easier to implement than the Drive API’s OCR feature.
To use it, you’d upload your images to Cloud Storage, then send the image URLs to the Vision API for text detection. The results are typically more accurate and you get more control over the OCR process.
If you’re set on using Drive API, make sure you’re using the latest version and check your OAuth scopes. Sometimes, OCR requires additional permissions that aren’t obvious.
Lastly, try adding a small delay between uploads if you’re processing multiple images. I’ve seen rate limiting cause similar issues in high-volume scenarios.
I’ve actually tackled a similar project recently, so I can share some insights. The 400 Bad Request error you’re encountering is often related to improper file metadata or incorrect API usage.
One thing that helped me was double-checking the file’s MIME type. Make sure it’s set correctly for the image format you’re using (e.g., ‘image/jpeg’ for JPEGs). Also, verify that the file size isn’t exceeding Google Drive’s limits.
Another potential issue could be with the OCR parameter. Instead of using setOcr(true), try adding an OCR request to the file metadata. Something like:
File.OcrData ocrData = new File.OcrData().setLanguageHints(Collections.singletonList(‘en’));
File fileMetadata = new File().setName(‘Your file name’).setOcrData(ocrData);
This approach worked more consistently for me. If you’re still having trouble, I’d recommend using the Google Drive API Explorer to test your requests and see more detailed error messages. It can be a lifesaver for debugging these kinds of issues.