Can I retrieve a Gmail message ID using only the attachment ID?

Other Questions Gmail
1

I’m using the Gmail API to work with attachments. I noticed that the attachment ID is unique and can be used to get attachment data without the message ID. This got me thinking: is there a way to find the message ID if I only have the attachment ID?

Here’s what I get when I fetch an attachment:

{
  "attachmentId": "some-unique-string",
  "size": 123456,
  "data": "base64-encoded-data"
}

The thing is, I need more info about the attachment like its content type and filename. I know I can get this from the full message details, but that requires the message ID. Is there a way to go from attachment ID to message ID? Or am I missing something obvious here?

Any help would be great. I’m new to working with the Gmail API and I’m not sure if I’m approaching this the right way.

2

Based on my experience with the Gmail API, you can’t directly retrieve a message ID using only the attachment ID. The attachment ID is unique to the attachment but is intended to be used alongside the associated message ID, which is required to obtain further details such as content type and filename.

To work around this limitation, consider storing a mapping between attachment IDs and message IDs when you initially process emails. This will allow you to quickly reference the corresponding message ID later on. For larger volumes, using the Gmail API’s watch feature to receive updates can help keep your mapping current, though it does require some extra setup.

3

hey there, i dont think theres a way to get the message ID from just the attachment ID. the gmail API doesnt have that feature afaik. maybe u could save both IDs somewhere when u first get the email? that way u can look it up later. just an idea tho, im not an expert or anything

4

Unfortunately, there’s no direct way to retrieve a message ID using just the attachment ID in the Gmail API. The attachment ID is designed to be used in conjunction with the message ID, not as a standalone identifier.

One approach you might consider is maintaining a local database or cache that maps attachment IDs to their corresponding message IDs. When you initially process emails, store this relationship. This way, you can quickly look up the message ID when you only have the attachment ID.

If you’re dealing with a large volume of emails, you might want to implement a cleanup routine to manage the size of your mapping database. Also, keep in mind that this approach requires initial setup and ongoing maintenance, but it could be a viable solution for your use case.