I’m working on a project that syncs with Google Drive using the changes API. Everything works fine, but I’m facing an issue with phantom files. These are either shared files or files outside of Google Drive (like Google Sheets).
I need a way to tell if a file really belongs to my Drive or is just a shared item. I’ve tried setting the ‘spaces’ parameter to ‘drive’, but it doesn’t filter out shared files completely.
After checking the API documentation and comparing various attributes, I found that many of them are either null or inconsistent. Currently, I determine if the file is shared by checking if the parent folder is null, but I’m not convinced this method is reliable.
Does anyone know of a definitive way to check if a file is owned by me or simply shared with me? Also, is there any method to determine if I’m the one sharing a file or if it’s been shared with me?
Here’s a sample of my current code for reference:
$fileInfo = $driveService->files->get($fileId, [
'fields' => 'id,name,mimeType,parents,trashed'
]);
$isShared = $fileInfo->parents === null;
// Are there any other attributes I can rely on?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Having worked with the Google Drive API, I can offer some insights on distinguishing between owned and shared files. The ‘ownedByMe’ attribute is indeed reliable for files in ‘My Drive’, but it doesn’t work for shared drives.
A multi-faceted approach tends to be most effective. Start by checking ‘ownedByMe’. If it’s false, look at ‘driveId’ to determine if it’s in a shared drive. For more complex scenarios, examining the ‘permissions’ resource can provide a comprehensive view of ownership and sharing status.
One important caveat: don’t rely solely on the ‘parents’ attribute. Files can exist in ‘My Drive’ without a parent folder, which can lead to false positives for shared files.
Remember to thoroughly test your logic with various file types and sharing scenarios to ensure robustness.
hey MiaDragon42, i’ve dealt with this too. the ‘ownedByMe’ field is your best bet for files in my drive. it’s pretty reliable. for shared drives, check ‘driveId’. if it’s there, the file’s in a shared drive. combining these checks usually works well. but yeah, the api can be weird sometimes. good luck with your project!
As someone who’s worked extensively with Google Drive API, I can share some insights on differentiating between owned and shared files. The ownedByMe attribute is your best bet for files in ‘My Drive’. It’s straightforward and reliable. For shared drives, though, it gets trickier.
I’ve found combining multiple checks works well. First, I look at ownedByMe. If it’s false, I check driveId to see if it’s in a shared drive. For more nuanced cases, I dig into the permissions resource. It’s a bit more work, but it gives you the full picture of file ownership and sharing status.
One gotcha to watch out for: files can exist in ‘My Drive’ without a parent folder, so don’t rely solely on the parents attribute. It’s burned me before.
Remember, the API can be a bit quirky sometimes. Always test thoroughly with various file types and sharing scenarios to ensure your logic holds up in all cases.