Modifying Google Doc Content via Drive API V3 in JavaScript

Other Questions Google drive
1

I’m trying to change what’s inside a Google Doc using the Drive API V3 in JavaScript. I can change stuff like the file name, but I’m stuck on how to change the actual content inside the doc.

Here’s what I’ve got so far:

let updateFile = gapi.client.drive.files.update({
  'fileId': docId,
  'name': 'New Doc Name',
  'uploadType': 'media',
  'mimeType': 'application/vnd.google-apps.document'
});

updateFile.then(
  result => console.log('Update worked!', result),
  error => console.log('Update failed!', error)
);

Is there a way to pass the new content as a string or something? Maybe using JSON.stringify()? I’ve looked at the docs but can’t figure out how to do this part. Any help would be awesome!

2

I’ve dealt with this exact issue before, and I can tell you that the Drive API V3 isn’t actually meant for modifying the content of Google Docs. It’s more for managing files and metadata.

For changing the content inside a Google Doc, you’ll want to use the Google Docs API instead. It’s a separate API specifically designed for working with the content of Google Docs.

Here’s a rough outline of how you’d approach this:

Set up the Google Docs API in your project. Use the documents.get method to fetch the current content, and then use the documents.batchUpdate method to make changes. The batchUpdate method is where the magic happens. You’ll send a series of requests to insert, delete, or modify content. It’s a bit more complex than just passing a string, but it gives you fine-grained control over the document’s structure.

I’d recommend checking out the Google Docs API documentation for more details. It takes some getting used to, but it’s powerful once you get the hang of it.

3

I’ve worked extensively with Google APIs, and I can confirm that modifying Google Doc content via the Drive API V3 isn’t possible. The Drive API is primarily for file management, not document editing.

For your use case, you’ll need to switch to the Google Docs API. This API provides methods specifically for manipulating document content. You’ll want to look into the ‘documents.batchUpdate’ method, which allows you to make multiple changes to a document in a single request.

The process involves creating a series of ‘requests’ that describe the changes you want to make. These could be insertions, deletions, or style changes. It’s more complex than simply passing a string, but it offers precise control over the document structure.

I’d suggest starting with the Google Docs API documentation and examples. It has a learning curve, but it’s quite powerful once you understand it.