Preventing unwanted file extensions when downloading from Google Drive

Other Questions Google drive
1

I’m having trouble with file extensions when downloading from Google Drive. Here’s what happened:

  1. I uploaded a bunch of files (pictures, documents, PDFs) to Google Drive. They all had a .dc extension.
  2. Google Drive converted some files based on their real type.
  3. I used Google Apps Script to rename the files and give them correct extensions (like .pdf).
  4. When I try to download these files, they end up with double extensions (e.g., .pdf.dc).

Does anyone know why this is happening? Is there a way to fix this in my Google Apps Script? I want the files to download with just the correct extension, not the old .dc one too.

Any help would be great. Thanks!

2

had similar problem. try using file.setMimeType() after renaming. like this:

var file = DriveApp.getFileById(‘file_id’);
file.setName(‘NewName.pdf’);
file.setMimeType(‘application/pdf’);

this worked 4 me to fix weird extension issues. goodluck!

3

I’ve encountered a similar issue with Google Drive file extensions. In my experience, the problem often stems from how Google Drive handles file metadata during the conversion and renaming process.

One workaround I found effective was to use the DriveApp.getFileById() method in Google Apps Script to get the file, then use setName() to rename it without the original extension. For example:

var file = DriveApp.getFileById(‘your_file_id’);
file.setName(‘NewFileName.pdf’);

This approach seemed to override the original metadata more reliably. Additionally, you might want to check if the MIME type is set correctly for each file after renaming. Sometimes, explicitly setting the MIME type can help ensure the correct extension sticks during download.

If you’re dealing with a large number of files, you could create a script to iterate through them and apply this method. It’s a bit of extra work, but it solved the double extension problem for me in most cases.

4

This issue often occurs due to Google Drive’s file handling mechanisms. From my experience, one effective solution is to use the Drive API instead of Apps Script. The API provides more granular control over file properties.

With the Drive API, you can update both the name and the mimeType of the file in a single request. This approach ensures the file is recognized correctly, preventing the double extension problem.

Here’s a basic Python example using the Drive API:

file_metadata = {'name': 'newfilename.pdf'}
media = MediaFileUpload('file.pdf', resumable=True)
file = drive_service.files().update(fileId=file_id, body=file_metadata, media_body=media).execute()

This method has worked reliably for me when dealing with large-scale file conversions on Google Drive. It might require a bit more setup initially, but it offers better control and consistency in the long run.