Uploading and viewing documents with Google Docs API

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1

I’m trying to figure out how to use the Google Docs API to upload a document from a remote location and then view it in Google Docs. Does anyone know if the API gives you a document ID after uploading? I’m hoping to use this ID to open the document online later.

I’ve seen that you can open documents using a URL that includes a docid parameter, but I’m not sure how to retrieve this ID for newly uploaded files.

Additionally, I’m curious about language support. Is it possible to handle this in PHP, or should I switch to C#? I’ve heard mixed reviews about whether PHP is still supported for these operations.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I’m new to working with this API and want to ensure I’m taking the right approach.

2

I’ve worked with the Google Docs API quite a bit, and I can confirm that you do get a document ID after uploading. It’s part of the response when you create a new document.

For viewing, you’re on the right track with the URL approach. Once you have the ID, you can construct a URL like https://docs.google.com/document/d/YOUR_DOC_ID/edit to open it in Google Docs.

As for language support, I’ve successfully used PHP with the Google Docs API. While C# is a solid choice, PHP is still very much supported and has good libraries available. I’d recommend sticking with PHP if that’s what you’re comfortable with.

One tip from my experience: make sure you’re using the latest Google API PHP Client library. It makes authentication and API calls much smoother. Good luck with your project!

3

hey jack, i’ve used the docs API before. yeah, u get a doc ID after uploading. it’s in the response data. for viewing, just use that ID in the URL like others said.

php works fine with the API. no need to switch to C# unless u want to. just make sure u got the latest google API client library for php installed.

good luck with ur project!

4

Having implemented similar functionality, I can confirm that the Google Docs API indeed provides a document ID upon successful upload. This ID is crucial for subsequent operations.

Regarding viewing, you’re correct about using the docid parameter in the URL. Once you have the ID, you can construct a URL like https://docs.google.com/document/d/[DOCUMENT_ID]/edit to access the document.

As for language choice, PHP is still a viable option for working with the Google Docs API. The Google API Client Library for PHP is well-maintained and offers comprehensive support for various Google services, including Docs.

One caveat: ensure proper error handling in your code, especially for network-related issues during file uploads. This can save you a lot of troubleshooting time later on.