Alternative Google Drive Export

[odinian]

When exporting (copy, copyto, sync) Google Drive files that are too large for the API export command, the files are not exported.

This appears to me a known issue with the published Google API. It can’t seem to export files larger that 5MB, might be 10MB (or some unspecific size; Google won’t say).

https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/36761333

And this might be a better (or alternative) api call for copying from G Suite, if the file is too large. Maybe a "alt_fallback" switch in the command.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/FILE_ID/export/pptx
The downside is the file type has to be known. Files types are:
doc
txt
html
odt
pptx
odd
jpg
png
svg

plus some more for spreadsheets and drawings. Credit to https://www.labnol.org/internet/direct-links-for-google-drive/28356/

[odinian]

I was asked specifically (by ncw), in 2235, to open a separate ticket for this.

[ncw]

Here is a beta fix for you to try

https://beta.rclone.org/v1.40-113-g0912186a-fix-2243-drive-export/ (uploaded in 15-30 mins)

This exports all the docs using those URLs you linked.

Can you test if it works please?

And also I'd like your opinion on whether rclone should use the new URLs always or whether it should be via a flag!

Thanks

PS I'm sure I posted this already - It seems to have disappeared though...

[odinian]

I will try on Monday. I would suggesting using the published API's as the default, then have a flag to try the alternate API if the published API fails. I'm not sure what the implications of using the unpublished API are, and therefore should probably be avoided unless necessary.

Alternatively, use the published API by default and fall back to the unpublished API when the files failed to download, with no flag.

It all depends on the implications of using the unpublished API.

[odinian]

Ok, I tried with the one large Slides presentation, and it worked.

[ncw]

I've added a --drive-alternate-export flag to enable this.

Here is a beta with it in

https://beta.rclone.org/v1.41-042-g63f413f4/ (uploaded in 15-30 mins)

This will be in the latest beta from now on and and in v1.42

[odinian]

I just tried the beta, and it seems to work. One questions. When using the --drive-alternate-export flag, does it use the alternative for every download, or only when the published API fails with a "too large" error?

[ncw]

@odinian it uses it for all downloads.