rclone makes new folder when transferring content that is "shared with me" (google drive)

[ealgase]

What is the problem you are having with rclone?

On my Google Drive, I have a folder named Backups. When I copy files from my computer to that folder, the program is fine. However, when I copy files from a shared with me folder, it makes a new Backups folder.

rclone copy --drive-shared-with-me "Drive:example shared with me.txt" Drive:Backups is an example of what will create a new folder.

What is your rclone version (output from rclone version)

rclone v1.43.1
- os/arch: windows/amd64
- go version: go1.11

Which OS you are using and how many bits (eg Windows 7, 64 bit)

Windows 10, 64 bit

Which cloud storage system are you using? (eg Google Drive)

Google Drive

The command you were trying to run (eg rclone copy /tmp remote:tmp)

rclone copy --drive-shared-with-me "Drive:Shared Folder/Shared Subdirectory" Drive:Backups

A log from the command with the -vv flag (eg output from rclone -vv copy /tmp remote:tmp)

2018/10/20 12:45:52 DEBUG : rclone: Version "v1.43.1" starting with parameters ["rclone" "--drive-shared-with-me" "copy" "Drive:example shared with me.txt" "Drive:Backups" "-vv"]
2018/10/20 12:45:52 DEBUG : Using config file from "C:\\Users\\mostd\\.config\\rclone\\rclone.conf"
2018/10/20 12:45:53 DEBUG : example shared with me.txt: Couldn't find file - need to transfer
2018/10/20 12:45:56 INFO  : example shared with me.txt: Copied (server side copy)
2018/10/20 12:45:56 INFO  :
Transferred:             0 / 0 Bytes, -, 0 Bytes/s, ETA -
Errors:                 0
Checks:                 0 / 0, -
Transferred:            1 / 1, 100%
Elapsed time:        4.2s

2018/10/20 12:45:56 DEBUG : 4 go routines active
2018/10/20 12:45:56 DEBUG : rclone: Version "v1.43.1" finishing with parameters ["rclone" "--drive-shared-with-me" "copy" "Drive:example shared with me.txt" "Drive:Backups" "-vv"]

[ncw]

Originally from the forum::

Ah, I see. The --drive-shared-with-me hides the non shared with me stuff so rclone doesn’t see the existing folder and creates a duplicate. I think the idea behind the flag is flawed but I can’t think of a better way right now… Maybe the shared with me files should appear in a subdirectory. I’ve been trying to avoid that though as it will really complicate things.

[ealgase]

My suggestion would be to have the --drive-shared-with-me flag have to be passed immediately before the remote name (so rclone --drive-shared-with-me ls Drive: wouldn't apply the --drive-shared-with-me flag to Drive:). I'm not sure how feasible that is, however.

[aldones]

It there any sort of workaround for this issue? Having some serious problems with it right now.

[ealgase]

Add the shared folder to your drive and then copy the contents in.

[xyou365]

Add the shared folder to your drive and then copy the contents in.

I have 100 Google accounts. My god.

[renox92]

Add the shared folder to your drive and then copy the contents in.

And thanks to google that is no longer an option now...

[guohaiping]

Cannot add the shared folder to my drive now

[renox92]

Cannot add the shared folder to my drive now

Turns out there's also Shift+Z that can do that and it still works, for now.

[guohaiping]

Cannot add the shared folder to my drive now

Turns out there's also Shift+Z that can do that and it still works, for now.

Shift+Z solved my problem， thanks

[ly2314]

Seems Shift + Z is not working now.
My drive icon is grayed out and becomes not select-able.
Is there any timeline for this fix?

[renox92]

Seems Shift + Z is not working now.
My drive icon is grayed out and becomes not select-able.
Is there any timeline for this fix?

Works for me. Are you sure the file/folder is sharable? There are 2 icons for shared files: icon with 2 people, and an icon of a drive with those 2 people on it. You can Shift+Z the first one, but not the second one.

[ly2314]

Seems Shift + Z is not working now.
My drive icon is grayed out and becomes not select-able.
Is there any timeline for this fix?

Works for me. Are you sure the file/folder is sharable? There are 2 icons for shared files: icon with 2 people, and an icon of a drive with those 2 people on it. You can Shift+Z the first one, but not the second one.

Thank you for the reply. For some unknown reason it didn't work in the morning, but it works now.

[ivandeex]

@ealgase Does the problem reproduce with rclone 1.54 and modern Google Drive?

[JohnnyKing94]

I can confirm that it's still present today. The only workaround is to use the shortcut.

[ncw]

This can now be fixed using the rclone connection string syntax.

Instead of

rclone copy --drive-shared-with-me "Drive:example shared with me.txt" Drive:Backups

write

rclone copy "Drive,shared_with_me:example shared with me.txt" Drive:Backups

and all should be well.

This example is in the docs here: https://rclone.org/docs/#connection-strings

So I think this isssue can be closed.

[1024mb]

@ncw That does works, tested it with 1.56.2 and all is good, I don't have any more duplicated directories. Thanks.

[ivandeex]

solved