About the file manager

The file manager is easily accessible from the sidebar, and it's the cornerstone for all you can do with the Google Drive Connector app. When using the macro to attach files and folders to your pages, you'll also use the file manager, which works the same way.

This page covers everything related to using the Google Drive Connector app, from what you can do with your files and folders to managing connected folders. Let's start with the latter since you always need at least one connected folder to use the app.

Managing connected folders

When you open the Google Drive Connector app, you'll first see a list of the connected folders you can browse and use to collaborate with your team.

Connect a place

Instructions:

1. Click on the "Connect folder" button from the list of connected folders.

2. If you have connected places before, they will appear on the list. Click the "Connect place" button. If you haven't, you'll see a list of all the places you can connect directly.

3. Select the storage place you want to connect and authenticate.

Connecting a Google Drive folder

Rename a place

You can connect several accounts from the same service, and by default, we add a number at the end when you do it to differentiate them. To help you keep things organized, you can rename your places to something more meaningful to you.

Instructions:

1. Click on the "Connect folder" button from the list of connected folders.

2. Click the context menu button on the right side of the place you want to rename.

3. Click the "Rename" option.

4. Enter the new name and click save.

Disconnect a place 

When you disconnect a place in the Google Drive Connector app, you only remove the connection to the original storage. All your content is safe, but any folders you have connected from that place will also be disconnected. Consequently, files and folders you or your team attached to Confluence pages from the disconnected folders also lose the original storage link and become unavailable.

Instructions:

1. Click on the "Connect folder" button from the list of connected folders.

2. Click the context menu button (2) on the right side of the place you want to disconnect.

3. Click the "Disconnect" option (4).

4. Confirm by clicking the "Disconnect" button.

Using the connected folders

When you open the Google Drive Connector app, you'll first see a list of the connected folders you can browse and use to collaborate with your team.

Refresh folders list

Use the "Refresh folders list" button to update the connected folders list to access folders your team shared with the latest permissions.

Connect additional folders

In the Getting started page, we covered how to connect your first folder. The empty screen makes it easy to see how to do it, but you can connect as many folders as you need.

Instructions:

1. Click the "Connect folder" button.

2. Select the Google Drive where the folder is, or connect a new one if needed.

3. Navigate to where the folder you want to share with your team.

4. Select the folders you want to connect by clicking the checkboxes.

5. Optional: Click the "Permissions" tab to set advanced options. By default, your team will be able to see and edit any folder you connect. For more information, check the permissions page.

6. Click the "Connect" button.

Sort connected folders

The connected folders are ordered alphabetically by default.

You can change this by clicking the "Sort by name" button and selecting a sort of option and the order you prefer. You can sort them by name or added date. The button will always reflect your selection.

Folder tag

You can add a tag to your connected folders to help you keep them organized and easy to access.

Adding a tag

To add a tag:

1. Click the tag button.

2. Enter a name.

3. Pick a color.

4. Click Save.

Editing a tag

To edit the tag, click the tag button again. You can change the description and color. When you’re done, click Save.

Removing a tag

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To completely remove a tag:

1. Click the tag button.

2. Click the Remove tag button.

3. Confirm the removal.

Folder permissions

You can set permissions for connected folders from the File Manager at any time by clicking the lock icon. For more information, check the permissions page.

Disconnect a folder

It's also possible to disconnect folders you no longer need. Before getting into how to do it, it's relevant to know that you're only breaking the Google Drive Connector app's link to the original storage when you disconnect a folder. All your content is safe, but any files and folders you or your team attached to Confluence pages from the disconnected folder also lose the link to the original storage and become unavailable.

Instructions:

1. Click the context menu button (look for the ··· button) on the right side of the folder you want to disconnect.

2. Click the "Disconnect" option.

3. Confirm by clicking the "Disconnect" button.

Rename connected folder

Instructions:

1. Click the context menu of the connected folder you want to rename.

2. Click the "Rename" option.

3. Enter the new name in the dialog window.

4. Click the "Save" button. All done. 

Open in original storage

1. Click the context menu of the connected folder you want to open.

2. Click the “Open in [Storage]” option.

The folder opens in a few seconds on the original storage site.

Sign out

This option lets you sign out from a connected folder if the “Replicate storage permissions” setting is active. This is useful if you need to connect with a different account.

Managing connected places

While using the Google Drive Connector app, you can connect folders stored in Google Drive. You only need to authorize the app to access that storage place first. You're in control of your storage places: only you can see the places you allowed, and you, and only you, can disconnect them.

You can view your connected places when you connect a new folder or from the Google Drive Connector settings page.

Connect a place

Instructions:

1. Click on the "Connect folder" button from the list of connected folders.

2. If you have connected places before, they will appear on the list. Click the "Connect place" button. If you haven't, you'll see a list of all the places you can connect directly.

3. Select the storage place you want to connect and authenticate.

Rename a place

You can connect several accounts from the same service, and by default, we add a number at the end when you do it to differentiate them. To help you keep things organized, you can rename your places to something more meaningful to you.

Instructions:

1. Click on the "Connect folder" button from the list of connected folders.

2. Click the context menu button on the right side of the place you want to rename.

3. Click the "Rename" option.

4. Enter the new name and click save.

Disconnect a place 

When you disconnect a place in the Google Drive Connector app, you only remove the connection to the original storage. All your content is safe, but any folders you have connected from that place will also be disconnected. Consequently, files and folders you or your team attached to Confluence pages from the disconnected folders also lose the original storage link and become unavailable.

Instructions:

1. Click on the "Connect folder" button from the list of connected folders.

2. Click the context menu button (2) on the right side of the place you want to disconnect.

3. Click the "Disconnect" option (4).

4. Confirm by clicking the "Disconnect" button.

Using the connected folders

Now that we know how to connect folders, it's time to learn how to make the most of the Google Drive Connector app. This section will cover what you can do with files and folders and how to add content to your connected folder.

Navigating your folders

Click a connected folder to view its content. The navigation is at the top, your content is in the center, and extra options are to the right.

If your window is too narrow, the right section is hidden, but all the options are available in the context menu that appears next to the navigation.

Using your files

Preview files

You can preview the content of your files by clicking the icon or name of the file you want. You can preview images, PDF documents, and Microsoft Office and Google documents. For more details, check the Preview files [GD CC] page.

Edit documents

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You can edit Microsoft Office documents from the file manager by clicking the Edit button. A new tab opens with the corresponding Microsoft Office 365 editor, and it's ready for edition. It supports real-time collaboration, so there are no file lockdowns. There's an autosave feature, so when you finish, just close the tab. 

If you're using Google Drive, you can edit Google Drive documents the same way; just click the edit button. Google Docs also supports real-time collaboration and autosave.

For more details, check the Preview files [GD CC] page.

Download a file

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1. Click the context menu of the file you want to download.

2. Click the "Download" option.

Your browser will open a new tab to download the file automatically. Depending on the browser you're using, the tab closes itself when the download starts, or it might ask you permission to download the file (noticeably Safari browser), requiring that you click the "Allow" button.

After a few moments, depending on the size of the file, you'll be able to find it in your default download folder.

Rename a file

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1. Click the context menu of the file you want to rename.

2. Click the "Rename" option.

3. Enter the new name in the dialog window.

4. Click the "Save" button. All done. 

Open in original storage

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1. Click the context menu of the file you want to open.

2. Click the “Open in [Storage]” option.

The file opens in a few seconds on the original storage site.

Delete a file

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1. Click the context menu of the file you want to delete.

2. Click the "Delete" option.

3. Click the "Delete" button in the confirmation dialog. All done. 

Upload a file

Via drag and drop

You can drag a file from a local folder and drop it in the folder you have open in the Google Drive Connector app to upload it there. Doing this will save the file in the storage place containing the connected folder, helping you build your single source of truth.

Via file picker

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1. Click the "Upload file" button on the right or at the bottom of the open folder.

2. Look for the file you want to upload in the file picker.

3. Select the file and confirm.

Depending on the size of the file, it may take a few moments for it to become available in the app.

Creating new documents

With the Google Drive Connector app, you can create documents where needed. They are always ready for real-time collaboration, with no file locks, and are saved back to the storage place containing the connected folder, avoiding duplicates.

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For Microsoft Office Documents:

1. Click the "New Document" button.

2. Select the kind of document you want.

3. Type a name for your document and click the "Create" button.

After a few moments, your document appears in the folder, and you can edit it.

For Google Documents:

1. Click the "New Document" button.

2. Select the kind of document you want.

3. A new tab with the Google editor opens, and you can start editing your document.

You can close the tab when you finish your edits. Your new document will show in your folder when you reload the page.

Folder actions

View the content of a folder

You can see the content of a folder by clicking on it. You can also click folders inside to view the content or click the back button to return to the previous one.

Rename a folder

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1. Click the context menu of the folder you want to rename.

2. Click the "Rename" option.

3. Enter the new name in the dialog window.

4. Click the "Save" button. All done. 

Open in original storage

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1. Click the context menu of the folder you want to open.

2. Click the “Open in Google Drive” option.

The folder opens in a few seconds on the original storage site.

Delete a folder

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1. Click the context menu of the folder you want to delete.

2. Click the "Delete" option.

3. Click the "Delete" button in the confirmation dialog. All done. 

Create a folder

To help you keep things organized, you can create new folders whenever needed. 

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1. Click the "New Folder" button on the right side (or from the context menu in narrow views).

2. Enter the name in the dialog window.

3. Click the "Save" button.

After a few moments, the view reloads, and your new folder will be listed and ready to use.

Sort

Wrap up

Now you know all that you need to use the file manager. You can now learn more about Preview files [GD CC] or about using the macro.

If you still have questions about the topics covered on this page, visit our support portal and send them to us. Our team is always happy to help.