Google Drive Automation Skill for Cursor

Google Drive Automation via Rube MCP

Automate Google Drive workflows including file upload/download, search, folder management, sharing/permissions, and organization through Composio's Google Drive toolkit.

Toolkit docs: composio.dev/toolkits/googledrive

Prerequisites

• Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
• Active Google Drive connection via RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit googledrive
• Always call RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS first to get current tool schemas

Setup

Get Rube MCP: Add https://rube.app/mcp as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.

• Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS responds
• Call RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit googledrive
• If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Google OAuth
• Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

Core Workflows

1. Upload and Download Files

When to use: User wants to upload files to or download files from Google Drive

Tool sequence:

• GOOGLEDRIVE_FIND_FILE - Locate target folder for upload [Prerequisite]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_UPLOAD_FILE - Upload a file (max 5MB) [Required]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_RESUMABLE_UPLOAD - Upload large files [Fallback]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_DOWNLOAD_FILE - Download a file by ID [Required]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_DOWNLOAD_FILE_OPERATION - Track long-running downloads [Fallback]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_GET_FILE_METADATA - Verify file after upload/download [Optional]

Key parameters:

• file_to_upload: Object with name, mimetype, and s3key (file must be in internal storage)
• folder_to_upload_to: Target folder ID (optional; uploads to root if omitted)
• file_id: ID of file to download
• mime_type: Export format for Google Workspace files only (omit for native files)

Pitfalls:

• GOOGLEDRIVE_UPLOAD_FILE requires file_to_upload.s3key; files must already be in internal storage
• For non-Google formats (Excel, PDF), do NOT set mime_type; it causes errors for native files
• Download responses provide a temporary URL at data.downloaded_file_content.s3url, not inline bytes
• Use GOOGLEDRIVE_RESUMABLE_UPLOAD for files >5MB or when basic uploads fail

2. Search and List Files

When to use: User wants to find specific files or browse Drive contents

Tool sequence:

• GOOGLEDRIVE_FIND_FILE - Search by name, content, type, date, or folder [Required]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_LIST_FILES - Browse files with folder scoping [Alternative]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_LIST_SHARED_DRIVES - Enumerate shared drives [Optional]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_GET_FILE_METADATA - Get detailed file info [Optional]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_GET_ABOUT - Check storage quota and supported formats [Optional]

Key parameters:

• q: Drive query string (e.g., "name contains 'report'", "mimeType = 'application/pdf'")
• corpora: Search scope ('user', 'domain', 'drive', 'allDrives')
• fields: Response fields to include (e.g., 'files(id,name,mimeType)')
• orderBy: Sort key ('modifiedTime desc', 'name', 'quotaBytesUsed desc')
• pageSize: Results per page (max 1000)
• pageToken: Pagination cursor from nextPageToken
• folder_id: Scope search to a specific folder

Pitfalls:

• 403 PERMISSION_DENIED if OAuth scopes insufficient for shared drives
• Pagination required; files are in response.data.files; follow nextPageToken until exhausted
• corpora="domain" may trigger 400; try "allDrives" with includeItemsFromAllDrives=true
• Query complexity limits: >5-10 OR clauses may error "The query is too complex"
• Wildcards (*) NOT supported in name; use contains for partial matching
• 'My Drive' is NOT searchable by name; use folder_id='root' for root folder
• User email searches: use '[email protected]' in owners (NOT owner:[email protected])

3. Share Files and Manage Permissions

When to use: User wants to share files or manage access permissions

Tool sequence:

• GOOGLEDRIVE_FIND_FILE - Locate the file to share [Prerequisite]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_ADD_FILE_SHARING_PREFERENCE - Set sharing permission [Required]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_LIST_PERMISSIONS - View current permissions [Optional]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_GET_PERMISSION - Inspect a specific permission [Optional]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_UPDATE_PERMISSION - Modify existing permission [Optional]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_DELETE_PERMISSION - Revoke access [Optional]

Key parameters:

• file_id: ID of file to share
• type: 'user', 'group', 'domain', or 'anyone'
• role: 'owner', 'organizer', 'fileOrganizer', 'writer', 'commenter', 'reader'
• email_address: Required for type='user' or 'group'
• domain: Required for type='domain'
• transfer_ownership: Required when role='owner'

Pitfalls:

• Invalid type/email combinations trigger 4xx errors
• Using type='anyone' or powerful roles is risky; get explicit user confirmation
• Org policies may block certain sharing types, causing 403
• Permission changes may take time to propagate
• Use GMAIL_SEARCH_PEOPLE to resolve contact names to emails before sharing

4. Create and Organize Folders

When to use: User wants to create folder structures or move files between folders

Tool sequence:

• GOOGLEDRIVE_FIND_FILE - Check if folder already exists [Prerequisite]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_CREATE_FOLDER - Create a new folder [Required]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_GET_FILE_METADATA - Verify created folder [Optional]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_MOVE_FILE - Move files between folders [Optional]
• GOOGLEDRIVE_UPDATE_FILE_PUT - Update file metadata/parents [Alternative]

Key parameters:

• name: Folder name
• parent_id: Parent folder ID (NOT name); omit for root
• file_id: File to move
• add_parents: Destination folder ID for move
• remove_parents: Source folder ID to remove from

Pitfalls:

• GOOGLEDRIVE_CREATE_FOLDER requires parent_id as an ID, not a folder name
• Using parent_id="root" creates at top level; for nested paths, chain folder IDs
• GOOGLEDRIVE_FIND_FILE returns ~100 items/page; follow nextPageToken for large drives
• Move operations can leave items with multiple parents; use remove_parents for true moves
• Always verify parent folder exists before creating children

Common Patterns

ID Resolution

• File/folder name -> ID: GOOGLEDRIVE_FIND_FILE with q parameter
• Root folder: Use folder_id='root' or 'root' in parents
• Shared drive -> driveId: GOOGLEDRIVE_LIST_SHARED_DRIVES
• Contact name -> email: GMAIL_SEARCH_PEOPLE (for sharing)

Query Syntax

Google Drive uses a specific query language:

• Name search: "name contains 'report'" or "name = 'exact.pdf'"
• Type filter: "mimeType = 'application/pdf'" or "mimeType = 'application/vnd.google-apps.folder'"
• Folder scoping: "'FOLDER_ID' in parents"
• Date filter: "modifiedTime > '2024-01-01T00:00:00'"
• Combine with and/or/not: "name contains 'report' and trashed = false"
• Boolean filters: "sharedWithMe = true", "starred = true", "trashed = false"

Pagination

• Follow nextPageToken until absent for complete results
• Set pageSize explicitly (default 100, max 1000)
• De-duplicate results if running multiple searches

Export Formats

For Google Workspace files, set mime_type to export:

• Docs: application/pdf, text/plain, text/html, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
• Sheets: text/csv, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
• Slides: application/pdf, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation

Known Pitfalls

• Internal storage required: Upload requires files in internal S3 storage (s3key)
• Export vs download: Set mime_type ONLY for Google Workspace files; omit for native files
• Temporary URLs: Downloaded content via s3url is temporary; fetch promptly
• Query complexity: >5-10 OR clauses may error; split complex searches into multiple queries
• Shared drive scoping: Missing drive permissions yield empty results; verify access first
• No wildcards: Use contains operator instead of * for partial name matching
• Folder creation chains: Always pass folder IDs (not names) as parent_id
• Multiple parents: Move operations may leave items with multiple parents; use remove_parents
• Rate limits: Heavy searches/exports can trigger 403/429; implement backoff

Quick Reference

| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |

|------|-----------|------------|

| Search files | GOOGLEDRIVE_FIND_FILE | q, corpora, pageSize |

| List files | GOOGLEDRIVE_LIST_FILES | folderId, q, orderBy |

| Upload file | GOOGLEDRIVE_UPLOAD_FILE | file_to_upload, folder_to_upload_to |

| Resumable upload | GOOGLEDRIVE_RESUMABLE_UPLOAD | file data |

| Download file | GOOGLEDRIVE_DOWNLOAD_FILE | file_id, mime_type (Workspace only) |

| File metadata | GOOGLEDRIVE_GET_FILE_METADATA | fileId, fields |

| Create folder | GOOGLEDRIVE_CREATE_FOLDER | name, parent_id |

| Move file | GOOGLEDRIVE_MOVE_FILE | file_id, add_parents, remove_parents |

| Share file | GOOGLEDRIVE_ADD_FILE_SHARING_PREFERENCE | file_id, role, type, email_address |

| List permissions | GOOGLEDRIVE_LIST_PERMISSIONS | fileId |

| Update permission | GOOGLEDRIVE_UPDATE_PERMISSION | file_id, permission_id |

| Delete permission | GOOGLEDRIVE_DELETE_PERMISSION | file_id, permission_id |

| List shared drives | GOOGLEDRIVE_LIST_SHARED_DRIVES | pageSize |

| Drive info | GOOGLEDRIVE_GET_ABOUT | (none) |

| Create shortcut | GOOGLEDRIVE_CREATE_SHORTCUT_TO_FILE | target file_id |

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