Upload files to Google Drive from Google Forms

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AI-generated Key Takeaways

Simultaneously upload and organize files in Google Drive using Google Forms.
A setup function creates a folder and trigger that fire each time someone submits the form, routing the files to the corresponding subfolder.
The solution utilizes Google Apps Script services such as Script, Properties, Drive, and Forms to handle triggers, store properties, manage files in Drive, and process form responses.
To use this solution, you need a Google Account, a web browser with internet access, and must set up the Google Form and the associated Apps Script project.

Coding level: Beginner
Duration: 10 minutes
Project type: Automation with an event-driven trigger

Objectives

Understand what the solution does.
Understand what the Apps Script services do within the solution.
Set up the script.
Run the script.

About this solution

Simultaneously upload and organize files in Google Drive using Google Forms. The form includes inputs for the files to upload and for how the files should be organized.

Screenshot of form to upload files

How it works

A setup function creates a folder to store all uploaded files and a trigger that fires each time someone submits the form. When a user fills out the form, they choose files to upload and a subfolder to store the files in. Once the user submits the form, the script routes the files to the corresponding subfolder. If the folder doesn't exist yet, the script creates it.

Apps Script services

This solution uses the following services:

Script service–Creates the trigger that fires each time someone submits the form.
Properties service–Stores the ID of the trigger that the script creates during setup to prevent duplicate triggers.
Drive service–During setup, gets the form's location in Drive and creates a folder in the same location. When a user submits the form, Drive service routes the files to that folder, and if selected, a designated subfolder. If the subfolder doesn't exist yet, the script creates it.
Forms service–Gets the files and folder name the user chose after they submit the form and sends it to Drive service.

Prerequisites

To use this sample, you need the following prerequisites:

A Google Account (Google Workspace accounts might require administrator approval).
A web browser with access to the internet.

Set up the script

Create the form

Go to forms.google.com and click Blank .
Click Untitled form and rename the form to Upload files to Drive.
Click Untitled question and rename the question to Subfolder.
On the Subfolder question, click More > Description.
For Description, enter Select the subfolder to store your files in. If you select <None>, the files are stored in the Uploaded files folder.
Add the following options to the Subfolder question:
- <none>
- Project A
- Project B
- Project C
To make the question required, click Required.
Click Add question .
Click Multiple choice and select File upload.
Click Continue.
For Question, enter Files to upload. You can choose the file types and maximum number of files you want to let people upload.
To make the question required, click Required.

Create the Apps Script project

From the form, click More > Script editor.
Click Untitled project and rename the project to Upload files to Drive.
To create another script file, click Add a file > Script. Name the file Setup.

Replace the content of both script files with the following content:

Code.gs

solutions/automations/upload-files/Code.js

View on GitHub

// TODO Before you start using this sample, you must run the setUp()
// function in the Setup.gs file.
// Application constants
constAPP_TITLE="Upload files to Drive from Forms";
constAPP_FOLDER_NAME="Upload files to Drive (File responses)";
// Identifies the subfolder form item
constAPP_SUBFOLDER_ITEM="Subfolder";
constAPP_SUBFOLDER_NONE="<None>";
/**
 * Gets the file uploads from a form response and moves files to the corresponding subfolder.
 *
 * @param {object} event - Form submit.
 */
functiononFormSubmit(e){
try{
// Gets the application root folder.
letdestFolder=getFolder_(APP_FOLDER_NAME);
// Gets all form responses.
constitemResponses=e.response.getItemResponses();
// Determines the subfolder to route the file to, if any.
letsubFolderName;
constdest=itemResponses.filter(
(itemResponse)=>
itemResponse.getItem().getTitle().toString()===APP_SUBFOLDER_ITEM,
);
// Gets the destination subfolder name, but ignores if APP_SUBFOLDER_NONE was selected;
if(dest.length > 0){
if(dest[0].getResponse()!==APP_SUBFOLDER_NONE){
subFolderName=dest[0].getResponse();
}
}
// Gets the subfolder or creates it if it doesn't exist.
if(subFolderName!==undefined){
destFolder=getSubFolder_(destFolder,subFolderName);
}
console.log(`Destination folder to use:
 Name: ${destFolder.getName()}
 ID: ${destFolder.getId()}
 URL: ${destFolder.getUrl()}`);
// Gets the file upload response as an array to allow for multiple files.
constfileUploads=itemResponses
.filter(
(itemResponse)=>
itemResponse.getItem().getType().toString()==="FILE_UPLOAD",
)
.map((itemResponse)=>itemResponse.getResponse())
.reduce((a,b)=>a.concat(b),[]);
// Moves the files to the destination folder.
if(fileUploads.length > 0){
for(constfileIdoffileUploads){
DriveApp.getFileById(fileId).moveTo(destFolder);
console.log(`File Copied: ${fileId}`);
}
}
}catch(err){
console.log(err);
}
}
/**
 * Returns a Drive folder under the passed in objParentFolder parent
 * folder. Checks if folder of same name exists before creating, returning
 * the existing folder or the newly created one if not found.
 *
 * @param {object} objParentFolder - Drive folder as an object.
 * @param {string} subFolderName - Name of subfolder to create/return.
 * @return {object} Drive folder
 */
functiongetSubFolder_(objParentFolder,subFolderName){
// Iterates subfolders of parent folder to check if folder already exists.
constsubFolders=objParentFolder.getFolders();
while(subFolders.hasNext()){
constfolder=subFolders.next();
// Returns the existing folder if found.
if(folder.getName()===subFolderName){
returnfolder;
}
}
// Creates a new folder if one doesn't already exist.
returnobjParentFolder
.createFolder(subFolderName)
.setDescription(
`Created by ${APP_TITLE} application to store uploaded Forms files.`,
);
}

Setup.gs

solutions/automations/upload-files/Setup.js