git:20260428.7210254 to git:20260429.5fbc3b3

---

name: google-drive

description: Manage Google Drive files with manifest-tracked push/pull workflows via rclone. Use when the user needs to download, upload, list, or manage files on Google Drive shared drives.

---

# Google Drive

## Architecture

`gdrive` is a Python orchestrator CLI that uses **rclone** as its transport layer. rclone handles all Google Drive API communication -- OAuth, file transfers, format conversion, retry/rate-limiting. `gdrive` adds the intelligence on top: a manifest that tracks synced files, format-aware push/pull that re-imports Google Docs as native format, conflict detection, and multi-remote management. Think of rclone as the engine and gdrive as the driver.

Designed for a pull-edit-push cycle, especially paired with Anthropic's official document skills for reading and editing office files: `docx`, `xlsx`, `pptx`, and `pdf` (from `https://github.com/anthropics/skills`).

## Before First Use

Before running any gdrive command, ensure dependencies are available. Check and install silently -- don't ask the user for permission to install these.

1. **rclone**: Run `which rclone`. If missing, install it:

- Linux: `sudo apt install -y rclone` (or `curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bash`)

- macOS: `brew install rclone`

2. **uv**: Run `which uv`. If missing: `curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh`

3. **Project sync**: Run `uv sync --project <skill-dir>` to ensure the venv and deps are ready.

For headless machines (no `$DISPLAY`), instruct the user to set up an SSH tunnel first:

```

ssh -L 53682:localhost:53682 <remote-host>

```

See `references/setup.md` for the full setup guide.

## Invocation

All commands use this pattern:

```bash

uv run --project /path/to/skills/google-drive gdrive <command> [args]

```

For brevity, examples below use `gdrive` directly.

## Commands

```bash

```

### ls -- List drives or files

```bash

# List configured remotes

gdrive ls

# List files at a remote path

gdrive ls mydrive:

gdrive ls mydrive:Projects/2025/

# Detailed listing

gdrive ls -l mydrive:Reports/

# Recursive listing

gdrive ls -R mydrive:Templates/

```

### cp -- Copy files on remote

```bash

gdrive cp mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary.docx mydrive:Archive/Q4-Summary.docx

```

Server-side copy. Works across different remotes (unlike mv). Does not update the manifest.

### pull -- Download files

```bash

# Download to current directory

gdrive pull mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary

# Download to specific location

gdrive pull mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary ./reports/

# Force overwrite local changes

gdrive pull -f mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary

# Pull all files in a folder

gdrive pull mydrive:Reports/

# Pull to a specific local directory

gdrive pull mydrive:Reports/ ./local-reports/

# Filter by glob pattern

gdrive pull mydrive:Reports/ --include "*.docx"

# Recursive pull (includes subdirectories)

gdrive pull -R mydrive:Projects/

```

Google Docs/Sheets/Slides are automatically exported:

| Google Format | Exported As |

|---|---|

| Google Doc | .docx |

| Google Sheet | .xlsx |

| Google Slides | .pptx |

The manifest tracks the original MIME type so push can re-import correctly.

### push -- Upload files

```bash

# Push a tracked file (uses manifest for destination)

gdrive push ./Q4-Summary.docx

# Push to explicit destination

gdrive push ./report.docx mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary.docx

# Force overwrite

gdrive push -f ./Q4-Summary.docx

# Push all locally-modified tracked files

gdrive push --all

# Filter batch push by remote

gdrive push --all -r mydrive

# Force batch push (skip conflict checks)

gdrive push --all -f

```

Format-aware upload: if a file was originally a Google Doc (per manifest), it's automatically re-imported as a Google Doc on push. For new files, you'll be prompted.

Conflict detection: if the remote file changed since last sync, push prompts before overwriting. Use `-f` to skip.

### status -- Check sync state

```bash

# Show all tracked files

gdrive status

# Filter by remote

gdrive status -r mydrive

```

Categories:

- **Up to date** -- local matches last sync

- **Local changes** -- local file modified since last pull

- **Missing locally** -- tracked file deleted or moved locally

### mkdir -- Create directories

```bash

gdrive mkdir mydrive:Projects/2025/NewProject

```

### mv -- Move files on remote

```bash

gdrive mv mydrive:old/path.docx mydrive:new/path.docx

```

Updates manifest entries referencing the moved path.

### search -- Find files

```bash

# Search all configured remotes

gdrive search budget

# Search a specific remote

gdrive search mydrive: budget report

```

Uses Google Drive's name-contains query. Shows results with file type, date, and web link.

### rm -- Delete remote files

```bash

gdrive rm mydrive:path/to/old-file.docx

gdrive rm -f mydrive:path/to/old-file.docx # skip confirmation

```

Deletes the remote file and cleans up any matching manifest entries.

### untrack -- Remove from manifest

```bash

gdrive untrack ./local-file.docx

```

Removes the file from manifest tracking without deleting anything locally or on the remote.

### doctor -- Health check

```bash

gdrive doctor

```

Validates: rclone installed, config file exists, all remotes have working tokens, no orphaned rclone remotes, all manifest entries have existing local files.

### open -- Get web URL

```bash

gdrive open mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary

```

Prints the Google Drive web URL for the file.

### link -- Get shareable link

```bash

gdrive link mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary

```

Prints a shareable Google Drive link for the file.

### share -- Set permissions

```bash

# Share with a user (default: reader)

gdrive share mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary.docx user@example.com

# Share as writer

gdrive share mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary.docx user@example.com --role writer

# Share as commenter

gdrive share mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary.docx user@example.com --role commenter

# Share with anyone who has the link

gdrive share mydrive:Reports/Q4-Summary.docx --anyone

```

Calls the Google Drive API directly (rclone has no sharing support). Uses the OAuth token from rclone config.

## Workflow: Pull-Edit-Push

The primary workflow for editing Google Drive documents:

```bash

# 1. Pull the document (exports Google Doc as .docx)

gdrive pull mydrive:Proposals/Client-Brief

# 2. Edit with a document skill

# (use docx, xlsx, or pptx skill to read/modify the file)

# 3. Check what changed

gdrive status

# 4. Push back (re-imports as Google Doc)

gdrive push ./Client-Brief.docx

```

**Mixed editing (agent XML + user in Google Docs):**

If the user edited the doc directly in Google Docs between sessions, the pulled version may have different structure (reordered sections, removed content). Always re-inspect with `pandoc` before editing XML. Don't assume previous XML line numbers or structure.

## Manifest

- Remote location and Google Drive file ID

- Original MIME type (for format-aware re-import)

- MD5 hashes at last sync (local and remote)

- Timestamps for change detection

The manifest enables:

- Pushing tracked files without specifying the remote path

- Detecting local modifications via MD5 comparison

- Re-importing exported Google Docs as native format on push

- Detecting moved files by MD5 hash

## Remote Naming Convention

Shared drives are configured as separate rclone remotes. Pick a short prefix per drive so commands stay readable, e.g.:

- `mydrive` -- a personal My Drive

- `team-engineering` -- an engineering shared drive

- `team-design` -- a design shared drive

Lowercased, hyphenated names work best. The `auth` wizard suggests names based on each drive's title and lets you override.

## Troubleshooting

**"File not found" on pull** -- Check the path with `gdrive ls remote:path/` first. Google Docs don't have file extensions on the remote.

**Push doesn't re-import as Google Doc** -- Ensure the file was originally pulled (has manifest entry with Google MIME type). For new files, use `--drive-import-formats` flag.

**General setup issues** -- Run `gdrive doctor` to diagnose problems with rclone, remotes, and manifest health.

## Configuration Files

- **rclone config**: `~/.config/rclone/rclone.conf` (managed by rclone)

Add to `.gitignore` in any repo using this skill:

```

.gdrive-manifest.json

```