Automating the Creation of Multiple Folders in Google Drive

This is a quick trick to make Google Drive create multiple folders at once, instead of just one.

What you’ll need: A file in your main folder (or two or three) and another Backup Drive folder using the same name as your main folder.

Create a folder with your file in it.

Make sure you are on the correct Google Drive page.
Click on the “Create new folders” button and create a folder with your file in it.
Make sure the folder name is unique, otherwise you will get an error message when trying to create more folders than Google allows (5,000).

Create a Backup Drive folder using the same name as your main folder.

Create a Backup Drive folder using the same name as your main folder.
Make sure you have selected the right folder before you click on create folders.

Copy the name of your Backup Drive folder to your clipboard.

Click on “Create new folders.”

Paste the name of your Backup Drive folder into the box that opens up, then click OK.

Go back to the Google Drive page and click on “Create new folders”

Once you’ve clicked on the “Create new folders” button, you’ll be taken to a new page where all of the files in your Google Drive are displayed.

Click on “+” and then enter a name for your folder. The new folder will automatically be created with this name and will contain all files from within its parent directory (that is, if you’ve created multiple folders under “My Documents,” then clicking “+” will create another one).

Paste the name of your Backup Drive folder into the box that opens up.

The next step is to paste the name of your Backup Drive folder into the box that opens up.

The name should be exactly how you want it to appear in Google Drive: with or without underscores, capitalized or not, etc. For example, if you were creating a folder called “Backup Drives” with all other folders inside it (e.g., “Folder 1,” “Folder 2”) then your Backup Drive folder name should look like this: Backup_Drives

Here’s how to make it so that Google creates multiple folders at once when you select one file.

Open the folder where you want to create a new folder.
Click on the file that you want to create a new folder for, then select “Create new folder” from your drop-down list of options (this may be called “New Folder,” depending on your version of Google Drive).
Select “Create folders from selection.”

Google Drive is a great tool for storing your files and organizing them in folders. But sometimes it can be tedious to create new folders when you want them, especially if you’re working with large numbers of files at once. This trick lets you automate the process so that Google Drive does all the work for you.

Step-by-Step Guide: Automating the Creation of Multiple Folders in Google Drive

Follow these steps to automate the creation of multiple folders in Google Drive:

Install Google Drive API
- To begin, you need to set up the Google Drive API in the Google Cloud Platform Console. Follow this link to access the Google Cloud Platform Console: Google Cloud Platform Console.
- Create a new project or select an existing one.
- Enable the Google Drive API by navigating to the API Library and searching for “Google Drive API”.
- Click on the API, and then click on the “Enable” button.
Set Up Credentials
- In the Google Cloud Platform Console, navigate to the “Credentials” section.
- Click on the “Create Credentials” button and select “Service Account”.
- Fill in the required details and click on “Create”.
- Once the service account is created, click on “Manage Service Accounts”.
- Locate the service account you created and click on the three-dot menu, then select “Manage Keys”.
- Click on “Add Key” and select “JSON” as the key type.
- A JSON file containing your credentials will be downloaded to your computer.
Enable Google Drive API for Your Account
- Open the JSON file downloaded in the previous step.
- Copy the “client_email” found in the file.
- Go to your Google Drive account and share the folders you want to create, using the “client_email” as a collaborator.
- Ensure that the “client_email” has “Can edit” or “Can organize, add and edit” permissions for the folders.
Code Setup
- Create a new Python script file or open your existing Python development environment.
- Install the required libraries by running the following command in your terminal or command prompt:pip install google-api-python-client google-auth google-auth-oauthlib google-auth-httplib2
- Import the necessary modules in your Python script:import osfrom google.oauth2 import service_accountfrom googleapiclient.discovery import build
- Load the service account credentials from the JSON file:credentials = service_account.Credentials.from_service_account_file('path/to/credentials.json')
- Build the Google Drive service using the credentials:drive_service = build('drive', 'v3', credentials=credentials)
Write the Code to Create Folders
- Create a list of folder names you want to create. For example:folder_names = ['Folder 1', 'Folder 2', 'Folder 3']
- Iterate over the folder names and create folders with the Google Drive API:for folder_name in folder_names: folder_metadata = {'name': folder_name, 'mimeType': 'application/vnd.google-apps.folder'} folder = drive_service.files().create(body=folder_metadata, fields='id').execute() print(f'Successfully created folder: {folder_name} with ID: {folder["id"]}')
Run the Script
- Save the Python script and run it.
- The script will automate the creation of the folders in your Google Drive based on the folder names provided.
- Check your Google Drive account to verify that the folders have been successfully created.

By following these steps and running the script, you can automate the creation of multiple folders in Google Drive.

FAQ

What is the benefit of automating the creation of multiple folders in Google Drive?
- Automating the creation of multiple folders in Google Drive saves time and effort, especially when dealing with a large number of folders. It allows for consistent and organized folder structures, ensuring efficient file management and easy access to important documents.
Can I automate the creation of folders with specific names?
- Yes, you can automate the creation of folders with specific names. By writing a script or using an API, you can provide a list of folder names and have the automation process create those folders in your Google Drive.
Is it possible to customize the folder structure when automating the creation of folders?
- Yes, you can customize the folder structure when automating the creation of folders. By defining the hierarchy and nesting of folders in your automation script or API calls, you can create a folder structure that aligns with your specific needs and organizational preferences.
How can I ensure that the folder creation automation does not overwrite existing folders?
- When automating the creation of folders, you can implement checks to ensure that existing folders are not overwritten. Before creating a new folder, you can query the existing folders in your Google Drive to verify if a folder with the same name already exists. If it does, you can either skip the creation or modify the folder name to avoid conflicts.
Is it possible to automate the creation of folders in multiple Google Drive accounts simultaneously?
- Yes, it is possible to automate the creation of folders in multiple Google Drive accounts simultaneously. You can create separate API credentials for each account and run the automation script or API calls for each account. This allows you to manage and create folders in different Google Drive accounts in parallel.
Can I set permissions for the automated folders during the creation process?
- Yes, you can set permissions for the folders during the automated creation process. By including additional parameters in your API calls or script, you can define the access and sharing settings for each folder. This allows you to grant specific users or groups the necessary permissions to view, edit, or collaborate on the folders and their contents.
Are there any limitations when automating the creation of multiple folders in Google Drive?
- While automating the creation of folders in Google Drive is a powerful feature, there are some limitations to consider. These limitations include quota limits on API requests, rate limits, and permissions required for API usage. It’s important to review the Google Drive API documentation to ensure you comply with these limitations and guidelines.
What programming languages can I use to automate the creation of folders in Google Drive?
- The Google Drive API supports various programming languages, including Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, and more. You can choose the programming language you are comfortable with and refer to the Google Drive API documentation for language-specific examples and code snippets.
Is it necessary to have advanced programming skills to automate the creation of folders in Google Drive?
- While having programming skills can be beneficial, it is not always necessary to have advanced programming skills to automate the creation of folders in Google Drive. There are code examples, tutorials, and libraries available for different programming languages that can guide you through the process. Alternatively, you can use low-code or no-code platforms that provide visual interfaces to create automation workflows without writing code.
Are there any security considerations when automating the creation of folders in Google Drive?
- Yes, there are security considerations when automating the creation of folders in Google Drive. It’s crucial to manage and secure the credentials used for API access. Follow Google’s best practices for API security, such as storing credentials securely and granting the minimum required permissions. Additionally, make sure to review and comply with any applicable data privacy regulations when automating tasks that involve sensitive information.

Automating the Creation of Multiple Folders in Google Drive?