Google Drive Connection
Connect Google Drive for seamless file sync
Google Drive Connection#
Connect your Google Drive to automatically sync documents and spreadsheets with your AI agent.
Why Connect Google Drive?#
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto-sync | Changes in Drive automatically update your AI |
| No re-uploads | Edit files in Drive, AI stays current |
| Collaboration | Team members can contribute to knowledge |
| Organization | Use Drive's folder structure |
| Spreadsheets | Sync Google Sheets for dynamic data |
Connecting Your Account#
Step 1: Navigate to Connections#
- Go to your agent dashboard
- Click Settings → Connections
- Find Google Drive in the list
Step 2: Authorize Access#
- Click Connect
- Sign in with your Google account
- Review permissions requested
- Click Allow
Permissions Needed#
- Read files you select
- Access file metadata
- View your Drive structure
We only access files you explicitly select - never your entire Drive.
Selecting Files#
After connecting:
- Go to Sources → Google Drive
- Browse your Drive folders
- Click checkboxes to select files
- Click Link Selected Files
Supported File Types#
| Type | Extensions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Google Docs, .docx, .pdf | Text extracted automatically |
| Spreadsheets | Google Sheets, .xlsx | Configure column mapping |
| Presentations | Google Slides, .pptx | Text from slides extracted |
| Text | .txt, .md, .csv | Imported as-is |
Syncing Behavior#
Automatic Sync#
- Files check for updates every 4 hours
- Modified files are re-processed automatically
- Deleted files are removed from knowledge base
Manual Sync#
- Go to Sources → Google Drive
- Click Sync Now button
- Wait for processing to complete
Spreadsheet Configuration#
For Google Sheets and Excel files, configure:
Header Row#
Select which row contains column headers.
Sheet Selection#
Choose which sheets to include.
Column Mapping#
Map columns to data types:
- Question columns
- Answer columns
- Category columns
- Metadata columns
Chunk Format#
Choose how rows are processed:
- Key-Value - Each row as Q&A pair
- CSV - Preserve full structure
- JSON - Structured data format
Managing Connection#
View Connected Files#
- Go to Sources → Google Drive
- See all linked files with status
- Click any file for details
Disconnect a File#
- Select the file(s)
- Click Unlink
- Confirm removal
Disconnect Entirely#
- Go to Settings → Connections
- Find Google Drive
- Click Disconnect
- Confirm (this removes all linked files)
Sharing & Permissions#
Personal Drive Files#
Your own files are accessible immediately.
Shared Drive Files#
- You must have "Viewer" access minimum
- AlonChat inherits your access level
- If your access changes, sync may fail
Organizational Drives#
Check with your IT admin - some organizations restrict API access.
Troubleshooting#
"Access denied" error#
- Re-authorize the connection
- Check file sharing permissions
- Ensure file still exists
Files not syncing#
- Click Sync Now to force update
- Check last sync time
- Verify file hasn't been moved/deleted
"Token expired" message#
- Disconnect and reconnect Google Drive
- Re-authorize with fresh login
Best Practices#
- Use dedicated folders - Organize AI knowledge in specific folders
- Name files clearly - Descriptive names help management
- Version control - Drive's history helps track changes
- Review regularly - Check sync status weekly
- Clean up - Unlink files no longer needed