# Gcmd > Export and access Google Drive files (docs, sheets, meeting notes) Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/gcmd` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/gcmd` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/gcmd/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector WARNING) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/gcmd --- # Google Drive CLI (gcmd) Skill Quick reference for using `gcmd` CLI tool to work with Google Drive files. **Repository:** `/Users/ben/git/gcmd` ## Overview `gcmd` is a Python CLI tool for working with Google Drive from the command line. Useful for: - Exporting Google Docs as markdown for processing/archival - Listing and searching Drive files - Downloading files - Viewing file metadata, permissions, and comments - Reviewing document feedback and collaboration ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when: - User asks to export Google Docs as markdown - User provides a Google Drive URL and wants to read/access the content - User asks to search for files in Google Drive - User wants to view file permissions or comments on Google Docs - User mentions "meeting notes" or "Gemini notes" from Google Meet - User asks to list recent Google Drive files ## Common Commands All commands must be run from the gcmd directory with `uv run gcmd`. ### Export Google Docs as Markdown **RECOMMENDED: Export to /tmp/ for easy reading by Claude Code** ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd uv run gcmd export "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit" -o /tmp/ # Creates: /tmp/Document Title.md (uses document title as filename) ``` **Export to specific file path:** ```bash uv run gcmd export FILE_ID -o /tmp/meeting-notes.md # Creates: /tmp/meeting-notes.md ``` **Export all tabs as separate files:** ```bash uv run gcmd export --all-tabs FILE_ID -o /tmp/ # Creates: /tmp/Document Title - Tab1.md, /tmp/Document Title - Tab2.md, etc. ``` **How `-o` works:** - **Without `-o`**: Saves to `/Users/ben/git/gcmd/` using document title + `.exported.md` - **With `-o /tmp/`** (directory): Saves to `/tmp/` using document title + `.md` extension (no `.exported`) - **With `-o /tmp/file.md`** (file): Saves to exact path `/tmp/file.md` After exporting, ALWAYS read the file to provide the user with the content. ### List and Search Files ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd # List recent files (default 20, sorted by modified date) uv run gcmd list # Search for files by name or content uv run gcmd list -q "quarterly report" # List only Google Docs uv run gcmd list -t docs # List with verbose details uv run gcmd list -v -n 10 # List only folders uv run gcmd list -t folders # List Google Sheets uv run gcmd list -t sheets ``` ### View File Info ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd # Basic file metadata uv run gcmd info "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit" # Detailed info with permissions, tabs, structure, and comments uv run gcmd info -v "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit" # Show only comments (without other verbose details) uv run gcmd info --show-comments "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit" # Also works with just file ID uv run gcmd info FILE_ID -v ``` **Detailed info shows:** - File metadata (name, type, size, dates) - Owner and last modifier - All permissions (users, groups, domains, public links) - Your capabilities (can edit, comment, share, download, etc.) - Document tabs (for multi-tab Google Docs) - Document outline with all headings - **Comments and replies** with quoted text, authors, timestamps, and status (resolved/deleted) ### Download Files ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd # Download to current directory uv run gcmd download FILE_ID # Download to specific path uv run gcmd download FILE_ID -o ~/Downloads/myfile.pdf # Works with URLs uv run gcmd download "https://drive.google.com/file/d/FILE_ID/view" ``` ## URL Format Support All commands accept multiple URL formats: ```bash # Google Docs https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit?tab=t.0 # Google Sheets https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/FILE_ID/edit # Google Slides https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/FILE_ID/edit # Drive files https://drive.google.com/file/d/FILE_ID/view # Just the file ID FILE_ID ``` ## Workflow Example When user provides a Google Drive URL: 1. **Export the document to /tmp/**: ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd uv run gcmd export "URL" -o /tmp/ ``` 2. **Read the exported file**: The file will be in `/tmp/` with the document title as filename. 3. **Provide the content to the user** or answer their questions about it. 4. **Optional cleanup**: After helping the user, you can delete the exported file: ```bash rm /tmp/exported-filename.md ``` ## Common Workflow Examples ### Find and export a document ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd # Search for the document uv run gcmd list -q "MCP Server Analysis" -t docs # Get detailed info (tabs, structure) uv run gcmd info -v "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit" # Export all tabs to /tmp/ for easy reading uv run gcmd export --all-tabs FILE_ID -o /tmp/ ``` ### Check permissions on shared docs ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd # View detailed permissions uv run gcmd info -v FILE_ID # Shows: # - Who has access (users, groups, domains, public) # - Permission levels (owner, writer, reader, commenter) # - Your capabilities (can edit, share, download, etc.) ``` ### Review document feedback ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd # View all comments and replies on a document uv run gcmd info --show-comments "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit" # Shows: # - All comments with quoted/highlighted text # - Authors and timestamps # - Replies with their authors # - Status (resolved, deleted) # - Total comment count ``` ### List recent work documents ```bash cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd # List recent Google Docs with details uv run gcmd list -t docs -v -n 20 ``` ## Key Features - **URL support**: All commands accept full Google Drive URLs or file IDs - **Native markdown export**: Preserves formatting (headings, tables, links, bold, italic) - **Multi-tab documents**: Use `--all-tabs` to export each tab separately - **Detailed info**: View permissions, sharing, capabilities, document structure - **Comments access**: View all comments and replies with quoted text, authors, and timestamps - **Auto-naming**: Exported files use `.exported.md` extension (auto-ignored by git) when no `-o` specified ## Authentication - **Credentials location**: `~/.config/gcmd/credentials.json` - **Token location**: `~/.config/gcmd/token.json` If authentication fails, delete token and re-authenticate: ```bash rm ~/.config/gcmd/token.json cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd uv run gcmd list # Will trigger new auth flow ``` ## Important Notes 1. **Always use `/tmp/` for exports** - Makes files easy to find and read 2. **Always run from gcmd directory** - Commands require `cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd` 3. **Use `uv run gcmd`** - Not just `gcmd` 4. **Read exported files** - After exporting, read the file and provide content to user 5. **Clean up after** - Delete exported files from /tmp/ when done ## Troubleshooting **"credentials.json not found"**: Follow setup steps to create OAuth credentials (see gcmd README) **"Authentication failed"**: Delete token and re-authenticate: ```bash rm ~/.config/gcmd/token.json cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd uv run gcmd list ``` **"Not a Google Doc"**: Use `download` command instead of `export` for non-Doc files **Browser won't open**: The CLI will provide a manual URL to paste in your browser ## Tips 1. **Running commands:** Always use `uv run gcmd` from the gcmd directory 2. **Export location:** Always use `-o /tmp/` when exporting so files are in a predictable location for easy reading 3. **File naming:** Without `-o`, exported files use `.exported.md` extension (auto-ignored by git). With `-o /dir/`, uses `.md` 4. **Multi-tab documents:** Use `--all-tabs` to export each tab as a separate file 5. **Verbose mode:** Use `-v` for detailed information (permissions, structure, comments, etc.) 6. **Comments:** Use `--show-comments` to view just comments without other verbose details 7. **Search:** The `-q` flag searches both file names and content --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/benthomasson) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.