Set Automate

Set Automate for Google Drive streamlines file management by automatically detecting and handling duplicate files. It allows users to choose whether to keep the first or last version of a duplicate and decide whether to flag or trash duplicates. This workflow enhances organization and efficiency, ensuring that important files are preserved while unwanted duplicates are effectively managed.

7/8/2025
20 nodes
Complex
manualcomplexfiltersticky notegoogle drivenoopgoogledrivetriggeradvancedlogicconditionalrouting
Categories:
Complex WorkflowManual TriggeredCloud Storage & File Management
Integrations:
FilterSticky NoteGoogle DriveNoOpGoogleDriveTrigger

Target Audience

This workflow is ideal for:
- Google Drive Users: Individuals or teams managing files in Google Drive who frequently encounter duplicate files.
- Content Creators: Those who upload large volumes of content and need to ensure file organization and avoid redundancy.
- Project Managers: Professionals overseeing collaborative projects where multiple team members might upload similar files, leading to potential confusion.
- Data Managers: Users responsible for maintaining clean and organized data repositories within Google Drive.

Problem Solved

This workflow addresses the issue of duplicate files in Google Drive, which can lead to confusion, wasted storage, and inefficiencies in file management. By automatically identifying and handling duplicates, users can maintain a cleaner and more organized file system, ensuring that only the most relevant versions of files are retained.

Workflow Steps

  • Trigger: The process starts when a new file is created in a specified Google Drive folder, checked every 15 minutes.
    2. Configuration: The workflow retrieves parameters such as the owner and folder from the trigger.
    3. Filter: It filters out Google Apps files that cannot be duplicated, ensuring only actual files are processed.
    4. Deduplication Logic: The workflow sorts files by creation time and marks duplicates based on their md5Checksum. Users can choose to keep either the first or last file.
    5. Flagging or Deleting: Based on user-defined actions, duplicates are either flagged with a prefix DUPLICATE- or sent to the trash.
    6. Completion: The workflow ends after processing all files, ensuring that the Google Drive remains organized and free of unnecessary duplicates.
  • Customization Guide

    To customize this workflow:
    - Adjust Trigger Settings: Change the polling frequency or the folder to watch in the Google Drive Trigger node to suit your needs.
    - Modify Deduplication Criteria: Alter the logic in the Deduplicate nodes to change how duplicates are identified (e.g., based on file size or other metadata).
    - Change Actions: Update the action parameter in the Config node to either trash or flag duplicates according to your workflow requirements.
    - Add More Filters: Incorporate additional filters to refine which files are processed based on specific criteria, such as file type or size.