Issues uploading different image file types from Zoho Creator to Google Drive folder

Hi ​@Coachbase Training 

Help links for using files in Zaps: https://zapier.com/apps/files-by-zapier/integrations#triggers-and-actions

Easy way to get the file extension.

Action: Formatter > Text > Split

Split by: .

Segment: Last

Here’s the real issue…

The File field mapped variable value is NOT a full URL, only the relative path.

Notice it starts with / rather than http

You may need to hardcode a static value for the beginning of the url starting with http that include the base domain and possibly subdomain.

For us to have more context, post screenshots showing the DATA OUT from Zap step 1 related to the files data points you are trying to use.

Hey there ​@Coachbase Training 👋 Did Troy’s suggestions help you get the file uploads working correctly?

Keep us posted on your progress. Happy to lend a hand if you’re still stuck at all! 🙂

Hi, I’ve attached the screenshot of the current output. I’ve asked the bot to add http//: to the beginning of the URL, and use the formatter > text split to get the correct file ending.

The first screenshot shows the zap search to see if the image file exists. This is successful and returns the URL . 

Then we have the formatter stage, followed by the upload action. Before I show the output from this step. I now get a file being sent to Google with the correct file ending as shown. However, when I open it, it does not display the image, but asks me to download it. When it’s downloaded, the file cannot be opened.

Here is a screenshot of the flow, and the configuration in step 5.

And here’s the output, which makes no sense to me. 

Thanks for getting back to me ​@Coachbase Training and for sharing those helpful screenshots! 🤗 

It looks like the URL in the File field is still missing a domain name in between the http:// and /api/ parts which might be what’s causing the trouble:

Also, I find it odd that it’s referencing /api/v2/ in the URL as we’d typically see that in an API endpoint URL, not a file url. So it may be that the file name needs extracting from that and the rest of the URL is typed into that field to generate the correct URL for the file.

Can you locate the same file in Coachbase to find the correct URL to download it? That’ll help to confirm the URL path for files that needs to be added here.

Hello. I found a zoho help doc which might throw some light on the URL pattern required, but I’m no expert.

So based on this, would the structure in the Upload page 2, Field name: ‘File’ need to be something along the lines of - 

http://creator.zoho.com/api/v2/admin_coachbase/coachbase-central-records/form-perma/CERTIFICATION_APPLICATION_FORM/203152000000329025/PAGE_2/download?filepath=1763292153739782_IMG_3661.jpeg

Not sure about the ‘form-perma part?

And I also noticed that in the step: check page 2 exists, it returns an output from the zoho report, not the form?

/api/v2/admin_coachbase/coachbase-central-records/report/REPORT_Certification_Data/203152000000329025/PAGE_2/download?filepath=1763292153739782_IMG_3661.jpeg

But I found this, and again, I don’t know if this is relevant?: “Zapier can only trigger an action from a Zoho Form, not a Zoho Report (Zoho Analytics). Zoho Analytics can only be used as an action app within a Zap, not as a trigger.”

Thanks for sharing this info ​@Coachbase Training.

Not sure about the ‘form-perma part?

With the form-perma part, I don’t think that’s what you’d want since it it looks like it would be included in a link to only display the form without the top header and other apps. 

But I found this, and again, I don’t know if this is relevant?: “Zapier can only trigger an action from a Zoho Form, not a Zoho Report (Zoho Analytics). Zoho Analytics can only be used as an action app within a Zap, not as a trigger.”

I don’t think that’s what’s causing the issue with the file links. That message is just letting you know that Zoho Reports can’t act as a trigger app for a Zap, they can only be used as an action.

And I also noticed that in the step: check page 2 exists, it returns an output from the zoho report, not the form?

I did some further digging and it looks like the URL that is being supplied by the trigger in the PAGE 2 field is the same format that would be used in an API call to download a file:

So I think you might be able to use an API Request action to make an API call to that URL output in that PAGE 2 field (with the relevant base URL added at the start of it). Then, that should return a file object which you can then pass over to Google Drive to upload.

I’m not sure what your specific base URL would be, but Zoho have a guide on where to find it here: https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/kb/creator/developer-guide/others/url-patterns/articles/know-your-creator-account-s-base-url

Can you give that a try and let me know how it goes? 

Hi again. So still having problems with the zap uploading image files. It returns : The Zoho image fields (PRESCHOOL_Plan_page_1, PRESCHOOL_PLAN_Page_2) weren't returning valid HTTPS URLs that the Google Docs image replacement action requires. This is a limitation of how Zoho exports attachment/image field data.

I am sure it would work if the URL used for the Zoho image was in a format recognised by Google. I just need to understand how to build the URL, so here are all the components I think are need. Can someone please put it together for me so I can understand the sequential parts:

• We are .eu so assuming the first part would be: https://www.zohoapis.eu
• Organisation name: /admin_coachbase
• Application name: /coachbase-central-records
• Published Form name: CERTIFICATION_APPLICATION_FORM (permalink below)

 https://creatorapp.zohopublic.eu/admin_coachbase/coachbase-central-records/form-perma/CERTIFICATION_APPLICATION_FORM/4JeUhMyQgCZVZSnZPQM8Oat3w3tXK2syyVzY8rQr7MEyAk3BgWqy84pd5jHstbCZgSkVN70FXh048UptZ403JHhKWfGPJPRZHw84

• Field name: PRESCHOOL_Plan_page_1
•  (and the test example I am using in Zapier is returning a Zoho Field output of :

/api/v2/admin_coachbase/coachbase-central-records/report

/REPORT_Certification_Data/203152000000334003/PRESCHOOL_PLAN_Page_2/download?

filepath=1763536169125896_IMG_7308.jpeg

So my question is, how do I put all this together to make it recognisable to Zapier / Google? 

Many thanks

Hey ​@Coachbase Training,

You probably will also have to use a Formatter action to form the endpoint to give to Custom request action.  Here is a helpful article about it- https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496212590093-Get-started-with-Formatter

Here is a helpful article about quering API directly in Zapier using Webhooks in Zapier- https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496326446989-Send-webhooks-in-Zaps

I think for the getting the images you have to do a GET request as you also mentioned. For understanding the specifics on how to query the API, you have to understand the Zoho API documentation(https://www.zoho.com/creator/help/api/v2.1/download-file.html) as each API is different. I would also recommend testing in something like Postman before implementing in Zapier. 

This is a bit more advanced way of using Zapier so it can get a bit more technical and complex but if it’s important for you, you can give this approach a try. Hope it helps!

PS: If you need more active help, I’m happy to connect through my Zapier Solution Partner page if you’d like to reach out here- https://zapier.com/partnerdirectory/automation-jinn

Hello. I’m sorry but all these suggestions, are just that… suggestions. No one is giving me a solid answer even though I have given every bit of information required.

If it can’t be done, I’d rather just be told that.  Either there is a URL pattern which Zapier / Google can process, or there isn’t. 

I have read endless articles and posts on this, and nothing is helping. I can’t even hardcode the URL to test it if I don’t know the sequence and pattern, never mind how to form the end point. 

I have already tried requesting API actions in Zapier, splitting the text, adding http:// at the beginning, but it won’t work if the URL sequence is wrong or missing a component. 

Can anybody take the data I have supplied and literally post the entire and correct URL for hard code testing based on my sample?

Thank you

Sorry to hear it didn’t work ​@Coachbase Training. I’ve been doing some testing on my end here couldn’t get it working either. I tested with the base urls for the EU data centers and received an error regarding the domain:

As that didn’t work, I set up a test account with Zoho Creator on their US servers and that didn’t give the same domain error, but still errored: 

Then I found the uploaded image directly in Zoho Creator and tried passing it’s download URL to a Google Drive Upload File action but that didn’t work either as it the link wasn’t publicly accessible (required login to view it).

So it looks like it can’t be done at the moment. I did some further checking and found an existing feature request to improve file support for New Record trigger so I’ve added your vote to that. We can’t give any sort of ETA as to when it will be implemented by Zoho’s developers but we’ll notify you by email as soon as it is.

If there’s anything else I can help with in the meantime, please do let me know.