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Question

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

  • October 24, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 35 views
C
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Hi. I’m going round in circles. What I though would be simple according to Zapier has resulted in endless failure after 5 hours of trying using co pilot and my own initiative.

Here’s the scenario:

I have several image fields in a published Zoho Creator form.

Basically these are images (photos / scanned) of completed paperwork by candidates, sent to us for verification purposes.

The candidates upload an image into the form field, and this could be using any of the usual file extensions. The image might be jpg, png, or pdf.

 

AIM: to take the image captured in Zoho, and then send and store a copy in it’s original format to the Candidate’s folder which we hold in Google Drive. So when we go into the candidate’s folder and click on the image file, it instantly displays the image (without having to download it first). I am using the Zapier option - Google Drive, trigger - File Upload.

 

PROBLEMS: The image file extensions can vary within a single field in Zoho. so:

Zapier needs to recognise the file extension of the Zoho Record URL, and send it to Google keeping its original extension.

Therefore:

  - We can’t ‘hardcode’ the expected extension in the Zapier ‘File Extension’ field e.g jpeg, as it could be a png or a pdf.

 - We can’t leave the file extension blank, because when we do, it sends the file through by default as a txt file.

 - We can’t simply ask the zap to use the original Zoho URL (with its extension), because the URL format used by Zoho is not recognised by Google.

 

Plus, when we do manage to actually get a file through to Google with the correct extension, i.e by using a Zoho record which has a jpg extension, and a hardcoded jpeg in Zapier’s ‘file Extension’ field, it doesn’t open the image directly, it offers only the option to download the file. When we then download the file and try to open it, it errors.

 

QUESTION: Is it actually possible to get Zapier to recognise an image file type from a Zoho URL and treat it accordingly with the correct extension so it uploads and opens correctly?

 

I have attached a screenshot of the upload step as it stands, and also what we see in Google Drive when we click on a jpeg image sent from Zapier.

 

 

5 replies

Troy Tessalone
Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
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  • Troy TessaloneZapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • October 24, 2025

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.

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Platinum Authorized Zapier Solution Partner | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
SamB
Community Manager
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  • SamBCommunity Manager
  • Community Manager
  • October 30, 2025

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! 🙂

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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. 

 

SamB
Community Manager
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  • SamBCommunity Manager
  • Community Manager
  • November 19, 2025

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:

e847784e842c16f280eaa8898fc7b308.png
 

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.

C
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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.”

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