Google Drive Example

In this tutorial you will learn via examples how to access Google Drive via an android app.

Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service developed by Google. Launched on April 24, 2012, Google Drive allows users to store files in the cloud, synchronize files across devices, and share files.

Let us look at some examples.

Example 1: Take Photo and Save to Google Drive

This example will have one activity that will take a photo and save it in Google Drive. The user is prompted with a pre-made dialog which allows them to choose the file location.

Step 1: Create Project

Start by creating an empty Android Studio project.

Step 2: Dependencies

Go to your app/build.gradle and add Google Play Services Drive api as well as Google Play services auth. The Drive API will allow us to access google drive while the auth api will allow us to sign in into our app using Google Sign In:

   implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-drive:11.6.0'
   implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-auth:11.6.0'

Step 3: Write Code

Proceed to the MainActivity.java and add imports:

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.content.IntentSender;
import android.graphics.Bitmap;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.provider.MediaStore;
import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
import android.support.annotation.Nullable;
import android.util.Log;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignIn;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignInClient;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignInOptions;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.CreateFileActivityOptions;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.Drive;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveClient;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveContents;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveResourceClient;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.MetadataChangeSet;
import com.google.android.gms.tasks.Continuation;
import com.google.android.gms.tasks.OnFailureListener;
import com.google.android.gms.tasks.Task;
import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.OutputStream;

Then extend the Activity class:

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

Define some class as well as instance fields as follows:

  private static final String TAG = "drive-quickstart";
  private static final int REQUEST_CODE_SIGN_IN = 0;
  private static final int REQUEST_CODE_CAPTURE_IMAGE = 1;
  private static final int REQUEST_CODE_CREATOR = 2;

  private GoogleSignInClient mGoogleSignInClient;
  private DriveClient mDriveClient;
  private DriveResourceClient mDriveResourceClient;
  private Bitmap mBitmapToSave;

When the activity is created, invoke the signIn() function:

  @Override
  protected void onCreate(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    signIn();
  }

Start the sign In activity. We will be using the Google sign-in functionality:

  /** Start sign in activity. */
  private void signIn() {
    Log.i(TAG, "Start sign in");
    mGoogleSignInClient = buildGoogleSignInClient();
    startActivityForResult(mGoogleSignInClient.getSignInIntent(), REQUEST_CODE_SIGN_IN);
  }

Build a Google SignIn client using Google SignIn Options:

  private GoogleSignInClient buildGoogleSignInClient() {
    GoogleSignInOptions signInOptions =
        new GoogleSignInOptions.Builder(GoogleSignInOptions.DEFAULT_SIGN_IN)
            .requestScopes(Drive.SCOPE_FILE)
            .build();
    return GoogleSignIn.getClient(this, signInOptions);
  }

Now Create a new file and save it to Drive:

  private void saveFileToDrive() {
    // Start by creating a new contents, and setting a callback.
    Log.i(TAG, "Creating new contents.");
    final Bitmap image = mBitmapToSave;

    mDriveResourceClient
        .createContents()
        .continueWithTask(
            new Continuation<DriveContents, Task<Void>>() {
              @Override
              public Task<Void> then(@NonNull Task<DriveContents> task) throws Exception {
                return createFileIntentSender(task.getResult(), image);
              }
            })
        .addOnFailureListener(
            new OnFailureListener() {
              @Override
              public void onFailure(@NonNull Exception e) {
                Log.w(TAG, "Failed to create new contents.", e);
              }
            });
  }

Go ahead and Create an IntentSender to start a dialog activity with configured CreateFileActivityOptions for user to create a new photo in Drive:

  private Task<Void> createFileIntentSender(DriveContents driveContents, Bitmap image) {
    Log.i(TAG, "New contents created.");
    // Get an output stream for the contents.
    OutputStream outputStream = driveContents.getOutputStream();
    // Write the bitmap data from it.
    ByteArrayOutputStream bitmapStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
    image.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.PNG, 100, bitmapStream);
    try {
      outputStream.write(bitmapStream.toByteArray());
    } catch (IOException e) {
      Log.w(TAG, "Unable to write file contents.", e);
    }

    // Create the initial metadata - MIME type and title.
    // Note that the user will be able to change the title later.
    MetadataChangeSet metadataChangeSet =
        new MetadataChangeSet.Builder()
            .setMimeType("image/jpeg")
            .setTitle("Android Photo.png")
            .build();
    // Set up options to configure and display the create file activity.
    CreateFileActivityOptions createFileActivityOptions =
        new CreateFileActivityOptions.Builder()
            .setInitialMetadata(metadataChangeSet)
            .setInitialDriveContents(driveContents)
            .build();

    return mDriveClient
        .newCreateFileActivityIntentSender(createFileActivityOptions)
        .continueWith(
            new Continuation<IntentSender, Void>() {
              @Override
              public Void then(@NonNull Task<IntentSender> task) throws Exception {
                startIntentSenderForResult(task.getResult(), REQUEST_CODE_CREATOR, null, 0, 0, 0);
                return null;
              }
            });
  }

Let us override the onActivityResult() callback:

  @Override
  protected void onActivityResult(final int requestCode, final int resultCode, final Intent data) {
    super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
    switch (requestCode) {
      case REQUEST_CODE_SIGN_IN:
        Log.i(TAG, "Sign in request code");
        // Called after user is signed in.
        if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
          Log.i(TAG, "Signed in successfully.");
          // Use the last signed in account here since it already have a Drive scope.
          mDriveClient = Drive.getDriveClient(this, GoogleSignIn.getLastSignedInAccount(this));
          // Build a drive resource client.
          mDriveResourceClient =
              Drive.getDriveResourceClient(this, GoogleSignIn.getLastSignedInAccount(this));
          // Start camera.
          startActivityForResult(
              new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE), REQUEST_CODE_CAPTURE_IMAGE);
        }
        break;
      case REQUEST_CODE_CAPTURE_IMAGE:
        Log.i(TAG, "capture image request code");
        // Called after a photo has been taken.
        if (resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK) {
          Log.i(TAG, "Image captured successfully.");
          // Store the image data as a bitmap for writing later.
          mBitmapToSave = (Bitmap) data.getExtras().get("data");
          saveFileToDrive();
        }
        break;
      case REQUEST_CODE_CREATOR:
        Log.i(TAG, "creator request code");
        // Called after a file is saved to Drive.
        if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
          Log.i(TAG, "Image successfully saved.");
          mBitmapToSave = null;
          // Just start the camera again for another photo.
          startActivityForResult(
              new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE), REQUEST_CODE_CAPTURE_IMAGE);
        }
        break;
    }
  }
}

Here is the full code:

MainActivity.java

package com.google.android.gms.drive.sample.quickstart;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.content.IntentSender;
import android.graphics.Bitmap;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.provider.MediaStore;
import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
import android.support.annotation.Nullable;
import android.util.Log;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignIn;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignInClient;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignInOptions;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.CreateFileActivityOptions;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.Drive;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveClient;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveContents;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveResourceClient;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.MetadataChangeSet;
import com.google.android.gms.tasks.Continuation;
import com.google.android.gms.tasks.OnFailureListener;
import com.google.android.gms.tasks.Task;
import java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.OutputStream;

/**
 * Android Drive Quickstart activity. This activity takes a photo and saves it in Google Drive. The
 * user is prompted with a pre-made dialog which allows them to choose the file location.
 */
public class MainActivity extends Activity {

  private static final String TAG = "drive-quickstart";
  private static final int REQUEST_CODE_SIGN_IN = 0;
  private static final int REQUEST_CODE_CAPTURE_IMAGE = 1;
  private static final int REQUEST_CODE_CREATOR = 2;

  private GoogleSignInClient mGoogleSignInClient;
  private DriveClient mDriveClient;
  private DriveResourceClient mDriveResourceClient;
  private Bitmap mBitmapToSave;

  @Override
  protected void onCreate(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    signIn();
  }

  /** Start sign in activity. */
  private void signIn() {
    Log.i(TAG, "Start sign in");
    mGoogleSignInClient = buildGoogleSignInClient();
    startActivityForResult(mGoogleSignInClient.getSignInIntent(), REQUEST_CODE_SIGN_IN);
  }

  /** Build a Google SignIn client. */
  private GoogleSignInClient buildGoogleSignInClient() {
    GoogleSignInOptions signInOptions =
        new GoogleSignInOptions.Builder(GoogleSignInOptions.DEFAULT_SIGN_IN)
            .requestScopes(Drive.SCOPE_FILE)
            .build();
    return GoogleSignIn.getClient(this, signInOptions);
  }

  /** Create a new file and save it to Drive. */
  private void saveFileToDrive() {
    // Start by creating a new contents, and setting a callback.
    Log.i(TAG, "Creating new contents.");
    final Bitmap image = mBitmapToSave;

    mDriveResourceClient
        .createContents()
        .continueWithTask(
            new Continuation<DriveContents, Task<Void>>() {
              @Override
              public Task<Void> then(@NonNull Task<DriveContents> task) throws Exception {
                return createFileIntentSender(task.getResult(), image);
              }
            })
        .addOnFailureListener(
            new OnFailureListener() {
              @Override
              public void onFailure(@NonNull Exception e) {
                Log.w(TAG, "Failed to create new contents.", e);
              }
            });
  }

  /**
   * Creates an {@link IntentSender} to start a dialog activity with configured {@link
   * CreateFileActivityOptions} for user to create a new photo in Drive.
   */
  private Task<Void> createFileIntentSender(DriveContents driveContents, Bitmap image) {
    Log.i(TAG, "New contents created.");
    // Get an output stream for the contents.
    OutputStream outputStream = driveContents.getOutputStream();
    // Write the bitmap data from it.
    ByteArrayOutputStream bitmapStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
    image.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.PNG, 100, bitmapStream);
    try {
      outputStream.write(bitmapStream.toByteArray());
    } catch (IOException e) {
      Log.w(TAG, "Unable to write file contents.", e);
    }

    // Create the initial metadata - MIME type and title.
    // Note that the user will be able to change the title later.
    MetadataChangeSet metadataChangeSet =
        new MetadataChangeSet.Builder()
            .setMimeType("image/jpeg")
            .setTitle("Android Photo.png")
            .build();
    // Set up options to configure and display the create file activity.
    CreateFileActivityOptions createFileActivityOptions =
        new CreateFileActivityOptions.Builder()
            .setInitialMetadata(metadataChangeSet)
            .setInitialDriveContents(driveContents)
            .build();

    return mDriveClient
        .newCreateFileActivityIntentSender(createFileActivityOptions)
        .continueWith(
            new Continuation<IntentSender, Void>() {
              @Override
              public Void then(@NonNull Task<IntentSender> task) throws Exception {
                startIntentSenderForResult(task.getResult(), REQUEST_CODE_CREATOR, null, 0, 0, 0);
                return null;
              }
            });
  }

  @Override
  protected void onActivityResult(final int requestCode, final int resultCode, final Intent data) {
    super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
    switch (requestCode) {
      case REQUEST_CODE_SIGN_IN:
        Log.i(TAG, "Sign in request code");
        // Called after user is signed in.
        if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
          Log.i(TAG, "Signed in successfully.");
          // Use the last signed in account here since it already have a Drive scope.
          mDriveClient = Drive.getDriveClient(this, GoogleSignIn.getLastSignedInAccount(this));
          // Build a drive resource client.
          mDriveResourceClient =
              Drive.getDriveResourceClient(this, GoogleSignIn.getLastSignedInAccount(this));
          // Start camera.
          startActivityForResult(
              new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE), REQUEST_CODE_CAPTURE_IMAGE);
        }
        break;
      case REQUEST_CODE_CAPTURE_IMAGE:
        Log.i(TAG, "capture image request code");
        // Called after a photo has been taken.
        if (resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK) {
          Log.i(TAG, "Image captured successfully.");
          // Store the image data as a bitmap for writing later.
          mBitmapToSave = (Bitmap) data.getExtras().get("data");
          saveFileToDrive();
        }
        break;
      case REQUEST_CODE_CREATOR:
        Log.i(TAG, "creator request code");
        // Called after a file is saved to Drive.
        if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
          Log.i(TAG, "Image successfully saved.");
          mBitmapToSave = null;
          // Just start the camera again for another photo.
          startActivityForResult(
              new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE), REQUEST_CODE_CAPTURE_IMAGE);
        }
        break;
    }
  }
}

Step : Add Permission

You need to add permission for accessing internet since google drive is an online service. In your android manifest add the following permission:

  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>

Run

Copy the code or download it in the link below, build and run.

Reference

Here are the reference links:

Number	Link
1.	Download Example
2.	Follow code author
3.	Code: Apache 2.0 License