Extract File Content as Text from Google Drive

Type: Action, listed under the Google Client category in Flow Builder.

Reads the content of a Google Client file as plain text, so the rest of the flow can work with what the file actually says.

When To Use It

• Feed a document into a prompt template so a model can answer questions about it.
• Check whether a file contains specific wording before the flow continues.
• Copy part of a document onto a record field.

How To Add It To A Flow

1. Open Flow Builder in Salesforce Setup.
2. Create a flow, or open an existing one.
3. Add an Action element.
4. Choose the Google Client category and select Extract File Content as Text from Google Drive.
5. Set either Google File ID or Google File Version ID.
6. Set Maximum Characters if you only need the beginning of the file.
7. Save and activate the flow.

Inputs

Input	Required	Description
Google File Version ID	One of the two	The exact version to read.
Google File ID	One of the two	The file whose latest version is read when no version is given.
Maximum Characters	No	Cuts the text after this many characters. Leave blank to return everything.

Outputs

Output	Description
Text	The file content as plain text
Character Count	How many characters were returned
Was Cut Short	True when the text was cut at Maximum Characters
Google File Version ID, File Name	The version that was read

Which Files Can Be Read

Text comes from the preview copy Google Client prepares for documents, spreadsheets, PDFs and images, so it is available for every file type that can be previewed.

Plain text files such as .txt, .csv and .md are read straight from the upload and are ready the moment the file arrives.

When Text Is Not Ready Yet

For a file uploaded moments earlier the preview copy may still be preparing. The action reports that text is not available yet, which is deliberately different from reporting that the file is empty.

In a flow that uploads a file and then reads it, put the two in separate runs, or wait for the preview to be ready before reading. A record-triggered flow on an asynchronous path usually gives Google enough time on its own.

Use Maximum Characters when the text feeds a prompt. It keeps the flow clear of the limits on how much text one element can hold, and Was Cut Short tells you whether anything was left behind.

Note

Needs Google Drive configured. In a record triggered flow, place the action on an asynchronous path, and connect a Fault path to catch {!$Flow.FaultMessage}.

📘 See Download File from Google Drive to save the file in Salesforce instead.