Google Docs/Sheets/Slides automated backups script

README.md

Update: I now use a slightly different version of this script, which creates a single zip file instead of one per document, and puts a timestamp in the filename rather than overwriting the previous backup file. That version can be found at https://github.com/brokensandals/export-google-docs.

Google Apps Script that exports all your Google Docs/Sheets/Slides into docx/xlsx/pptx files and PDFs into a folder in your Google Drive. For more info and step-by-step setup instructions, see here: http://brokensandals.net/google-docs-backup

Replace INSERT_FOLDER_ID_HERE with the ID of the folder you want backups to be placed in.

Create a trigger to run the backupAll function if you want to do this on a schedule (e.g. nightly).

Notes:

• By default, only files that you own (as opposed to files others have shared with you) will be backed up. Remove the file.getOwner() check from the backupAll method if you want to change that.
• For each file, both an Office file (docx/xlsx/pptx) and a PDF are generated, and combined into a zip file that's placed in the backup folder. Zipping the backup files ensures that they don't clutter up the recent activity list for Docs/Sheets/Slides.
• The script depends on the lastUpdated dates being correct on both the input files and the files in the backup directory. If that seems problematic, you could change the createOrUpdateFileForBlob method to delete existing backup files rather than updating them.

As always, this code may have defects that prevent it from working properly. Use at your own risk and remember to periodically verify that your backups are actually working as expected.

GoogleDocsBackup.gs

var BACKUP_FOLDER_ID = 'INSERT_FOLDER_ID_HERE';

var NATIVE_MIME_TYPES = {};
NATIVE_MIME_TYPES[MimeType.GOOGLE_DOCS] = MimeType.MICROSOFT_WORD;
NATIVE_MIME_TYPES[MimeType.GOOGLE_SHEETS] = MimeType.MICROSOFT_EXCEL;
NATIVE_MIME_TYPES[MimeType.GOOGLE_SLIDES] = MimeType.MICROSOFT_POWERPOINT;

var NATIVE_EXTENSIONS = {};
NATIVE_EXTENSIONS[MimeType.GOOGLE_DOCS] = '.docx';
NATIVE_EXTENSIONS[MimeType.GOOGLE_SHEETS] = '.xlsx';
NATIVE_EXTENSIONS[MimeType.GOOGLE_SLIDES] = '.pptx';

var BACKUP_MIME_TYPES = Object.keys(NATIVE_MIME_TYPES);

function backupAll() {
  const backupFolder = DriveApp.getFolderById(BACKUP_FOLDER_ID);
  
  BACKUP_MIME_TYPES.forEach(function(mimeType) {
    var files = DriveApp.getFilesByType(mimeType);
    while (files.hasNext()) {
      var file = files.next();
      if (file.getOwner() && file.getOwner().getEmail() == Session.getActiveUser().getEmail()) {
        backup(file, backupFolder);
      }
    }
  });
}

function backup(file, folder) {
  var targetName = file.getName() + ' ' + file.getId();
  var lastUpdated = file.getLastUpdated();
  
  var pdf = getPdfBlob(file);
  var native = getNativeBlob(file);
  
  var zip = Utilities.zip([pdf, native], targetName + '.zip');
  
  createOrUpdateFileForBlob(zip, folder, lastUpdated);
}

function createOrUpdateFileForBlob(blob, folder, ifOlderThan) {
  var existingFiles = folder.getFilesByName(blob.getName());
  if (existingFiles.hasNext()) {
    var file = existingFiles.next();
    if (file.getLastUpdated() < ifOlderThan) {
      updateFile(file, blob);
    }
  } else {
    folder.createFile(blob);
  }
}

function updateFile(file, blob) {
  const url = 'https://www.googleapis.com/upload/drive/v2/files/' + file.getId() + '?uploadType=media';
  
  const params = {
    method: 'put',
    headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + ScriptApp.getOAuthToken() },
    payload: blob
  };
  
  var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url, params);
  
  if (response.getResponseCode() < 200 || response.getResponseCode() > 299) {
    throw 'Failed to update file named ' + file.getName();
  }
}

function getPdfBlob(file) {
  var blob = file.getAs('application/pdf');
  return blob;
}

function getNativeBlob(file) {
  const nativeMimeType = NATIVE_MIME_TYPES[file.getMimeType()];
  
  const extension = NATIVE_EXTENSIONS[file.getMimeType()];
  
  const url = 'https://www.googleapis.com/drive/v2/files/' + file.getId() + '/export?mimeType=' + nativeMimeType;

  const params = {
    method: 'get',
    headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + ScriptApp.getOAuthToken() }
  };
  
  const blob = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url, params).getBlob();
  
  blob.setName(file.getName() + extension);
  return blob;
}

@Martianno Glad you found it useful!

Would it be please possible to export my Documents as plain text - as a .txt file?

I won't have time to test or troubleshoot this, but, one thing you could try would be to replace MimeType.MICROSOFT_WORD on line 4 with MimeType.PLAIN_TEXT, and replace .docx on line 9 with .txt

Thanks for a super fast reaction! It Works, God bless you!

Hi.. Thank you for the script. If i am not mistaken, the script is to backup all kinds of file and zip it. I am new in this environment and im trying to do the basics for each type of file. Can you help me with the script that can backup google docs file? I was able to make an auto backup for the spreadsheet however, im trying to replicate the code and replaced the var name but i dont know the specific function for google docs. I hope you could help me.. Thank you.. :)

function archiveCopy() {
var file= DriveApp.getFileById("1liz6Kfh4eiXJOR95Ry03m-lVO_6fv6-sylZ3N3RAWCg");
var destination= DriveApp.getFolderById("1y-aYx3SbnlZSde_J57FEj_Jyfo4bj6ED");

var timeZone=Session.getScriptTimeZone();
var formattedDate= Utilities.formatDate(new Date(),timeZone,"yyyy-MM-dd' 'HH:mm:ss");
var name= SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getName()+"Copy"+formattedDate;

file.makeCopy(name,destination);

}