| name | gcmd |
| description | Export and access Google Drive files (docs, sheets, meeting notes) |
Google Drive CLI (gcmd) Skill
Quick reference for using gcmd CLI tool to work with Google Drive files.
Repository: /Users/ben/git/gcmd
Overview
gcmd is a Python CLI tool for working with Google Drive from the command line. Useful for:
- Exporting Google Docs as markdown for processing/archival
- Listing and searching Drive files
- Downloading files
- Viewing file metadata, permissions, and comments
- Reviewing document feedback and collaboration
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- User asks to export Google Docs as markdown
- User provides a Google Drive URL and wants to read/access the content
- User asks to search for files in Google Drive
- User wants to view file permissions or comments on Google Docs
- User mentions "meeting notes" or "Gemini notes" from Google Meet
- User asks to list recent Google Drive files
Common Commands
All commands must be run from the gcmd directory with uv run gcmd.
Export Google Docs as Markdown
RECOMMENDED: Export to /tmp/ for easy reading by Claude Code
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
uv run gcmd export "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit" -o /tmp/
# Creates: /tmp/Document Title.md (uses document title as filename)
Export to specific file path:
uv run gcmd export FILE_ID -o /tmp/meeting-notes.md
# Creates: /tmp/meeting-notes.md
Export all tabs as separate files:
uv run gcmd export --all-tabs FILE_ID -o /tmp/
# Creates: /tmp/Document Title - Tab1.md, /tmp/Document Title - Tab2.md, etc.
How -o works:
- Without
-o: Saves to/Users/ben/git/gcmd/using document title +.exported.md - With
-o /tmp/(directory): Saves to/tmp/using document title +.mdextension (no.exported) - With
-o /tmp/file.md(file): Saves to exact path/tmp/file.md
After exporting, ALWAYS read the file to provide the user with the content.
List and Search Files
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
# List recent files (default 20, sorted by modified date)
uv run gcmd list
# Search for files by name or content
uv run gcmd list -q "quarterly report"
# List only Google Docs
uv run gcmd list -t docs
# List with verbose details
uv run gcmd list -v -n 10
# List only folders
uv run gcmd list -t folders
# List Google Sheets
uv run gcmd list -t sheets
View File Info
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
# Basic file metadata
uv run gcmd info "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit"
# Detailed info with permissions, tabs, structure, and comments
uv run gcmd info -v "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit"
# Show only comments (without other verbose details)
uv run gcmd info --show-comments "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit"
# Also works with just file ID
uv run gcmd info FILE_ID -v
Detailed info shows:
- File metadata (name, type, size, dates)
- Owner and last modifier
- All permissions (users, groups, domains, public links)
- Your capabilities (can edit, comment, share, download, etc.)
- Document tabs (for multi-tab Google Docs)
- Document outline with all headings
- Comments and replies with quoted text, authors, timestamps, and status (resolved/deleted)
Download Files
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
# Download to current directory
uv run gcmd download FILE_ID
# Download to specific path
uv run gcmd download FILE_ID -o ~/Downloads/myfile.pdf
# Works with URLs
uv run gcmd download "https://drive.google.com/file/d/FILE_ID/view"
URL Format Support
All commands accept multiple URL formats:
# Google Docs
https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit?tab=t.0
# Google Sheets
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/FILE_ID/edit
# Google Slides
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/FILE_ID/edit
# Drive files
https://drive.google.com/file/d/FILE_ID/view
# Just the file ID
FILE_ID
Workflow Example
When user provides a Google Drive URL:
Export the document to /tmp/:
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd uv run gcmd export "URL" -o /tmp/Read the exported file: The file will be in
/tmp/with the document title as filename.Provide the content to the user or answer their questions about it.
Optional cleanup: After helping the user, you can delete the exported file:
rm /tmp/exported-filename.md
Common Workflow Examples
Find and export a document
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
# Search for the document
uv run gcmd list -q "MCP Server Analysis" -t docs
# Get detailed info (tabs, structure)
uv run gcmd info -v "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit"
# Export all tabs to /tmp/ for easy reading
uv run gcmd export --all-tabs FILE_ID -o /tmp/
Check permissions on shared docs
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
# View detailed permissions
uv run gcmd info -v FILE_ID
# Shows:
# - Who has access (users, groups, domains, public)
# - Permission levels (owner, writer, reader, commenter)
# - Your capabilities (can edit, share, download, etc.)
Review document feedback
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
# View all comments and replies on a document
uv run gcmd info --show-comments "https://docs.google.com/document/d/FILE_ID/edit"
# Shows:
# - All comments with quoted/highlighted text
# - Authors and timestamps
# - Replies with their authors
# - Status (resolved, deleted)
# - Total comment count
List recent work documents
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
# List recent Google Docs with details
uv run gcmd list -t docs -v -n 20
Key Features
- URL support: All commands accept full Google Drive URLs or file IDs
- Native markdown export: Preserves formatting (headings, tables, links, bold, italic)
- Multi-tab documents: Use
--all-tabsto export each tab separately - Detailed info: View permissions, sharing, capabilities, document structure
- Comments access: View all comments and replies with quoted text, authors, and timestamps
- Auto-naming: Exported files use
.exported.mdextension (auto-ignored by git) when no-ospecified
Authentication
- Credentials location:
~/.config/gcmd/credentials.json - Token location:
~/.config/gcmd/token.json
If authentication fails, delete token and re-authenticate:
rm ~/.config/gcmd/token.json
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
uv run gcmd list # Will trigger new auth flow
Important Notes
- Always use
/tmp/for exports - Makes files easy to find and read - Always run from gcmd directory - Commands require
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd - Use
uv run gcmd- Not justgcmd - Read exported files - After exporting, read the file and provide content to user
- Clean up after - Delete exported files from /tmp/ when done
Troubleshooting
"credentials.json not found": Follow setup steps to create OAuth credentials (see gcmd README)
"Authentication failed": Delete token and re-authenticate:
rm ~/.config/gcmd/token.json
cd /Users/ben/git/gcmd
uv run gcmd list
"Not a Google Doc": Use download command instead of export for non-Doc files
Browser won't open: The CLI will provide a manual URL to paste in your browser
Tips
- Running commands: Always use
uv run gcmdfrom the gcmd directory - Export location: Always use
-o /tmp/when exporting so files are in a predictable location for easy reading - File naming: Without
-o, exported files use.exported.mdextension (auto-ignored by git). With-o /dir/, uses.md - Multi-tab documents: Use
--all-tabsto export each tab as a separate file - Verbose mode: Use
-vfor detailed information (permissions, structure, comments, etc.) - Comments: Use
--show-commentsto view just comments without other verbose details - Search: The
-qflag searches both file names and content