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With Google Cloud Print shutting down today, I decided to try building an app that would auto-print files as they are generated from a workflow.
This is a 2-Part Challenge:
- Getting the cloud file out of AppSheet and onto the local machine
- Auto printing files as they arrive
And each part has a different solution depending on the OS of the device connected to the printer (Mac, Windows, Linux), and which storage provider you’re using (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.).
This solution is for Mac users, but the same technique could be used on Windows, by replacing the Automator folder action with a VB Script, Power Shell, Auto Hotkey, etc.
- Install Google Backup & Sync (or OneDrive, Dropbox, etc), and login with the same account as you use for AppSheet.
-
(Recommended) Select
Sync only these foldersand only select the app’s file/image folder (where workflow files are saved).
NOTE: ALL FILES in your root My Drive folder will sync, no matter which settings you choose. Move everything to a new folder FIRST to keep from syncing.
- Run a test workflow and make sure new files are syncing to your local machine.
- Create a new Folder Action in Automator, select the folder, and add the step “Print Finder Items”
In my tests, the files showed up on the local machine at almost the same instant that the sheet change occurred, and printing automatically started just a few seconds later!
This works great for a single app, but I can’t figure out a way to print from multiple apps without monitoring each folder. An app can only save images to a subfolder of the app’s default folder.
Ideally, I’d like to be able to monitor the same one folder, and send all print requests from all apps in my account to that one folder. I tried with webhooks, but you can only send the row data.
You can send a link to the file from one app to another, but that doesn’t create a NEW file in the receiving app’s default folder. I could use Integromat to copy files from other apps into my one “print queue” folder, but I’d prefer to find a native AppSheet solution.
Does anyone have any ideas on how one app could create a file in another app’s folder, without using some external integration?
Nice one mate!
In order for the app to have access to a folder, you’d need something inside the app that’s stored in that source - like a table.
Then your app would have authorized access to the folder (from your appsheet account accessing the folder) and you could easily affect things then.
But aside from that, you’d have to have an external integration to handle this.
- You could create a script on the drive, and integrate that with a corresponding table in your app that triggers that script (which would migrate your files).
Yes it works 
Lets say you have an app in Root > Appsheet > Data > App#1-1234567 and you have subfolder called “Files” under that folder. Now if you select that “Files” folder and then Shift+Z, you can add that folder to Root > Appsheet > Data > App#2-1234567. Then your app is able to use that same subfolder for this 2nd app as well. Your app has access to your files even they are all in the same subfolder.
Hmm… I tried this, and AppSheet ignored the shortcut version, and created a new folder with the same name, instead.
Also, when Google Backup & Sync adds the shortcut to the local drive, it has a *.shortcut file extension, and does not show as a real folder. So adding files to the actual source doesn’t get reflected on the local drive anyway, and wouldn’t trigger a ‘new file’ to invoke the Folder Action.
Am I missing something, @Aleksi? My app wouldn’t use the shortcut, so it doesn’t really help in this case.
I got it! Thanks @Aleksi!
I deleted the shortcut and tried again using the keyboard command. That brings up the hidden Add to Drive which is different than the menu option Add shortcut to Drive, which I had been using.
You mentioned the shortcut, but I didn’t realize it was any different than the menu option version. It only works with the hidden, Shift+Z version!
Thanks again, @Aleksi! This will be way better than having to sync and monitor tons of different folders. 
I know you said “without using 3rd party tools”, but I’ll put this here anyways.
Printnode is pretty nice. You download a client software onto a computer to act as your print server. Then you can print jobs with a POST request to their API. You get 50 prints per month for free. You can send jobs with a publicly available URL to a PDF document, or with a 64bit encoding a PDF document (I have NOT tried the latter).
Here is a setup that I have using this print service. Note that this requires one to disable the security options that allow public file URLs from Appsheet.
This app runs a daily MakeDoc Report, with a set filename, and timestamp disabled:
Then an hour later it runs a daily Webhook Report
Given that printnode can accept 64-bit encoded files, perhaps there is a way to send jobs without having to disable the security options, but I have not attempted that in any way so cannot comment any further.
There is nothing I can add that is not already in the initial screenshots.
Have you disabled the security options for files?
If you can’t open your file URL in a separate browser window (best to test in a private browser session), then printnode can’t open it either.
