How to automate file downloads in the cloud

To automate the process of downloading in the cloud from a website or web application, you can utilize the "Download a file to Google Drive" step.

# How to download a file in the cloud

Assuming you have already added a "Go to page" step to your automation, use the step finder to add the "Download a file to Google Drive" step. Then configure the step as follows:

Design pattern: Download a file to Google Drive
  • 1 Go to page
  • 2 Download a file to Google Drive
How
  1. Click "Select" and choose the file you wish to download.
  2. Next, enter the URL of the folder in Google Drive to download to.
  3. Enter a name for the file to be downloaded.

# How to download files from multiple pages

To download images from multiple web pages, you can use either of the aforementioned steps inserted inside a loop. The pages should use the same template, like the image listing pages. Additionally, you'll need a data source such as a Google Sheet with the URLs:

Design pattern: Download files to Google Drive loop
  • 1 Read data from a Google Sheet
  • 2 Loop through data
    • 2.1 Go to page
    • 2.2 Download a file to Google Drive
How
  1. Create a Google Sheet with your page URLs.
  2. Begin with a "Read data from a Google Sheet" step to retrieve the URLs.
  3. Add a "Loop through data" step.
  4. Inside the loop, insert a "Go to page" step. Click "Insert Data" choose the Google Sheet containing the URLs.
  5. Click "Add sub-step", and insert the "Download a file to Google Drive" step inside the loop.
  6. Click "Select" and choose the file you wish to download.
  7. Next, enter the URL of the folder in Google Drive to download to.
  8. Enter a name for the file to be downloaded.

# How to download multiple files on the same page

To download multiple files from the same page, the automation can loop through custom selectors.

Design pattern: Download files to Google Drive CSS selectors
  • 1 Read data from a Google Sheet
  • 2 Loop through data
    • 2.1 Go to page
    • 2.2 Download a file to Google Drive
How
  1. Create a Google Sheet with your custom selectors one for each image separated by rows.
  2. Begin with a "Read data from a Google Sheet" step to retrieve the selectors.
  3. Insert a "Go to page" step.
  4. Add a "Loop through data" step.
  5. Inside the loop, "Add sub-step", and insert the "Download a file to Google Drive" step inside the loop.
  6. Click "Select", then custom, followed by "Set selector from data" and choose the Google Sheet.
  7. Next, enter the URL of the folder in Google Drive to download to.
  8. Enter a name for the files to be downloaded, a unique number will be appended.

# Advanced settings

advanced setting on download steps

# Force download

If some files open in the browser window instead of downloading, toggle the switch to "on" and tick to force download. If issues persist, contact support.

# Auto convert

Automatically convert the downloaded file to a Google Docs editor format by toggling and ticking the box.

# Download start wait time

Increase the length of time axiom will wait for a download to start by toggling the switch and setting a time in hundredths of a second

# Issues when automating file downloads

If the file does not download, please ensure the folder path is correct.

# Using the "Download a file to Google Drive" step to download files locally

There is an option to do this read more here.

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