Automate Google Drive File Link Shortening with Pabbly Connect

Learn how to automatically shorten Google Drive file links using Pabbly Connect, Bitly, and Google Sheets. Step-by-step tutorial included. Eliminate manual repetitive tasks from your workflow. Discover proven automation methods with intuitive steps designed for efficiency-minded professionals.

Watch Step By Step Video Tutorial Below

1. Using Pabbly Connect to Automate URL Shortening

In this section, we will explore how to use Pabbly Connect to automate the process of shortening Google Drive file links. The first step is to access your Pabbly Connect account. If you don’t have one, you can create a free account in just a few minutes. Once logged in, navigate to the dashboard to start creating your workflow.

Click on the blue button labeled ‘Create Workflow’ to begin. Name your workflow something descriptive, such as ‘Shorten Google Drive File Links Automatically.’ This will help you identify the automation later. After naming your workflow, click on ‘Create’ to proceed.

2. Setting Up the Trigger with Google Drive

Now that your workflow is created, it’s time to set up the trigger. In this case, the trigger will be when a new file is uploaded to Google Drive. Select ‘Google Drive’ as your trigger application in Pabbly Connect. This allows Pabbly Connect to monitor your Google Drive for new uploads.

After selecting Google Drive, you will need to choose the trigger event. Click on the dropdown menu and select ‘New File in Folder.’ Then, connect your Google Drive account to Pabbly Connect by clicking ‘Connect’ and following the authorization process. Make sure to choose the specific folder where you will be uploading files.

• Click ‘Connect’ to link your Google Drive account.
• Select the folder to monitor for new files.
• Authorize Pabbly Connect to access your Google Drive.

Once your Google Drive is connected, Pabbly Connect will be able to capture the details of the files uploaded to the specified folder. You can test this by uploading a file to see if the details are captured successfully.

3. Shortening the URL with Bitly

With the trigger set up, the next step is to shorten the URL using Bitly. In your Pabbly Connect workflow, add a new action step and select ‘Bitly’ as the application. Choose the action event ‘Shorten URL’ to proceed.

Connect your Bitly account to Pabbly Connect by clicking ‘Connect’ and authorizing the application. Once connected, you will need to map the long URL you captured from Google Drive to the corresponding field in Bitly. This ensures that each time a file is uploaded, its URL is automatically shortened.

• Select ‘Shorten URL’ as the action event.
• Authorize Bitly to connect with Pabbly Connect.
• Map the long URL from Google Drive to Bitly.

After mapping the URL, click on ‘Save and Send Test Request’ to verify that the URL shortening works as intended. You should receive a shortened URL in the response.

4. Storing the URLs in Google Sheets

Once you have the shortened URL, the next step is to store both the long and short URLs in Google Sheets. Add another action step in your Pabbly Connect workflow and select ‘Google Sheets’ as the application. Choose the action event ‘Add Row’ to insert the URLs into your spreadsheet.

Connect your Google Sheets account to Pabbly Connect and select the spreadsheet where you want to store the URLs. Map the long URL and the short URL to the respective columns in your spreadsheet. This will ensure that every time a new file is uploaded, both URLs are recorded in your Google Sheets automatically.

Select ‘Add Row’ as the action event. Map the long URL and short URL to the appropriate columns. Save and test the action to ensure data is recorded.

After completing these steps, you will have successfully automated the process of shortening Google Drive file links and storing them in Google Sheets using Pabbly Connect.

5. Finalizing the Automation

Now that your automation is set up, every time you upload a new file to the designated Google Drive folder, Pabbly Connect will automatically shorten the file’s URL using Bitly and store both the long and short URLs in Google Sheets. This automation saves time and ensures consistency in your workflow.

Remember that the trigger for Google Drive is polling-based, meaning it will check for new files every 10 minutes. Therefore, you may not see immediate results after uploading a file. However, once the automation is up and running, it will work seamlessly in the background.

To see your automation in action, upload a new file to your Google Drive folder and wait for the next polling interval. You will soon find both the long and short URLs in your designated Google Sheets.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using Pabbly Connect to automate the shortening of Google Drive file links is a straightforward process that enhances efficiency. By integrating Google Drive, Bitly, and Google Sheets, you can streamline your workflow and save valuable time. This setup ensures that every file uploaded is managed automatically, allowing you to focus on more important tasks.