Google Drive Integration: Import PDFs Directly

Import PDF files directly from Google Drive to create BreezeDoc documents without downloading and re-uploading. This guide covers connecting Google Drive, using Google Picker to select files, permissions, troubleshooting connection issues, and managing your Google account.

Prerequisites

  • Account: Active BreezeDoc account
  • Plan: Available on all plans (Free, Pro, Agency)
  • Google Account: Personal or work Google account with Drive access
  • PDF Files: PDF documents stored in your Google Drive
  • Browser: Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

What is Google Drive Integration?

Google Drive integration allows you to import PDF files from your Google Drive directly into BreezeDoc without downloading to your computer first. This streamlines document creation and is especially useful for documents already stored in Google Drive. Key features:

  • Universal Availability – Available on all BreezeDoc plans (Free, Pro, Agency)
  • Direct Import – Select PDFs from Drive and import to BreezeDoc instantly
  • No Downloads – Skip download/re-upload workflow
  • Google Picker UI – Familiar Google file picker interface
  • Secure OAuth – Uses Google OAuth 2.0 for secure authentication
  • Read-Only Access – BreezeDoc only reads files, never modifies or deletes
  • One-Time Connection – Connect once, use for all future imports

Benefits of Google Drive Integration

Workflow Efficiency

  • Faster Document Creation – Import PDFs in one step instead of download + upload
  • No Local Storage – Avoid filling up computer storage with temporary PDF downloads
  • Mobile-Friendly – Import from Drive on mobile devices without local file access
  • Organized Files – Access organized Drive folders directly

Centralized Document Storage

  • Single Source of Truth – Keep master PDFs in Google Drive
  • Team Collaboration – Team members share Drive folders and import to BreezeDoc
  • Version Control – Update PDFs in Drive, then re-import to BreezeDoc
  • Backup Security – PDFs backed up in Google Drive

Seamless User Experience

  • Familiar Interface – Use Google Picker UI you already know
  • Search Capabilities – Leverage Google Drive search to find PDFs
  • Recent Files – Quick access to recently modified PDFs
  • Multiple File Support – Import multiple PDFs at once

Connecting Google Drive

Step-by-Step: Connect Google Drive to BreezeDoc

  1. Log in to your BreezeDoc account.
  2. Go to Documents ➜ Create Document or click Upload New.
  3. Look for Import from Google Drive button or Google Drive icon.
  4. Click Import from Google Drive.
  5. If not connected, you'll see Connect Google Drive button.
  6. Click Connect Google Drive ➜ redirected to Google authorization page.
  7. Select the Google account you want to connect (personal or work account).
  8. Review permissions requested by BreezeDoc:
    • See and download all your Google Drive files (read-only access)
    • View your email address
    • View your basic profile info
  9. Click Allow to grant BreezeDoc access to your Drive.
  10. You're redirected back to BreezeDoc with Google Drive connected.
  11. Google Picker opens automatically, showing your Drive files.

Note: You only need to connect once. After initial connection, you can import from Drive without re-authenticating.

Permissions Explained

BreezeDoc requests these Google Drive permissions:

  • drive.readonly – Read files from your Drive (BreezeDoc never modifies or deletes files)
  • userinfo.email – Identify your Google account email
  • userinfo.profile – Display your name for confirmation

Security Note: BreezeDoc only reads PDF files you explicitly select. It cannot access, modify, or delete any files without your action.

OAuth Authentication Flow

BreezeDoc uses Google OAuth 2.0 for secure authentication:

  1. BreezeDoc redirects to Google authorization page.
  2. You log in with Google credentials (handled by Google, not BreezeDoc).
  3. Google asks for permission to share Drive access with BreezeDoc.
  4. You approve, and Google provides BreezeDoc with an access token.
  5. BreezeDoc stores token securely (encrypted) for future use.
  6. Token expires after period of inactivity (Google's policy).

Importing PDFs from Google Drive

Step-by-Step: Import PDF from Drive

  1. In BreezeDoc, go to Documents ➜ Create Document.
  2. Click Import from Google Drive (or Google Drive icon).
  3. Google Picker opens, showing your Drive files and folders.
  4. Navigate to the folder containing your PDF:
    • Use My Drive tab to browse your files
    • Use Shared with me tab for shared files
    • Use Recent tab for recently modified files
    • Use Search to find files by name
  5. Click on the PDF file you want to import (must be PDF format).
  6. Click Select or Choose button at bottom of picker.
  7. BreezeDoc imports the PDF and creates a new document.
  8. The document editor opens with the imported PDF loaded.
  9. Add fields, recipients, and send the document.

Using Google Picker Interface

Google Picker provides familiar file selection UI:

  • My Drive: Your personal Drive files and folders
  • Shared with me: Files and folders others shared with you
  • Recent: Recently opened or modified files
  • Search Bar: Search files by name or content
  • Folder Navigation: Click folders to browse contents
  • File Preview: Hover or click files to see preview
  • Filter by Type: Some pickers allow filtering (e.g., PDFs only)

Importing Multiple PDFs

To import multiple PDFs for one document:

  1. Use Google Picker to select first PDF ➜ import to BreezeDoc.
  2. In document editor, add additional pages by importing more PDFs.
  3. BreezeDoc appends each PDF as additional pages in the same document.

Alternative: Create separate documents for each PDF (one import = one document).

File Requirements

  • Format: Must be PDF format (.pdf extension)
  • Size: Recommended under 10MB per PDF (larger files may be slow)
  • Pages: Any number of pages (1-100+ supported)
  • Access: You must have view/download permission for the file
  • Compatibility: Standard PDFs work best (avoid complex interactive PDFs)

Managing Google Drive Connection

Viewing Connected Account

  1. Go to Settings ➜ Integrations or Connected Accounts.
  2. Look for Google Drive section.
  3. View connected Google account email and connection status.

Disconnecting Google Drive

  1. Go to Settings ➜ Integrations ➜ Google Drive.
  2. Click Disconnect or Revoke Access.
  3. Confirm disconnection.
  4. BreezeDoc deletes stored Google access tokens.
  5. You'll need to reconnect to import from Drive again.

When to Disconnect:

  • Switching to different Google account
  • No longer need Drive import feature
  • Security policy requires periodic re-authentication
  • Troubleshooting connection issues

Reconnecting Google Drive

  1. After disconnecting, click Import from Google Drive again.
  2. Click Connect Google Drive.
  3. Follow OAuth flow again (select account, approve permissions).
  4. Connection re-established.

Switching Google Accounts

  1. Disconnect current Google account from BreezeDoc.
  2. Click Import from Google Drive ➜ Connect.
  3. On Google authorization page, select different Google account.
  4. Approve permissions for new account.
  5. New account is now connected.

Security and Privacy

What BreezeDoc Can Access

  • ✅ Read Files: View and download files you select
  • ✅ File Metadata: See file names, sizes, modification dates
  • ✅ Folder Structure: Browse your Drive folders
  • ❌ Cannot Modify: BreezeDoc cannot edit or delete Drive files
  • ❌ Cannot Upload: BreezeDoc cannot upload new files to your Drive
  • ❌ No Automatic Access: Only accesses files when you explicitly import

Access Token Storage

  • Encrypted Storage: Google access tokens encrypted in BreezeDoc database
  • Secure Transmission: All data transmitted over HTTPS
  • Automatic Expiration: Tokens expire per Google's security policy
  • Revocable: You can revoke access anytime via BreezeDoc or Google settings

Revoking Access from Google

Revoke BreezeDoc access directly from Google:

  1. Go to Google Account ➜ Security.
  2. Scroll to Third-party apps with account access.
  3. Find BreezeDoc in the list.
  4. Click Remove Access.
  5. BreezeDoc can no longer access your Drive until you reconnect.

Troubleshooting

Issue: "Import from Google Drive" button not visible

Fix: Verify Google Drive integration is enabled for your account. Check Settings ➜ Integrations to see if Google Drive option exists. Try refreshing the page or clearing browser cache. Ensure you're on the correct page (Documents ➜ Create Document or Upload). If still not visible, try a different browser or incognito mode. Contact support if the feature is missing – it should be available on all plans.

Issue: Authorization fails or shows "Access Denied" error

Fix: Ensure you clicked "Allow" on Google authorization page (not "Deny"). Check that your Google account has Drive access (some restricted work accounts may block third-party apps). Try disconnecting and reconnecting Google Drive. Clear browser cookies and cache, then try again. If using work/school Google account, contact IT admin to whitelist BreezeDoc. Check Google Account security settings for blocks on third-party app access.

Issue: Google Picker shows empty or doesn't load Drive files

Fix: Wait a few seconds – Picker may take time to load large Drive folders. Check your internet connection – Picker requires active connection to Google. Verify you have files in Google Drive (Picker can't show empty Drive). Try refreshing the page and reopening Picker. Check Google Drive status (visit drive.google.com) to ensure Drive service is operational. Try disconnecting and reconnecting Google account.

Issue: PDF import fails or gets stuck

Fix: Verify PDF file size – very large PDFs (>10MB) may timeout. Check that file is actually a PDF (some files have .pdf extension but aren't valid PDFs). Ensure you have permission to view/download the file in Drive. Try importing a different, smaller PDF to test if issue is file-specific. Check browser console for JavaScript errors. Try different browser or incognito mode. If specific file always fails, file may be corrupted – try re-creating the PDF.

Issue: Connection expired or "Re-authenticate" message

Fix: Google access tokens expire after period of inactivity (Google security policy). Simply reconnect Google Drive by clicking Connect button again. You'll go through OAuth flow and grant permissions again. This is normal and expected for security. To minimize re-authentication, use the integration regularly. If token expires immediately after connecting, check Google account security settings.

Issue: Want to import from Shared Drive (Google Workspace)

Fix: Shared Drives (formerly Team Drives) should appear in Google Picker under "Shared drives" tab. If not visible, ensure your Google Workspace admin has enabled Shared Drive access for third-party apps. Check that you're a member of the Shared Drive. Try selecting files from "Shared with me" tab as alternative. Contact Workspace admin if Shared Drives are blocked for security reasons.

FAQ

Q: Is Google Drive integration available on the Free plan?

A: Yes! Google Drive integration is available on all BreezeDoc plans including Free, Pro, and Agency.

Q: Can BreezeDoc modify or delete files in my Google Drive?

A: No. BreezeDoc only has read-only access to your Drive. It can view and download files you select but cannot edit, delete, or upload files.

Q: Do I need to keep the PDF in Google Drive after importing?

A: No. After importing, BreezeDoc has its own copy of the PDF. You can delete or move the original in Drive without affecting your BreezeDoc document.

Q: Can I import files from Dropbox or OneDrive?

A: Currently, BreezeDoc only supports Google Drive integration. For other cloud storage, download the PDF to your computer, then upload to BreezeDoc.

Q: Can team members use the same Google Drive connection?

A: No, Google Drive connections are per BreezeDoc user. Each team member must connect their own Google account. However, you can import from shared Drive folders if multiple team members have access to the same files.

Q: What happens if I disconnect Google Drive while documents are being created?

A: Already-imported documents are not affected – they remain in BreezeDoc. Disconnecting only prevents future imports from Drive. Existing documents are safe.


Need more help? Contact our support team – we are here to help!

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