Remove files from GDrive Trash

Question

I have backup scripts that are copying my files into GDrive and it's also deleting files that are older than X days. But this is filling my bin with lot of these files. I want to remove them from trash bin.

I wrote this code:

function getTrashedFiles() {
  //find every file in bin
  var trashedSearch = DriveApp.searchFiles('trashed=true');
  while (trashedSearch.hasNext()) {
    var file = trashedSearch.next();
    if (file.getName().indexOf("DBKLP") >= 0) {
      //this is correctly printing files that I want to remove
      Logger.log(file.getName());
      //this should remove from bin
      DriveApp.removeFile(file);
    }
  }
}

This code correctly finds every file, that starts at "DBKLP". But when it runs, it's not removing files from bin. It's just removing them 'once again', so their date of remove is basically "now".

I can't find a way to "remove from bin".

Answer 1

The AppScript DriveApp does not support it, but you can do it with the Drive API v3. As the documentation states, you'd need to use the DELETE HTTP method; alike this you could even skip trashing these files altogether. Here's an example (mine) of how to use Google API with AppScript (that's another API, but at least it's a good starting point). The documentation combined with a rough example should hopefully push you into the right direction.

Answer 2

From the documentation: removeFile(child) does not delete the file, but if a file is removed from all of its parents, it cannot be seen in Drive except by searching for it or using the "All items" view.

Have you tried Drive.Files.remove() instead of DriveApp.removeFile()? To enable it, in the script editor, you have to click on the + button at "Services". Check here: imgur.com/cVFCAXQ (or, in the old editor navigate to Resources > Advanced Google Services > Drive API).

I have a similar script that seems to work. Notice that it has to find all files and folders because they are treated separately.

// Delete all files from trash older than 1 month
function cleanOldTrash() {
  var files = DriveApp.getTrashedFiles();
  var folders = DriveApp.getTrashedFolders();
 
  var lastMonth = new Date();
  lastMonth.setDate(lastMonth.getDate() - 30);
  
  while (files.hasNext()) {
    var file = files.next();
    if (file.getLastUpdated() < lastMonth ) {
      Drive.Files.remove(file.getId());
    }
  }
  
  while (folders.hasNext()) {
    var folder = folders.next();
    if (folder.getLastUpdated() < lastMonth) {
     Drive.Files.remove(folder.getId());
  }
}
}

I actually do have a problem with this script when files are stored on the trash of Team Drives that I don't have permission to access, but I'll try to get more help with that in a separate question. I'll update this answer if needed.