ACC doesn't work with Google Drive File Stream

[revanmj]

Describe the bug Google recently started testing Google Drive File Stream with normal user accounts (was locked to GSuite accounts previously). I tried it and it unfortunately doesn't work with ACC.

To Reproduce

1. Replace "Backup and Sync from Google" with "Google Drive File Stream"
2. Change path to ACC folder in its settings, so it points to new Google Drive location (File Stream maps Google Drive to virtual G: drive instead of folder in user's home)
3. Start simulator and try any action - txt file shows up, but simulator does not catch it

Hardware & software info (please complete the following information):

• Windows 10 x64 19042.630
• ACC 1.4.1

[AlbertMN]

Yeah, ACC only works with "Backup and sync". Are they gonna switch away from backup and sync?

[revanmj]

I'd guess that's the final intent of allowing normal users into File Stream (it doesn't make sense to keep two separate apps that basically serve the same purpose).

Right now support for normal users is marked as a beta though, so it may be a while before Backup app would be replaced.

[AlbertMN]

I will look into it then. Can you confirm whether it's better than the trainwreck that is "Backup and sync"? That's some of the worst software I have ever experienced in my life.

[revanmj]

Well, I've only been using it for a few days.

On the good side, it works just as OneDrive (shows all files, but those not marked as offline are only downloaded on demand).

Main bad thing for me is that G: drive is mounted only once File Stream app is started (OneDrive offers files on demand functionality with "normal" folder, so there is no issue of its drive being mounted late), so this potentially may cause some issues with apps using files there which started before File Stream.

Haven't encountered any issues yet (beside ACC not working), but I've only set folders on G: for screenshots and ACC so far.

[AlbertMN]

Well, are you able to make it work with the manual setup? Going to the advanced settings, manually picking which folder it should look in?

[revanmj]

Maybe I did not describe it well initially, but that's what the issue is about :)

I set the path manually so it points at ACC folder at G: drive (which is set to be available offline), but ACC does not seem to notice txt file showing up here. I've waited with simulator window opened for about a minute since the file was downloaded, but ACC ignored it completely.

[AlbertMN]

Have you checked the log? Please send it here. My bad :)

[revanmj]

2020-11-30 06:39:34.2871|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|Listener modified
2020-11-30 06:39:34.2871|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|Check folder updated (G:\Mój dysk\AssistantComputerControl)
2020-11-30 06:39:38.8960|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|Listener modified
2020-11-30 06:39:38.8960|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|Check folder updated (G:\Mój dysk\AssistantComputerControl)
2020-11-30 06:39:49.7106|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|Processing file...
2020-11-30 06:39:49.7106|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|Failed to read file - trying again in 200ms... (trying max 20 times)
2020-11-30 06:39:49.9178|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:49.9808|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:50.0417|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:50.1050|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:50.1690|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:50.2310|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:50.2944|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:50.3581|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:50.4215|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File is in use, retrying
2020-11-30 06:39:50.4911|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|Processing file...
2020-11-30 06:39:50.4911|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File no longer exists when trying to read file.
2020-11-30 06:39:50.4911|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File doesn't exist (anymore).
2020-11-30 06:39:50.4911|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File doesn't exist (anymore).
2020-11-30 06:39:50.4911|DEBUG|AssistantComputerControl.MainProgram|File doesn't exist (anymore).

[revanmj]

Txt file still sits in this folder

[AlbertMN]

Hmh, yeah. ACC definitely picks it up, but it can't read the file as the software has the file "in use". Not much I can do there coding-wise sadly :/ If I can't read the file, ACC can't get the action and therefore can't function. If there's a way to solve that, that'd be nice. Have you tried opening ACC as administrator?

[revanmj]

Running as admin doesn't help, still the same log about file being in use shows up. But it's strange as I can open it in any text editor without any problems (even in UWP ones).

[AlbertMN]

ACC might also be able to open the file, but the check we perform before attempting to fails. I will look into it.

[galamarco]

I join the discussion because I have the same problem. Using Google Drive File Stream the text file is not read by ACC.

I tried to show the file extension. No good results. I tried to make the folder "available offline". No good results I tried to set a 10 second delay for reading the file (from when a new file is recognized to when it is downloaded and made available, a few seconds pass during which the file is not healthy). No good results. I tried to change the permissions of the folder from the windows properties (to make it readable by all). No good results.

What exactly is it that fails? Path-level file access or permissions to open?

Best regards

Marco

[galamarco]

I share with you Google's announcement to unify the two synchronization software in the course of 2021. https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2021/02/google-drive-for-desktop-sync-solutions-update.html

Being the administrator of several Google Workspace accounts, I was able to subscribe to the beta, if needed for some tests I remain available.

Greetings Marco

[AlbertMN]

@revanmj @galamarco I just installed the new Google Drive, set it to the "Stream files" option, and it works just fine for me? Is there something I'm missing?

The setup auto detect of the Google Drive folder doesn't work, but when inserting it manually it picks up the files.

[AlbertMN]

Can the people experiencing this please specify their exact case; where it goes wrong (is it just when trying to detect the folder), what Google Drive settings you're using (stream or mirror), and whether the ACC folder is set to "Available offline" or "Online only".

[AlbertMN]

Please check out this version, and check if that helps; https://github.com/AlbertMN/AssistantComputerControl/issues/115

[revanmj]

Well, I'm stuck with folder sync as streaming breaks symlinks for system folders (since G: becomes available only once the app starts, which is too late for symlinks) :/

[pausalpa]

I was able to make it work, Idk if this helps to someone haha Instead of setting the option as Stream Files, I put it under "Mirror Files", after that, I tried again, used the advanced settings to put manually the address of the folder, and only gave it a bit of more time, because seems to be that the delay is a little bit bigger, but I was successful! hahaha If it helps, let me share with you the log file Anyway, I love completely your work Albert, it has helped me a lot and I really appreciate it! Danke Schön! log.txt

[revanmj]

Mirror Files simply runs new client in "legacy mode" where it works just like the old one. That's why it works. Problem is with the streaming mode.