I can't open my file hosted on my Google Drive with this new desktop app update

[Arlet02]

I had always used the extension without having the desktop version of the Buttercup application installed.

For this new version it is already mandatory. I went to the website to download the application and the Windows link gave a 404 error, but in the end I managed to download it from the GitHub repository here.

After installing it, when I go to open my Vault, it doesn't let me enter the address where it is located in my Google Drive. I tried moving a copy of the file to the main location, but it doesn't recognize it either, what can I do?

Thank you very much, I hope you can help me.

[perry-mitchell]

Hello. Sorry to hear you're having troubles - there's actually a perfect storm of minor problems most likely affecting you here.

Firstly the requirement for the desktop application - it could have been explained better but yes, it's necessary for a number of reasons.

The 404 is unfortunately due to an unreleased desktop build that the website thinks is released. It's a website bug.

The empty Google drive contents is another issue as Google has forced us to reduce permission scope, and now we can only view vaults that were created by the desktop app, not uploaded or created by other apps. There will be a fix for this in the coming week I suspect, allowing you to upload your own vault.

Sorry you're seeing the worst of everything right now but there's been a lot of activity recently.

[Arlet02]

Hello. Sorry to hear you're having troubles - there's actually a perfect storm of minor problems most likely affecting you here.

Firstly the requirement for the desktop application - it could have been explained better but yes, it's necessary for a number of reasons.

The 404 is unfortunately due to an unreleased desktop build that the website thinks is released. It's a website bug.

The empty Google drive contents is another issue as Google has forced us to reduce permission scope, and now we can only view vaults that were created by the desktop app, not uploaded or created by other apps. There will be a fix for this in the coming week I suspect, allowing you to upload your own vault.

Sorry you're seeing the worst of everything right now but there's been a lot of activity recently.

Thank you very much for answering. In order to open the file I had to download it and open it locally, something that is more inconvenient and less secure (in my opinion).

Even doing this, I'm having trouble linking the Chrome extension to the desktop app. I think I'll look for and install the older versions.

I use the mobile app too, I had everything synced with Google Drive and it worked perfectly.
I'll try to install older versions to get everything working in sync again.

I hope they resolve the problems soon, since they have made a magnificent application that worked very well and has been very useful.

Again, thank you very much for responding, I really appreciate you taking the time to do so.

[perry-mitchell]

I can certainly see that being a pain, especially considering Google drive was your whole workflow.

I'll do my best to get it fixed soon.

[manzing]

Hello @perry-mitchell

I have the exact same issue, no files showing in Google drive, really annoying as by now there is no way to use the browser extension to load bcup file without desktop app.
It is possible to create a new archive on Google drive using app (so there really is an access) but it won't show in other browsers / devices.
I tried several desktop app versions without luck, same issue.
I tried also to revoke Google permissions and allow access to all files by unchecking the setting when connecting again, still no files showing.

I hope you will be able to fix it soon, and thank you for your hard work anyway.

[dougmuller]

Thank you @perry-mitchell appreciate the extra communication #appreciated!

[perry-mitchell]

The trick is that for this to work properly, we need to do one of two things:

1. Create an upload button on the file browser to upload your own vault.
2. Integrate the official Google picker to allow you to pick files that are IN Google drive but not visible to the app, potentially.

2 is the better fix, but it's a huge amount of work I don't have time for. I'm hoping someone would contribute this.

1 is OK but it's half-baked and if someone already has their vault in Google drive it's not so useful.

Honestly at this stage I'm not sure how to continue here. It's too much for just me to do as I have a megaton of things to get done and don't have the bandwidth to attempt them all. I'm afraid these Google drive items are too much as I have to devote a large amount of time to the mobile app next.

Let's see though. Honestly Google has been at the heart of 90% of our issues recently (chrome manifest requirement for extensions, Google drive permissions reduction, Google auth API changes..) and I'm quite over it. It's not helping Buttercup progress. I'm not meaning that we're considering not supporting Google integrations but it's a headache when they change their requirements every year. /rant

Let's see what happens.

[manzing]

@perry-mitchell I hope someone will be able help to implement official Google picker. I would like to be capable of but I am not.

For now, I made a script using Rclone to mount my Google drive and use it in Buttercup as a local file so my vault is synced.
It works fine, despite a complex procedure considering we could open directly the files from the browser extension a few days ago.

[Oxalin]

Even doing this, I'm having trouble linking the Chrome extension to the desktop app. I think I'll look for and install the older versions.

@Arlet02 What trouble did you have? I've encountered a few (to be documented somewhere), maybe I can help you with whatever you are having.

[zhunter]

As a temporary work-around, I've exported my passwords to Buttercup CSV, created a new password file on google drive with the same name as my original Buttercup file, and imported the passwords from CSV. All of my existing computers & phone continue to work without issue using the new file with same name, and my new PC where I just installed the new version of Buttercup is also working since it created the file on Google Drive. Thanks for the great work, love Buttercup!