API call to drive.files.list failed with error: Invalid query

[Faustino Rodriguez]

The following code returns "Invalid query" error if the file name contains double-quotes (")

It would probably fail as well for other 'special' characters, but I am only aware of the " so far

Question: How to avoid this error and find the file(s) with that name?

function getFilesByName(fileName, folderId) {
  var query = Utilities.formatString('"%s" in parents and trashed = false and mimeType != "application/vnd.google-apps.folder" and title = "%s"', folderId, fileName);
  var files, pageToken, items = [];
 
  do {
    files = Drive.Files.list({
      q: query,
      maxResults: 100,
      pageToken: pageToken
    });
   
    if (files.items && files.items.length > 0) items = items.concat(files.items);
    pageToken = files.nextPageToken;
  } while (pageToken);
 
  return items;
}

var files = getFilesByName('a filename with "quotes" within?', 'root');

Thanks, Fausto

[Eric Koleda]

Since a double quote is a special character in the query syntax, you just need to escape it with a backslash first:

filename.replace(/"/g, '\\"')

- Eric

[Faustino Rodriguez]

you are a genius @Eric !! 

- I was intending something 'like' that, but using only one \ 

I am really glad to have you around on this group

thanks again