"Error downloading PDF" even though the file exists and security settings are disabled

AppSheet AppSheet Q&A
1

I am trying to open a PDF file stored in Google Drive using an Action button (Type: “External: open a file”). However, I keep getting an “Error downloading PDF” or “File not found” error.

My Environment:

  • App Folder: /appsheet/data/Kstairway_Product_Master-379535737

  • File Path in Drive: .../Labels/Label_OF-4-GD-FA1C0.pdf (The ‘Labels’ folder is inside the App Folder).

  • Action Formula: CONCATENATE("Labels/Label_", [SKU], ".pdf")

  • SKU Value: OF-4-GD-FA1C0 (Verified no trailing spaces using TRIM).

Security Settings (Already Checked):

  • Require Image and File URL Signing: OFF

  • Secure PDF access: OFF

  • Access mode: As app creator

What I’ve Tried:

  1. Verified the file exists in the exact path in Google Drive.

  2. Tried different formula variations: "Labels/...", "./Labels/...", and absolute paths.

  3. Checked the Error Log: It says Searching for 'Labels', File entry not found.

  4. Created a new row to test if it’s a sync issue, but the same error persists.

Question: Even though the folder ‘Labels’ is clearly visible in my Google Drive under the a

KakaoTalk_20260510_141611701
KakaoTalk_20260510_1416117011080×2340 122 KB

pp’s root folder, AppSheet keeps reporting that it cannot find the ‘Labels’ entry. Is there a specific way to reference subfolders for files that are NOT in the default [Table]_Files folder?

2

Please try below.
Assuming your column type is file which accesses this action, please have the following expression in the image /folder path setting of the file column n(highlighted in red in the screenshot below)

image
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Simply enter “Labels/” in that setting.

In the action setting, simply have the expression of [File_Column_Name] where [File_Column_Name] is the name of the file column in the table. You need not have the entire following expression that you have mentioned

3

Hi @Danny_Yoon

Please try it on your action formula :

Concatenate(“/appsheet/data/Kstairway_Product_Master-379535737/Labels/Label_”, [SKU], “.pdf”)