Template-Based Google Drive Folder Generation with Forms and Apps Script

Overview Stop manually creating folder structures for every new client or project. This workflow provides a simple form where users enter a name, and automatically duplicates your template folder structure in Google Drive—replacing all placeholders with the submitted name.

What This Workflow Does Displays a form where users enter a name (client, project, event, etc.) Creates a new main folder in Google Drive Calls Google Apps Script to duplicate your entire template structure Replaces all {{NAME}} placeholders in files and folder names

Key Features Simple form interface** — No technical knowledge required to use Recursive duplication** — Copies all subfolders and files Smart placeholders** — Automatically replaces {{NAME}} everywhere Production-ready** — Works immediately after setup

Prerequisites Google Drive account with OAuth2 credentials in n8n Google Apps Script deployment (code below) Template folder in Drive using {{NAME}} as placeholder

Setup

Step 1: Create your template folder 📁 {{NAME}} - Project Files ├── 📁 01. {{NAME}} - Documents ├── 📁 02. {{NAME}} - Assets ├── 📁 03. Deliverables └── 📄 {{NAME}} - Brief.gdoc

Step 2: Deploy Apps Script Go to script.google.com Create new project → Paste code below Deploy → New deployment → Web app Execute as: Me | Access: Anyone Copy the deployment URL

Step 3: Configure workflow Replace these placeholders: DESTINATION_PARENT_FOLDER_ID — Where new folders are created YOUR_APPS_SCRIPT_URL — URL from Step 2 YOUR_TEMPLATE_FOLDER_ID — Folder to duplicate

Step 4: Test Activate workflow → Open form URL → Submit a name → Check Drive!

Apps Script Code

function doPost(e) { try { var params = e.parameter; var templateFolderId = params.templateFolderId; var name = params.name; var destinationFolderId = params.destinationFolderId;

if (!templateFolderId || !name) {
  return jsonResponse({
    success: false,
    error: 'Missing required parameters: templateFolderId and name are required'
  });
}

var templateFolder = DriveApp.getFolderById(templateFolderId);

if (destinationFolderId) {
  var destinationFolder = DriveApp.getFolderById(destinationFolderId);
  copyContentsRecursively(templateFolder, destinationFolder, name);
  
  return jsonResponse({
    success: true,
    id: destinationFolder.getId(),
    url: destinationFolder.getUrl(),
    name: destinationFolder.getName(),
    mode: 'copied_to_existing',
    timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
  });
} else {
  var parentFolder = templateFolder.getParents().next();
  var newFolderName = replacePlaceholders(templateFolder.getName(), name);
  var newFolder = parentFolder.createFolder(newFolderName);
  copyContentsRecursively(templateFolder, newFolder, name);
  
  return jsonResponse({
    success: true,
    id: newFolder.getId(),
    url: newFolder.getUrl(),
    name: newFolder.getName(),
    mode: 'created_new',
    timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
  });
}

} catch (error) { return jsonResponse({ success: false, error: error.toString() }); } }

function replacePlaceholders(text, name) { var result = text; result = result.replace(/{{NAME}}/g, name); result = result.replace(/{{name}}/g, name.toLowerCase()); result = result.replace(/{{Name}}/g, name); return result; }

function copyContentsRecursively(sourceFolder, destinationFolder, name) { var files = sourceFolder.getFiles(); while (files.hasNext()) { try { var file = files.next(); var newFileName = replacePlaceholders(file.getName(), name); file.makeCopy(newFileName, destinationFolder); Utilities.sleep(150); } catch (error) { Logger.log('Error copying file: ' + error.toString()); } }

var subfolders = sourceFolder.getFolders(); while (subfolders.hasNext()) { try { var subfolder = subfolders.next(); var newSubfolderName = replacePlaceholders(subfolder.getName(), name); var newSubfolder = destinationFolder.createFolder(newSubfolderName); Utilities.sleep(200); copyContentsRecursively(subfolder, newSubfolder, name); } catch (error) { Logger.log('Error copying subfolder: ' + error.toString()); } } }

function jsonResponse(data) { return ContentService .createTextOutput(JSON.stringify(data)) .setMimeType(ContentService.MimeType.JSON); }

Use Cases Agencies** — Client folder structure on new signup Freelancers** — Project folders from intake form HR Teams** — Employee onboarding folders Schools** — Student portfolio folders Event Planners** — Event documentation folders

Notes Apps Script may take +60 seconds for large structures Timeout is set to 5 minutes for complex templates Your Google account needs edit access to template and destination folders