# Users - Drive - Orphans - [API documentation](#api-documentation) - [Definitions](#definitions) - [Collect orphaned files](#collect-orphaned-files) ## API documentation * https://developers.google.com/drive/v3/reference/files ## Definitions * [``](Drive-File-Selection) * [``](Collections-of-Users) ``` ::= (.)+ ::= @ ::= id: ::= || ::= ::= createddate|createdtime| folder| modifiedbyme|modifiedbymedate|modifiedbymetime|modifiedbyuser| modifieddate|modifiedtime| name| name_natural| quotabytesused|quotaused| recency| sharedwithmedate|sharedwithmetime| starred| title| title_natural| viewedbymedate|viewedbymetime ``` ## Collect orphaned files Collect a users orphaned Drive files/folders into a target folder; only orphaned files not in the trash are processed. ``` gam collect orphans [(targetuserfoldername )|(targetuserfolderid )] [useshortcuts []] (orderby [ascending|descending])* [preview [todrive *]] ``` * `targetuserfoldername ` - This is the parent folder name for the orphaned files; the default is "#user# orphaned files". In this string, #user# and #email# will be replaced by the source user email address, #username# will be replaced by the source user mail address without the domain. This folder will be created is necessary. * `targetuserfolderid ` - This is the parent folder ID for the orphaned files; it must exist. * `useshortcuts false` - Add the target user folder as the parent of an orphan if it can be done; otherwise, put a shortcut to the orphan into the target user folder. This is the default behavior. Changing the parent may affect the orphan's access by other users. * `useshortcuts` or `useshortcuts true` - Put a shortcut to the orphan into the target user folder and do not modify the orphan's parents. GAM will not duplicate an existing shortcut. * `orderby [ascending|descending])*` - Specify the order in which files are processed. * `preview` - If `preview` is specified, no files are collected; a CSV file listing the files to be collected is output. * `todrive *` - When `preview` is specified, the CSV file can be uploaded to Google ### Example Collect a users orphaned files into the folder "Orphans - testuser@domain.com" on their `My Drive`; change orphan parents if possible without affecting access by other users; otherwise, use a shortcut. ``` gam user testuser@domain.com collect orphans targetuserfoldername "Orphans - #user#" ``` Collect a users orphaned files into the folder "Orphans - testuser@domain.com" on their `My Drive`; use shortcuts for all orphans rather than changing any orphan's parents. ``` gam user testuser@domain.com collect orphans targetuserfoldername "Orphans - #user#" useshortcuts ```