1

I noticed that in my Google Drive, some Markdown files are marked with a blue icon and are indexed:

MD files in Google Drive

Those with the icon of StackEdit (which is no longer even integrated into my Drive) are not indexed and don't even have the option Open With > Google Docs when I right-click them.

What's different about the files? And how do I "fix" all of them to be blue? Missing indexing on most of my text content is a bit of a pain.

4
  • Are the non-indexed files really Markdown files?
    – freginold
    Feb 18, 2018 at 23:44
  • 1
    Yep, all are normal Markdown files that I edit using caret.io editor on my desktop. Feb 18, 2018 at 23:46
  • 1
    I've got a very strange observation. All files uploaded by the desktop GDrive app are marked as the StackEdit ones (non-indexed) but when I open the document on my mobile using iA Writer, edit and save, it will be that blue icon. Maybe iA writer somehow set the MD as a text document while GDrive desktop client doesn't? Why would be Google doing that.. Feb 18, 2018 at 23:51
  • Sounds like it's an issue with how different programs save their files. I just made a test Markdown file in Windows Notepad and uploaded it to Drive, and it shows it as a non-indexed (non-blue icon) file that can't be natively opened.
    – freginold
    Feb 18, 2018 at 23:57

1 Answer 1

3

If you look at the file details for the blue-icon Markdown files and the non-blue-icon files, they probably have different file types. Below are two .md files; the first was saved in Windows Notepad and uploaded, and the second was created in Google Docs.


enter image description here


enter image description here


It seems like different programs save Markdown files different ways. It may just vary depending on the program.

2
  • Actually, your other file is not a Markdown file: it is a Google Docs document that you named "DriveTest.md", but it will not be downloaded to the desktop as a MD file. In my case, both non-blue and blue are "Text". Feb 19, 2018 at 9:49
  • 1
    BTW, found this thread: GDrive used to store Markdown files as "Binary". It no longer does that but the indexing is still broken. productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/drive/… Feb 19, 2018 at 9:49

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.