GOX File – What is .gox file and how to open it?

GOX File Format

A GOX file is a data export format created by Google specifically for exporting data from Google Drive. It is a ZIP-compressed archive that contains a collection of JSON files, each representing a different type of data exported from Google Drive, such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and images. The JSON files within the GOX archive are organized into a hierarchical structure that mirrors the organization of the data in Google Drive.

Use of GOX Files

GOX files are primarily intended for use by administrators and developers who need to export data from Google Drive for archiving, backup, or data analysis purposes. By providing a structured and easily accessible format for exported data, GOX files facilitate the transfer and processing of large amounts of data. The JSON format used in GOX files allows for efficient parsing and processing of the exported data using standard tools and programming languages. Additionally, the ZIP compression applied to the GOX archive helps reduce the file size, making it more convenient for storage and sharing.

Method 1: Using Google Drive

Google Drive seamlessly integrates with your Google account, enabling you to access and manage GOX files. To open a GOX file via Google Drive:

1. Sign in to Google Drive: Access drive.google.com and enter your Google account credentials to sign in.
2. Locate the GOX file: Navigate to the folder where the GOX file is located.
3. Double-click the file: Click on the GOX file icon to open it within Google Drive’s native viewer. Alternatively, right-click on the file and select “Open” from the context menu.

Google Drive’s viewer provides basic editing capabilities, allowing you to make changes and save them back to the original GOX file. However, for more advanced editing, it’s recommended to use a dedicated spreadsheet editor.

Method 2: Using Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is a popular spreadsheet editor that supports opening and editing GOX files. To use Excel to open a GOX file:

1. Install Microsoft Excel: Ensure that you have a compatible version of Microsoft Excel installed on your system.
2. Open Excel and navigate to the file: Launch Microsoft Excel and click on “File” > “Open”. Browse to the folder where the GOX file is located and select it.
3. Enable file type conversion: When prompting “File Format Conversion”, select “Comma Separated Values (CSV)” and click “OK”. This will convert the GOX file into a CSV format that Excel can read.
4. Edit and save the spreadsheet: Once converted, the GOX data will be displayed as a spreadsheet in Excel. You can now edit and manage the data as needed. When finished, save the spreadsheet in your desired format (e.g., GOX, CSV, XLSX).

GOX File Structure

A GOX file is a JSON-encoded file that contains data exported from a Google product. The structure of a GOX file consists of three main sections: metadata, tables, and relationships. The metadata section provides information about the exported data, such as the name and description of the data, the date and time of the export, and the version of the GOX file format. The tables section contains the actual data, organized into one or more tables. Each table has a name, a set of columns, and a set of rows. The relationships section defines the relationships between the tables in the file, allowing for complex data structures to be represented.

Applications of GOX Files

GOX files are primarily used for data exchange and migration between different Google products. They provide a standardized format for exporting and importing data, ensuring compatibility and integrity across multiple platforms. For instance, GOX files can be used to export data from Google Analytics and import it into Google Data Studio for visualization and analysis. They can also be used to migrate data between different Google Workspace accounts or to backup and restore data within a single account.

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