Spaceman Cloud with Local Access Control — Google Drive Setup Guide

Do I need this?

Your Spaceman software runs in the cloud, but your access control system — the hardware and software that controls entry to your units — runs on a computer at your site. These two systems need to share a file so that your access control system knows who is allowed in.

We use Google Drive (or OneDrive / SharePoint) to bridge the gap. Here is how it works:

1. On a regular schedule, your Spaceman Cloud system generates an access control file.
2. It uploads that file to a folder in your Google Drive.
3. The Google Drive app on your local server automatically downloads it to your PC.
4. Your access control system reads the file as it normally would — nothing changes on that side.

Once set up, this all happens automatically in the background. No manual steps are needed day to day.

Before you begin

You will need:

• A Google account (personal Gmail or Google Workspace/business account)
• Access to the PC or server where your access control system runs
• An internet connection on that PC or server

Step 1 — Install Google Drive on your local server

Google Drive for Desktop is the application that keeps a folder on your PC in sync with your Google Drive. You will need this installed on the PC or server that runs your access control system.

1. On the PC or server, go to google.com/drive/download and download Google Drive for Desktop.
2. Install and open it, then sign in with your Google account.
3. After signing in, Google Drive will create a synced folder on your PC. It is usually shown as a lettered drive (e.g. G:\) or as a folder called Google Drive in File Explorer.

Step 2 — Create a folder in Google Drive

Create a dedicated folder where the access control files will be stored. This keeps things tidy and makes it easier to point your access control system at the right location.

1. Open drive.google.com in a web browser and sign in with your Google account.
2. Click + New then New folder.
3. Give it a clear name, such as Access Control or your site name.
4. Open the folder you just created.
5. Look at the address bar in your browser. The URL will look something like:
   https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ABCdefGHIjkLMNOpqRSTuVWxYZ
   The bold part at the end is your Folder ID. Copy and keep this — you will need to send it to us.

Step 3 — Set up Google credentials

This step creates a secure connection that allows our system to upload files to your Google Drive folder without needing to log in each time. It involves setting up a small project in the Google Cloud Console.

Create a Google Cloud project

1. Go to console.cloud.google.com and sign in with the same Google account you used for Drive.
2. At the top of the page, click the project selector (it may say Select a project or show an existing project name).
3. Click New Project.
4. Give it a name such as Spaceman Access Control and click Create.
5. Make sure the new project is selected at the top of the page.

Enable the Google Drive API

1. In the search bar at the top, type Google Drive API and click on it in the results.
2. Click Enable.

Set up the consent screen (one-time)

1. In the left-hand menu, go to APIs & Services > OAuth consent screen.
2. Select External and click Create.
3. Fill in the App name (e.g. Spaceman Access Control) and your email address in both the support email and developer contact fields.
4. Click Save and Continue on each of the remaining pages (you do not need to add any scopes).
5. On the last page, click Back to Dashboard.
6. Scroll down to the Test users section. Click + Add users and enter the email address of your Google account. Click Save.

Create OAuth credentials

1. In the left-hand menu, go to APIs & Services > Credentials.
2. Click + Create Credentials then OAuth client ID.
3. For Application type, choose Desktop app.
4. Give it a name (e.g. Spaceman Access Control) and click Create.
5. A box will appear showing your credentials. Copy both values:
   • Client ID
   • Client Secret
6. Click OK.

Step 4 — Send us your details

Please send us the following information. Contact us via your usual support channel. Please send these details securely. (We have had people use https://onetimesecret.com/en/)

Step 5 — Point your access control system at the synced folder

Once Google Drive for Desktop is running on your local server, access files will appear inside a synced folder on that PC. You will need to tell your access control system (e.g. PTI) where to look for the file.

The folder is usually found at a path like:

• G:\My Drive\[Your Folder Name]\ — if Google Drive is shown as a drive letter
• C:\Users\[username]\Google Drive\My Drive\[Your Folder Name]\ — if it is in your user folder

If you are unsure how to change the file path in your access control software, please contact your access control system supplier for guidance.

Step 6 — One-time authorisation

When we first configure the connection between Spaceman and your Google Drive, we will need to complete a one-time authorisation step. This involves signing in with your Google account to grant permission for the upload.

We will contact you to arrange this — it only takes a few minutes. You will need to:

1. Open a link we provide in your web browser.
2. Sign in with your Google account and click Allow.
3. Your browser will show a "This site can't be reached" page — this is normal. Copy the full web address from your browser's address bar and send it to us (or read it out during a call).

This authorisation only needs to be done once. After that, everything runs automatically and no further sign-ins are required.

What happens after setup?

Spaceman Cloud — Local Access Control via Google Drive • Last updated March 2026