Skip to main content
Question

Searching with API with multiple Ancestor_Folder_IDs

  • May 22, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 48 views
C
Forum|alt.badge.img

I'm using python and the Box API to search and am trying to include 2 folders in my 'ancestor_folder_ids' parameter. The documentation implies you can enter multiple IDs, but none of my testing has shown this to work.  The search result only includes the last folder in the ancestor_folder_ids = [oppty_folder_id,account_folder_id] list.  I've swapped the folders in the =[....] list and it always returns only the last one listed.  

 

How do I get the search to include both folders?  Is my syntax below incorrect?

 

oppty_folder_id = "5***phone number removed for privacy***"
account_folder_id = "6***phone number removed for privacy***"
items = client.search().query(query='test',
                              limit=1000,
                              ancestor_folder_ids=[oppty_folder_id,account_folder_id],
                              file_extensions=['pdf'],
                              type=['file'],
                              fields=['id','type','modified_at','name','parent','path_collection']
                              )

 

    2 replies

    C
    Forum|alt.badge.img

    Hi ,

     

    I took a look at the query method for the Python SDK and it looks like they're using "ancestor_folders" instead of "ancestor_folder_ids" as a param, then joining whatever is passed there into the API call using ancestor_folder_ids.

     

    Can you try swapping ancestor_folder_ids for ancestor_folders and see if that helps?

     

    - Jon

    C
    Forum|alt.badge.img

    I tried changing the search parameter from "ancestor_folder_ids" to "ancestor_folders" and had no luck. The BoxSDK generated an error on line 276 of the search.py when trying to obtain the object_id of the folder that was passed (see screenshot). I tried passing one folder and then again with 2 folders; same result.

    See the source code below showing the call to the search API that is generating the error. I get the same error if I change the search API call with 2 folders "ancestor_folders=[account_folder_id,oppty_folder_id]" to call only 1 folder - "ancestor_folders=[account_folder_id]".

     

     

    oppty_folder_id     = "21075437786"
account_folder_id   = "7***phone number removed for privacy***"
def process_files(search_folder):
    if search_folder == "account":
        this_folder = account_folder_id
    else:
        this_folder = oppty_folder_id

    box_items = client.search().query(query='coi',
                                      limit=1000,
                                      ancestor_folders=[account_folder_id,oppty_folder_id],
                                      file_extensions=['pdf'],
                                      type=['file'],
                                      fields=['id', 'type', 'modified_at', 'name', 'parent', 'path_collection']
                                      )
									  
									  
									  ......

     

     

    See the screenshots below for the error message generated, and the debug listing showing the variable values when 1 or 2 folders are passed to the API.

    BOX_llaigvd7xpyoojuerrd98yn4gpqt4lm5.pngBOX_argkg4qktzsr6g3gwnhj6nuh7f4ulolc.pngBOX_dnv6qs9huxgn78rwx9u8rnr027eazjvy.pngBOX_j4rcyt04fiadxhhrm55na72pdw4uprdw.png

    You really should update the Box API search documentation to state that the correct parameter is "ancestor_folders" and not "account_folder_ids". In debugging the API calls, when the search parameter is "ancestor_folder_ids=[xxxxx]", the SDK determines that the parameter is empty because nothing is passed with "ancestor_folders".

    Terms of ServiceAccessibility statement