How can I share files in my app's private data directory?

Michael_Wood · October 22, 2020, 10:37am

If I save a filename without a slash (file1) what should the file path be when using ShareFile? Delete and ReadFrom both work fine with just the file name, but not ShareFile.

The ExternalStorage block below works fine, but what should X be in the PrivateAppStorage block? I've tried everything I can think of but without success. (I am using Moto G5 with Android 8.1.0 and a Samsung A50 with Android 10 and legacy mode switched on.)

I first had this problem a year ago, but gave up trying to make ShareFile work because it was easy to use other apps like Google Drive to share files. Now when Android 10 and 11 kick in this won't work, so the problem is now more urgent (http://appinventor.mit.edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/blogs/evan/2020/08/08/file-path-updates-android-10).

I have a couple of very useful apps which depend on saving and sharing files and am getting very frustrated. Please help!

Many thanks ... Michael

Taifun · October 22, 2020, 4:17pm

you might want to experiment using this extension

also @Anke already did a lot of experiments, you can find them here Search results for '@Anke ASD' - MIT App Inventor Community and here Search results for '@Anke private ' - MIT App Inventor Community

Taifun

Trying to push the limits! Snippets, Tutorials and Extensions from Pura Vida Apps by Taifun.

Michael_Wood · October 23, 2020, 4:18pm

Hi

Many thanks for your help. I'll look at the detailed links later, but I can't get your suggested path to work on either phone (Android 8.10 and 10). I've tried substituting the following for X in the second block above:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/FE/files/file1
and
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/FE/file1
(The AppName on the Designer screen is FE so the apk file is FE.apk. In each case I get a file not found error.)

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Michael

Michael_Wood · October 23, 2020, 4:32pm

.... the two paths above should end with .txt for consistency with the saved file of course

Michael_Wood · October 31, 2020, 2:41pm

I've now downloaded Anke's extension to get the ASD for my app (called FE2). This is /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/appinventor.ai_mickofemsworth.FE2/files . I then tried the path /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/appinventor.ai_mickofemsworth.FE2/files/filename in the Sharefile block to share a file I saved as filename. Unfortunately I got the same file not found error. I also tried saving the file using the long path which resulted in a file could not be created error. I'm probably doing something stupid but I haven't a clue what. Any suggestions??

Many thanks.

Anke · October 31, 2020, 3:32pm

Post your (relevant) blocks.

patel · October 31, 2020, 5:46pm

try this path
file:///emulated/0/Android/data/appinventor.ai_mickofemsworth.FE2/files/filename

Michael_Wood · October 31, 2020, 10:38pm

The Save block works (I can read the file) but the Sharefile block produces a file not found error.

Michael_Wood · October 31, 2020, 10:39pm

Thanks but I'm afraid it doesn't work - another file not found error.

Taifun · October 31, 2020, 11:55pm

you are storing the file to the private app directory but you are trying to share it from the application specific directory, which is different
you might want to save the file to the ASD, you can use a method rom @Anke's extension for this...

Taifun

Trying to push the limits! Snippets, Tutorials and Extensions from Pura Vida Apps by Taifun.

Taifun · November 1, 2020, 12:47am

see also

Taifun

Anke · November 1, 2020, 6:38am

Yes,

The Sharing component cannot share a file from the Private dir.
You try to share it from the ASD as @Taifun said. So do what Taifun suggest:

Anke · November 1, 2020, 7:58am

There is a bug with the Sharing component. → @ewpatton
It needs the absolute path, but the File.AfterFileSaved event returns the relative path.

Therefore try this:

patel · November 2, 2020, 9:52am

this code runs well on android 10! Legacy mode to be unchecked

Anke · November 2, 2020, 10:55am

Yes, but not on devices with Android < 10, as I have shown.
So keep using my blocks until the bug is fixed.

patel · November 2, 2020, 11:41am

why using these blocks I can not share the file ?

Anke · November 2, 2020, 11:57am

How about taking a close look at my blocks?

Michael_Wood · November 2, 2020, 5:16pm

Thanks for this Taifun. I have tried saving the file to the path given by Anke's ASD extension but this doesn't work. You say I can use a method from @Anke's extension for this, but I can't find it - please can you tell me where it is?

Anke · November 2, 2020, 5:19pm

What does not work?
Show your blocks.

patel · November 3, 2020, 11:02am

The blocks was correct, but file1 was in legacy mode, when unchecked no problem to find file for sharing