Develop Reference

Upgrade from Xamarin Forms 4.8x to 5.0x throws Android Exception

I upgraded an existing Xamarin Forms 4.8x to XF 5.0x and it is throwing an exception on loading the app in the emulator:
Java.Lang.RuntimeException: Unable to get provider android.support.v4.content.FileProvider: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: Didn't find class "android.support.v4.content.FileProvider" on path:
I truncated after emulator: as the rest seemed quite specific to my app.
I am stuck - any help is appreciated!

If you receive the following error, it is because you are using AndroidX. To resolve this error, follow the instructions).
Remove the previous <provider android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"> tag
(AndroidX) Add the following to your AndroidManifest.xml inside the <application> tags:
<provider android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="${applicationId}.fileprovider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/file_paths"></meta-data>
</provider>
Add a new folder called xml into your Resources folder and add a new XML file called file_paths.xml. Make sure that this XML file has a Build Action of: AndroidResource.
Add the following code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<external-files-path name="my_images" path="Pictures" />
<external-files-path name="my_movies" path="Movies" />
</paths>

How to add fileprovider xml file in Xamarin (Android)

I am trying to add the xml folder and an xml file named file_path.xml to implement the Fileprovider (android). However, when I add the following (Resources/xml/file_path.xml) content the application does not start anymore.
<paths>
<files-path name="files" path="."/>
</paths>
I get a null pointer exception as it cant read these resource. It doesnt matter whether I add the provider tag in manifest or not. I am very new in Xamarin.

Go to the properties of this file, select Build Action "AndroidResource".
In android manifest, inside the tag application, do this:
<provider
android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="${applicationId}.provider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/file_paths"/>
</provider>
https://developer.android.com/reference/android/support/v4/content/FileProvider

Incorrect FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS

For some reason my update script doesn't work anymore. It basically downloads an .APK file, compares the version with the installed version and when newer -> updates the old app with the new one.
However, since today the FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS doesn't seem to work anymore.
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Failed to find configured root that contains /storage/emulated/0/Hanenberg/latest-version.apk
So my question: what do I need to add to my filepaths.xml to make this work again? I always use the Hanenberg folder inside the root on emulator/real device.
filepaths.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<paths>
<files-path path="/" name="external_storage_root" />
<files-path path="/storage/emulated" name="emulated" />
</paths>
AndroidManifest.xml:
<provider
android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="${applicationId}.myfileprovider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/filepaths"/>
</provider>

Try this
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
<external-path
name="external_files"
path="." />
</paths>

Android Studio, Element path must be declared for FileProvider

I rerally didn't want to ask this question, but I couldn't find any solutions.
In my manifest I have declared FileProvider:
<provider android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="com.example.provider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/provider_paths"/>
</provider>
It requires #xml/provider_paths to work. In my resources folder I have created provider_paths.xml file and copy-pasted this code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
<external-path name="files" path="."/>
</paths>
However Android Studio IDE throws me that kind of error:
Element paths must be declared
My screenshot:

Move the provider_path.xml from values directory to
res/xml/provider_paths.xml
To specify the directories, start by creating the file filepaths.xml in the res/xml/ subdirectory of your project. In this file, specify the directories by adding an XML element for each directory.
Refer Specify Sharable Directories

FileProvider error

https://developer.android.com/training/camera/photobasics.html
All I am trying to do is take a picture with the Camera, save it and display it in an ImageView.
I followed the android tutorial above and keep getting an error (a NullPointerException) on the line:
Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, "com.example.android.fileprovider", photoFile);
I know I need to configure the FileProvider in my app's manifest and the "authorities" has to match. I don't quite understand what I should be putting in the authorities arguments. I copied all of the code from the tutorial including the file res/xml/file_paths.xml. Ask any questions if necessary.
Thanks!

I finally got it to work!
Remember to put the provider tag INSIDE the application tag in the manifest file - that was my mistake (my provider tag was OUTSIDE of the application tag), and the reason you get this error, which basically says it cannot find the definition of the Provider.
Also make sure you have the correct paths in the .xml file. Here is my version:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<external-path
name="my_images"
path="Android/data/org.projects.cameraapp/files/Pictures" />
</paths>
Of course you have to change the path for your own application.
My actual Provider then looks like this:
<provider
android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="org.projects.cameraapp.fileprovider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/filepaths" />
</provider>
Again, you'll need to change the authorities value in your own application.
You can see all the source at the GitHub repository from my original question.

If someone is having hard time as me with support.v4.content.FileProvider you can replace it with this.
<provider
android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="com.camera.app.fileprovider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/file_paths">
</meta-data>
</provider>

I also forgot to put <provider> within <application>; I mistakenly put them on the same level which I have since fixed.
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="zm.mytestapplication">
<application
...
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">
<provider
android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="zm.mytestapplication.fileprovider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/file_paths"></meta-data>
</provider>
</application>
</manifest>
file_paths.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<external-path name="my_images" path="Pictures/zm/" />
</paths>