Develop Reference

Open APK to update app with Download Manager + FileProvider

We have an enterprise app (not play store) that installs via APK that we distribute. In that app is an auto-update procedure that worked fine until SDK 29. I've been trying to update our code to use the new methodologies for downloading and starting a new intent with the downloaded APK, but its been a frustrating whack-a-mole experience.
My current state is that I CAN download the file and can see that it exists, but if I try to start an intent with it, I get the error about the file not being accessible because its an external file. A lot of googling later, I needed to implement file provider, which I've done, but the paths don't match between where the file is downloaded and what I'm passing to the intent.
Basically, I'm really confused about FileProvider and how I'm supposed to use it to get to the downloaded file path and let Android open the APK to install. Prompting the user to install is fine, that's how its always worked for us, and we're not trying to do a "silent" install. I just want it to work.
Pared down relevant code:
private void downloadUpdate(Uri uri) {
final String filename = File.separator + uri.getLastPathSegment();
DownloadManager downloadmanager = (DownloadManager) parent.getSystemService(Context.DOWNLOAD_SERVICE);
DownloadManager.Request request = new DownloadManager.Request(uri);
request.setDescription("Downloading");
request.setNotificationVisibility(DownloadManager.Request.VISIBILITY_VISIBLE_NOTIFY_COMPLETED);
request.setDestinationInExternalFilesDir(getContext(), Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS, filename);
try {
onDownloadComplete = new BroadcastReceiver() {
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
long id = intent.getLongExtra(DownloadManager.EXTRA_DOWNLOAD_ID, -1);
if (downloadId == id) {
Toast.makeText(parent, "Download Completed", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
try {
Intent installIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
String filepath = getContext().getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS) + filename;
File update = new File(filepath);
Uri updateUri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, context.getApplicationContext().getPackageName() + ".fileprovider", update);
installIntent.setDataAndType(updateUri, "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
installIntent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
installIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
startActivity(installIntent);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
};
parent.registerReceiver(onDownloadComplete,new IntentFilter(DownloadManager.ACTION_DOWNLOAD_COMPLETE));
downloadId = downloadmanager.enqueue(request);
} catch (Exception ex) {
Log.e("UpdateDownload", "Update Error: " + ex.getMessage());
new ErrorLog(new Date(), "Error downloading update: " + ex.getMessage());
}
}
My provider definition in the manifest:
<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/filepaths" />
</provider>
And my filepaths xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
<external-files-path name="pictures" path="Pictures" />
<external-files-path name="Download" path="Download/" />
</paths>
Everything downloads fine, and I get all the way to the startActivity line, but then I get an error where android can't parse the package - because its not actually looking at the right file path. In debug mode if I do update.exists(), I get a true, so the file IS being downloaded, but the update filepath does not equal what is found for updateUri.
How do I get fileprovider to provide the proper filepath to the intent? I assume my XML is configured wrong, but I don't understand what exactly the FileProvider is doing here.

Captured Image is not storing in android 11

I'm unable to store captured image in (getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES)) Android 11 device.
I have added
<uses-permissionandroid:name="android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/> in manifest and all file access also. But it's not working.
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 30) {
if (!Environment.isExternalStorageManager()) {
try {
val intent = Intent(Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_APP_ALL_FILES_ACCESS_PERMISSION)
intent.addCategory("android.intent.category.DEFAULT")
intent.data = Uri.parse(String.format("package:%s", applicationContext.packageName))
startActivityForResult(intent, 2296)
} catch (e: Exception) {
val intent = Intent()
intent.action = Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_ALL_FILES_ACCESS_PERMISSION
startActivityForResult(intent, 2296)
}
}
}
This code is working below Android 11 device. But on Android 11 file is not creating File(context.getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES) .toString() + "/" + FolderName )

Your phone's camera doesnot have permission to write in the specified location. So to fix this, you need to use file provider and give it appropriate permissions so that the camera can write the image to your file.
To do that,
create a FileProvider. In your manifest file, add:
<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" /> // <-------- see this
</provider>
Now create a files.xml file in your res/xml folder. In it, write some code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
<cache-path
name="camera"
path="Camera/" />
<cache-path
name="cache"
path="/" />
<files-path
name="files"
path="." />
<external-path
name="external"
path="." />
<external-files-path
name="my_images"
path="/"/>
// todo: add necessary folders according to your requirements...
// also, this is an old example. Consider googling for the latest style. I'm just copying from an old project I have, and it kinda works...
</paths>
So here we are giving the FileProvider the folders that can be shared with external apps.
2. Now create a uri where you want to store the photo. in your activity:
Context applicationContext = getApplicationContext();
File root = getCachedDir(); // consider using getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES); you need to check the file_paths.xml
File capturedPhoto = new File(root, "some_photo.jpeg");
if(!photoFile.exists()) {
photoFile.mkdirs();
}
Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(applicationContext, applicationContext.getPackageName() + ".fileprovider", capturedPhoto);
Please note that my project needed to save picture temporarily, so I had used cachedDir. If you save photo permanently, use getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES); and modify file_paths.xml properly.
Now that we have the correct uri, we can call the camera intent:
Intent takePictureIntent = new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
takePictureIntent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_OUTPUT,photoURI);
startActivityForResult(takePictureIntent, REQUEST_CODE);
Finally, in activty result, do something:
#Override
public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
if(requestCode == REQUEST_CODE && resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
// todo: maybe show photo in an imageView
}
}
I hope this works.
Edit
If you are using this app in production, relying on android's default camera app is a bad idea. Our app previously used this way, and it works with, say, samsung's defaul camera. But a lot of our users used third party apps, such as PixArt, which doesnot save photo to our given location. So we had to implement a builtin camera using CameraX. So consider using CameraX or some other camera library.

First Thing is "android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" Permission has no relation with saving image.
after Android 11 google say you should do your business in your space.
that mean you cant get or save image or any file as you did before Android 11.
you can only save in Shared folder or in your application storage data/App packagename/.....
if you want to access other app files then you need "android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" but google say this must be app prior functionality like filemanager or virus scanner like app.
As far as your App concern you havent provide save code.
in Android 11 i am suggestion using Media Api
ContentResolver resolver = mContext.getContentResolver();
ContentValues contentValues = new ContentValues();
contentValues.put(MediaStore.MediaColumns.DISPLAY_NAME, s);
contentValues.put(MediaStore.MediaColumns.MIME_TYPE, "image/jpeg");
contentValues.put(MediaStore.MediaColumns.RELATIVE_PATH, Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES + File.separator + getResources().getString(R.string.app_name) + File.separator + "imgfolder");
contentValues.put(MediaStore.Images.Media.DATE_ADDED, System.currentTimeMillis() / 1000);
contentValues.put(MediaStore.Images.Media.DATE_TAKEN, System.currentTimeMillis());
contentValues.put(MediaStore.MediaColumns.IS_PENDING, 1);
Uri imageUri = resolver.insert(MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI, contentValues);
fos = resolver.openOutputStream(Objects.requireNonNull(imageUri));
try {
mBitmap.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.JPEG, 100, fos);
fos.close();
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} finally {
contentValues.clear();
contentValues.put(MediaStore.MediaColumns.IS_PENDING, 0);
resolver.update(imageUri, contentValues, null, null);
}
this is for image file

use this code for save captured image
String mPath = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/Print";
Bitmap tmp = BitmapFactory.decodeFile(mPath);
File imageFile = new File(mPath);
FileOutputStream outStream;
try
{
outStream = new FileOutputStream(imageFile);
try
{
bitmap.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.JPEG, quality, outStream);
outStream.flush();
outStream.close();
} catch (IOException e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
}
} catch (Exception e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
}

Android - play video saved from raw assets to local storage using implicit intent failing

I have a file in my raw assets directory which I am trying to save to shared phone storage that will allow other apps to open and view this video.
Basic code to copy file from assets to local storage and generate intent
Intent in = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
// using getFilesDir() below causes this error:
File videoFile = new File(getExternalFilesDirs(null)[1], "talking.mp4");
// check if we have already copied file over
if (!videoFile.exists()) {
try {
InputStream is = getResources().openRawResource(R.raw.talking);
boolean newFile = videoFile.createNewFile();
if (!newFile) {
throw new Exception("Failed to create file");
}
OutputStream os = new FileOutputStream(videoFile);
byte[] data = new byte[is.available()];
is.read(data);
os.write(data);
is.close();
os.close();
} catch (IOException e) {
Log.w("ExternalStorage", "Error writing " + videoFile, e);
Toast.makeText(this, "Failed to copy talking.mp4", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
return;
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
and getting the file using the FileProvider.getUriForFile(Context, String, File) and creating the intent following this:
Uri uri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(getApplicationContext(), getPackageName(), videoFile);
// type of file to view
in.setDataAndType(uri, "video/*");
// ask some other app to deal with it
startActivity(in);
in addition, the following is required in my manifest:
<application ... >
//...
<provider
android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="${getPackageName()}"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/paths" />
</provider>
</application>
next, to define the paths mentioned above in the FileProvider:
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<files-path name="my_files_data" path="." />
<external-files-path name="my_files_ext_data" path="." />
<external-path name="my_files_ext" path="." />
</paths>
Question:
When selecting e.g. VLC for Android as the file to handle the intent, the app doesn't play the video. If I try playing it with Google Photos, it loads forever.
This shows my there is something wrong - however I am not quite sure why this isn't working. Is it related to app permissions accessing content root of another app?

Android Problem with sharing temporary file

I' m trying to create a temporary file and share it.
So I created this class:
public class GenerateFile {
public static File writeToFile(Context mcoContext, String sBody) {
String fileName = "LOG FILE_" + String.valueOf(System.currentTimeMillis()) +".txt";
File file = new File(mcoContext.getCacheDir(), fileName);
try{
FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(file);
writer.append(sBody);
writer.flush();
writer.close();
return file;
}catch (Exception e){
Toast.makeText(mcoContext, "File write failed: " + e.toString(), Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}
return null;
}
}
to generate a file that after I will share here:
String logContent = "123";
File filePath = new File(file.getAbsolutePath(), "external_files");
filePath.mkdir();
Uri uri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(StatusActivity.this, getPackageName(), filePath);
Intent intent = ShareCompat.IntentBuilder.from(StatusActivity.this)
.setStream(uri) // uri from FileProvider
.setType("text/html")
.getIntent()
.setAction(Intent.ACTION_VIEW) //Change if needed
.setDataAndType(uri, "text/*")
.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
startActivity(intent);
And in the manifest there are already this permission:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.sec.android.provider.badge.permission.WRITE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="com.sec.android.provider.badge.permission.READ"/>
and the provider declaration
<provider
android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="android.getqardio.com.gmslocationtest"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/provider_paths"/>
</provider>
The provider_paths class is defined in this way:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
<files-path
name="share"
path="external_files"/>
</paths>
But it generate the message, when I try to share it by mail or telegram "Unable to attach file" or "Unsupported attachment". Also it seems to me that the file is not created.

Other apps do not have access to your app's getCacheDir(). FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION and FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION are for content Uri values, not file Uri values. And, on Android 7.0+ devices, your code should crash with a FileUriExposedException.
Use FileProvider to make your content available to other apps, and use FileProvider.getUriForFile() to get the Uri to put in the Intent.

So I follow the suggestion of #CommonsWare, and I edited my code. This is the final result:
public class GenerateFile {
public static Uri getFileURI(Context context, String nameFile, String content, String fileExtension) {
DateFormat dateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy_MM_dd");
Date date = new Date();
String fileName = dateFormat.format(date)+nameFile+fileExtension;
File file = new File(context.getCacheDir(), fileName);
try{
FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(file);
writer.append(content);
writer.flush();
writer.close();
//Toast.makeText(context, "Writing to the file completed successfully", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}catch (Exception e){
Toast.makeText(context, "File writing failed: " + e.toString(), Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}
File filePath = new File(context.getCacheDir(), "");
File newFile = new File(filePath, fileName);
return FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, "MYPACKAGE.fileprovider", newFile);
}
}
and in another class:
private void sendFile(String nameFile, String logContent, String fileExtension) {
Uri contentUri = GenerateFile.getFileURI(getApplicationContext(), nameFile, logContent, fileExtension);
Intent intent = ShareCompat.IntentBuilder.from(StatusActivity.this)
.setStream(contentUri) // uri from FileProvider
.setType("text/plain")
.getIntent()
.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent, "send"));
}
so to send the file. I also deleted the permission (previously mentioned) in the manifest, because I didn't need it anymore.
And I also edited my provider and provider_path file like that:
<provider
android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="MYPACKAGE.fileprovider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/provider_paths" />
</provider>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<cache-path
name="my_files"
path=""
/>
Now it works! Thank you very much guys for the help!

Did you specifically ask the user for those permissions? It's not enough to just put the permissions in the manifest for target sdks below 28. Also, in Android Q, you will need to work around external storage permissions altogether as this is disallowed.

How to send(share) csv file?

How to send(share) *csv file?
I have android app, wich create a csv file. And i want to share it: send to email, open at excel and so on.
I read tutorials:set up file sharing and sharing a file, but can not understand: is it for my option or not?
I declare a manifest:
<provider
android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="com.nam1.name2.fileprovider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="#xml/filepaths" />
</provider>
But what i should do next?
Can you tell me some simple code example (maybe git-repo) how to share file to another apps?
Thank you!
EDIT: I write some new code to share files (look at FileProvider example)
public class ExportActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_export);
Intent intentShareFile = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
intentShareFile.setAction(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
File imagePath = new File(getApplicationContext().getFilesDir(), "statistics");
File newFile = new File(imagePath, "stat.csv");
CSVHelper csvHelper = new CSVHelper(SharedData.AllPlayersColl);
try {
String path=imagePath.getAbsolutePath();
csvHelper.SaveToCSV(path);
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
Context context=getApplicationContext();
Uri contentUri = getUriForFile(context, "com.name1.name2.fileprovider", newFile);
List<ResolveInfo> resInfoList = getApplicationContext().getPackageManager()
.queryIntentActivities(intentShareFile, PackageManager.MATCH_DEFAULT_ONLY);
for (ResolveInfo resolveInfo : resInfoList) {
String packageName = resolveInfo.activityInfo.packageName;
getApplicationContext()
.grantUriPermission(packageName, contentUri, Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION | Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
}
intentShareFile.setData(contentUri);
intentShareFile.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION);
setResult(100, intentShareFile);
startActivityForResult(intentShareFile,100);
}
}
Where CSVHelper is:
fun SaveToCSV(fileName: String?) {
if (fileName == null)
throw NullPointerException("fileName is null!")
val writer = CSVWriter(FileWriter(fileName), '\t')
// make csv file
writer.writeNext(firstLine);
}
And filepaths is:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<PreferenceScreen xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<paths>
<files-path name="stat" path="statistics/" />
</paths>
But, i get a error:
Caused by: android.content.ActivityNotFoundException: No Activity found to handle Intent { act=android.intent.action.SEND dat=content://com.name1.name2.fileprovider/stat/stat.csv flg=0x2 }
I want, that when i start an Intent a list of variants shows (at android device) : email_app,excel_app and so on. So, i want to send noname intent.

FileProvider is a helper class designed to share files as content:// URIs instead of file:// URIs which have been deprecated for some time and forbidden since API level 24.
You have declared the content provider, you need now to configure it, i.e. choose what file it can serve. This is done in the xml/filepath file that you have declared in the meta-data. You will then be able to generate shareable content URIs using FileProvider.getUriForFile().
There is a complete wrap up
Unfortunately not all application understand content:// URIs. If you need to share a file with a (very old or badly written) application which only handle file:// URIs you may still use them if you set the target level of your application to 23 or lower.