Default dir to store a file that my app makes - android

A question, I'm making a app that will store a textfile (.txt) with highscore data. I've made a file with this line from my highscores activity:
File highscoreList = new File("highscores.txt");
Where will it be placed? In the same dir as the highscores.java file? Or, how should I specify a dir that will put the textfile in the same folder as highscores.java?

You should access your files using the Context methods openFileInput and openFileOutput. You can determine where they are actually stored using getFileStreamPath. (The directory they go in can be obtained with getFilesDir.) The advantage of using this method is that the files will be private to your application and will be removed automatically if your app is uninstalled.
In your activity, you can create your File with:
File highscoreList = getFileStreamPath("highscores.txt");
If all you want to do is write to it:
FileOutputStream output = null;
try {
output = openFileOutput("highscores.txt", MODE_PRIVATE);
// write to file
} finally {
if (output != null) {
try { output.close(); }
catch (IOException e) {
Log.w(LOG_TAG, "Error closing file!", e);
}
}
}
Similarly, for reading you can use:
FileInputStream input = openFileInput("highscores.txt");
If you are trying to access your file from outside an Activity subclass, you'll need a Context. (In a View, for instance, you can use getContext(). For a helper class, you'll need to pass in your Activity instance or some other Context object.)

Related

Android app writes to file and seems to be deleted when activity is finished

I have an android app that is writing a values to a file that the app also creates. I am able to write to the file and then again read from the file. However, as soon as that activity is finished, it seems that the file is now gone, or loses it's values.
I know you can't browse the files through explorer unless you root your phone and/or run the adb server as a specific user.
Here is my code for writing to the file:
public void savePrices(View view) {
FileOutputStream outputStream;
File getFilesDir = this.getFilesDir();
File filePathOne = new File(getFilesDir, filename);
try {
outputStream = openFileOutput(filename, Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
for (int i = 0; i < priceArray.length; i++) {
outputStream.write(String.format("%.2f\n", priceArray[i]).getBytes());
}
Toast.makeText(this, "Prices saved successfully!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
outputStream.close();
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
Here is my code that reads the file:
public void loadPrices(View view) {
int i = 0;
final InputStream file;
BufferedReader reader;
try{
file = getAssets().open(filename);
reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(file));
String line = reader.readLine();
while(line != null){
line = reader.readLine();
priceArray[i] = Double.parseDouble(line);
i++;
}
} catch(IOException ioe){
ioe.printStackTrace();
hamburgerPriceText.setText(String.format("%.2f", priceArray[0]));
hotDogPriceText.setText(String.format("%.2f", priceArray[1]));
chipsPriceText.setText(String.format("%.2f", priceArray[2]));
beerPriceText.setText(String.format("%.2f", priceArray[3]));
popPriceText.setText(String.format("%.2f", priceArray[4]));
Toast.makeText(this, "Prices loaded successfully!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}catch (NumberFormatException e) {
Log.e("Load File", "Could not parse file data: " + e.toString());
}
}
After I call the save method which sets the values in the array and saves the values to the file, I run a clear method that removes all the values on the activity fields and in the array. So when I run the read method and it populates the fields on the activity, I know the values are coming from reading the file. This is the only way that I know that I'm saving and reading from the file successfully.
My question is how do I make it permanent? If I close the activity that saves the values and then immediately run the read method, all the values are 0.
Is there something that I am missing? How can I write to a file so if the activity is closed, or the app is completely closed, I can still retain the values?
Here is my code that reads the file:
There is nothing in that code that reads a file. It is reading some stuff out of the your app's assets. Also, for some reason, it is only updating the UI if you have an exception.
So when I run the read method and it populates the fields on the activity, I know the values are coming from reading the file.
No, they are coming from your app's assets, and you are only populating the fields if you have an IOException.
My question is how do I make it permanent?
Step #1: Actually read from the file. Since you are using openFileOutput() to write to the file, use openFileInput() to read from the file.
Step #2: Update the UI when you successfully read in the data, not in the catch block for the IOException.

Can you create a .dat file in Android

I am trying to write my first app for Android. I knew Java formerly but it has been a year or two since I used it.
I want to create a simple file in internal storage - I understand I do not have to set any permissions to create such a file?
Is it a .dat file I need if I want to save an ArrayList? Does Android require me to use file extension when creating it?
Even with just trying the basic file creation - checking for existence of file and then creating it if it does not exist - does not work. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?
(I have commented out the attempt to read the ArrayList, as I cannot even create the file. Just trying the basic file creation.)
(Also, I have tried the code with "Shares.dat" instead of just "Shares" as filename, that didn't work either. I don't even know whether Android recognises .dat files and to be honest I am not 100% sure that is the file I need.)
(If by any chance anyone can help, I may not be able to test any solution until next weekend......)
As for the last but one line, originally it read 'context.getFileDir()' but my class extends ActionBarActivity and I found on internet a suggestion to change to this.getFileDir(). I got a null pointer warning when I used context.getFileDir()
file = new File("Shares");
if (file.exists()){
url.setText("File Exists");
/*try{
is = openFileInput("Shares");
oi = new ObjectInputStream(is);
details = (ArrayList<Action>)oi.readObject();//warning
oi.close();//need finally??
}
catch(Exception e){url.setText((e.getMessage()));}
url.setText(details.get(0).getAddresse());*/
}
else
{
try
{
**file = new File(this.getFilesDir(), "Shares");**
}
catch(Exception e){url.setText((e.getMessage()));}
}
If you want a reference to a file that's created in private storage, you'd want to use getFileStreamPath("shares.dat") instead of creating a new File object. File extension shouldn't matter, but it's a good practice to add a file extension to keep track for yourself what those files are for.
For example:
private boolean fileExists(Context _context, String _filename) {
File temp = _context.getFileStreamPath(_filename);
if(temp == null || !temp.exists()) {
return false;
}
return true;
}
Then, if you wanted to write to a file named "shares.dat" then you'd use openFileOutput("shares.dat", Context.MODE_PRIVATE). If you wanted to read in from that file, you'd use openFileInput("shares.dat").
// Read in from file
if(fileExists(this, "shares.dat")) {
FileInputStream fis = this.openFileInput("shares.dat");
ObjectInputStream ois = new ObjectInputStream(fis);
ArrayList<Action> actions = (ArrayList<Action>)ois.readObject();
ois.close();
}
// Write out to file
FileOutputStream fos = this.openFileOutput("shares.dat", Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
ObjectOutputStream oos = new ObjectOutputStream(fos);
oos.writeObject(actions);
oos.close();
All stream operations shown above have the ability to throw an IOException, so be sure to wrap that code in a try/catch block as needed.

getAPKExpansionZipFile() returns null

Since my game has 100Mb I need to use expansion file. I put below code in the MainActivity in function onCreate()
ZipResourceFile expansionFile = null;
try {
expansionFile = APKExpansionSupport.getAPKExpansionZipFile(getApplicationContext(),2,0);
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
I don't use patch expansion file, just main, so I guess putting 0 as a version is correct. When I log to check if expansionFile was successfully loaded I get null value.
if(expansionFile == null)
Gdx.app.log("EXPANSION_FILE", "NULL");
else
Gdx.app.log("EXPANSION_FILE", "NOT NULL");
I followed instructions on https://developer.android.com/google/play/expansion-files.html
and I put manually main.2.com.my.game.obb file in folder on my Nexus device:
Internal storage\Android\obb\com.my.game\
There are other obb files in Android\obb folder from other games, so this has to be a correct place. Any clues of why it doesn't mount the obb expansion file?
UPDATE
I implemented DownloaderActivity and it downloads expansion file without any problems. It was giving me "Not a zip archive" log message. I found a way to avoid it. I zipped OBB file and uploaded it to Developer Console. It automatically converted into OBB anyway but this time when I downloaded it on my Nexus it no longer gives me null value for ZipResourceFile and it doesn't give me "Not a zip archive" message anymore. But still I can't access files from it since I'm using AssetManager from Libgdx.
I found another way, which I'm testing now.
Solution to the problem where getAPKExpansionZipFile() returns null is to not use JOBB tool, but zip all the content and upload it. Google Play will convert it automatically to the OBB.
Complete solution to load images from expansion file:
I created a static variable in my own Game class which is an instance of ZipResourceFile . I made it static, because I wanted to load the expansion file in MainActivity class and use it in my FileHandle class to get images from it. If you find a different way it's up to you. This is how I did it.
public static ZipResourceFile expansionFile;
Then in your MainActivity class load expansion file. I did it in OnCreate() function.
try {
GameInfo.expansionFile = APKExpansionSupport.getAPKExpansionZipFile(getBaseContext(),22,0);
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
Passed values to the function are these:
getAPKExpansionZipFile(Context ctx, int mainVersion, int patchVersion)
mainVersion needs to be exactly the same as declared in Manifest file :
android:versionCode="22"
Also your expansion file needs to have the same number in its name:
main.mainVersion.com.name.title
Create your own FileHandle class. This is where it looks for your specific file for example "image.png" in the expansion file.
public class CustomFileHandle extends FileHandle
{
public CustomFileHandle (String fileName) {
super(fileName);
}
#Override
public InputStream read()
{
InputStream input = null;
try {
input = GameInfo.expansionFile.getInputStream(file.getPath().replace('\\', '/'));
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
return input;
}
}
Create your own FileHandleResolver class. This is where you use your custom FileHandle.
public class CustomFileHandleResolver implements FileHandleResolver
{
#Override
public FileHandle resolve(String fileName) {
return new CustomFileHandle(fileName);
}
}
Create instance of AssetManager and pass your FileHandleResolver to constructor.
assetManager = new AssetManager(new CustomFileHandleResolver());
If I did not omit any step then this is what you need to do to load your files from expansion file. As I mentioned in the begining I found the problem with using JOBB Tool to pack the files into OBB file. It makes getAPKExpansionZipFile() to return null. So I just zipped all the files instead. Look here for more detailed explanation : https://developer.android.com/google/play/expansion-files.html
For me it was the expansion file size in bytes. I rezipped and never changed the file size in code. Hence I was getting null value. I was off by only few bytes and that just took my entire day at workplace. Didn't realize it was that important :(
private static final XAPKFile[] xAPKS = {
new XAPKFile(true, Constants.MAIN_OBB_VERSION, Constants.EXPANSION_FILE_SIZE) // right here expansion file size must match exactly.
};
//in Constants class
public static final int EXPANSION_FILE_SIZE = 285516838; //expansion file size in bytes

How can I load a class from a jar file packaged in my .apk file?

I am trying to load a plugin implementation of an interface from a jar file which is in the /assets directory of my .apk file. The only way I've been able to get this to work is by extracting the jar file to private external storage and then passing that file to the DexClassLoader.
That works, but why should the jar have to exist in two places (the .apk and private external storage)? The DexClassLoader has to have a file path as its argument.
Is there a way to give it a direct path to the file that is in the /assets folder so that I don't have to use up external storage for an extra copy of what's already present?
Here are the relevant code snippets:
// somewhere in my main Activity ...
final File aExtractedDexFile = new File(getDir("dex", Context.MODE_PRIVATE),
LIBRARY_DEX_JAR);
extractDexTo(aExtractedDexFile);
loadLibraryProvider(aExtractedDexFile);
and
/** Extract the jar file that contains the implementation class.dex and place in private storage */
private void extractDexTo(File tJarInternalStoragePath) {
BufferedInputStream aJarInputStream = null;
OutputStream aDexOutputStream = null;
try {
aJarInputStream = new BufferedInputStream(getAssets().open(LIBRARY_DEX_JAR));
aJarOutputStream = new BufferedOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(tJarInternalStoragePath));
byte[] buf = new byte[BUF_SIZE];
int len;
while ((len = aJarInputStream.read(buf, 0, BUF_SIZE)) > 0)
{
aJarOutputStream.write(buf, 0, len);
}
aJarOutputStream.close();
aJarInputStream.close();
} catch (IOException e) {
if (aDexOutputStream != null) {
try {
aJarOutputStream.close();
} catch (IOException ioe) {
ioe.printStackTrace();
}
}
if (aJarInputStream != null) {
try {
aJarInputStream.close();
} catch (IOException ioe) {
ioe.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
}
and
/** Use DexClassLoader to load the classes from LibraryProvider */
private void loadLibraryProvider(File tFile) {
// Internal storage where the DexClassLoader writes the optimized dex file to.
final File aOptimizedDexOutputPath = getDir("outdex", Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
// Initialize the class loader with the secondary dex file.
DexClassLoader cl = new DexClassLoader(tFile.getAbsolutePath(),
aOptimizedDexOutputPath.getAbsolutePath(),
null,
getClassLoader());
Class<?> aLibProviderClazz = null;
try {
// Load the library class from the class loader.
aLibProviderClazz = cl.loadClass(LIBRARY_PROVIDER_CLASS);
sLibraryProvider = (LibraryInterface) aLibProviderClazz.newInstance();
} catch (Exception exception) {
// Handle exception gracefully here.
exception.printStackTrace();
}
}
Is there a way to give it a direct path to the file that is in the /assets folder so that I don't have to use up external storage for an extra copy of what's already present?
The answer is No. I suppose you follow this blog posted by official source implementing your code. if there is a better way of doing things, the bloger should recommend it in his blog.
Reason why you need optimizedDirectory is explained in the API:
This class loader requires an application-private, writable directory to cache optimized classes.
Also note that assets directory is not writable in apk, so it can't be done with purely assets directory.
Reason why you need copy jar file is a little bit subtle, mentioned in the blog:
First, it has to be copied to a storage location whose path can be supplied to the class loader.
Everything (folders/files) embedded within apk archive is not exposable (or interpretable) to the underlying file system at runtime. In another word, dexPath required in both DexClassLoader and PathClassLoader's constructor need a solid path string like /data/data/com.example/dex/common-lib.jar that represents the file in file system.

Android How to use and create temporary folder

I develop an app which collects some data from internet. Then save it to a temporary folder. To build this app I need to create and access a folder ( just for the purpose of app, not for the user). How can I do it?
this code is to create folder:
File direct = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/New Folder");
if(!direct.exists())
{
(direct.mkdir()) //directory is created;
}
try it may help you
File mFile;
onCreate()
mFile= new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()+"/temp/";
mFile.mkdir();
onDestroy();
mFile.delete();
try out this...
private void makeFolder(){
File root = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()
+ File.separator + getString(R.string.folder_name));
boolean mainfolderexist = root.exists();
if (!mainfolderexist) {
try {
if (Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().canWrite()) {
root.mkdirs();
}
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
All The best
You should really check this other SO answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/6485850/65716
Aside from the fact that you have to completely manage your use of the space, etc, caching on external storage requires more permission for your app.
See http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Context.html#getCacheDir()
"Apps require no extra permissions to read or write to the returned path, since this path lives in their private storage."
For app use only, I would recommend to use Context.getDir() for retrieving the directory if the files is used by our app only and don`t want to be visible to users by file browsers.
// No need to check if exist, created automatically.
File tempRoot = context.getDir("temp", Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
// do something

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