Android Question Access to ALL files

Zeev Goldstein · Feb 2, 2024

Question:

I have 2 apps
I want them to be able to either share a 3rd folder or to create a shared folder or simply access to download folder
This is for them both to share some temporary data file that one will write and the other read

Can i do it ?
How?
Does it require permission to access all files? If so how do i get this permission?

Thanks

emexes · Feb 2, 2024

FileProvider might be enough:

[class] FileProvider - share files

Edit: FileProvider is included as an internal library now. After investigating several issues with the current FileProvider code that you can find in the forum, I decided to make some improvements and implement it in a class. Starting from Android 7 (API 24) you cannot directly share file uris...

www.b4x.com

or maybe ExternalStorage:

Erel said:
FileProvider allows you to share files with other applications using an intent.
ExternalStorage allows your app to access sd cards and usb devices.

Erel · Feb 4, 2024

The available options are listed here: SaveAs - Let the user select a target folder + list of other related methods

There is no simple permission that grants access to all files.

agraham · Feb 4, 2024

Erel said:
There is no simple permission that grants access to all files.

Actually there is as long as you don't want to have the apps in the Play Store

Manage External Storage - access internal external storage >= SDK 30

Google seems intent on dumbing down Android to the point of uselessnes to me. I think of my devices as little computers and I want a proper file system on them, not the limited tortuous things that Google offers and that I don't understand, ContentChooser, FileProvider, ... o_O I'm getting old...

www.b4x.com

Zeev Goldstein · Feb 4, 2024

thank you guys for the replies
i think i'm lost here
i just want to be able to read and write files to download folder or any other if that not possible
i don't want the user to be in the flow or to need to do anything
App1 read & write to Downloads
App2 read & write to downloads

it will always be the same file name

App1 will check if the file exists
if yes will delete it and call App2

App2 will check if exists
if yes will delete and write to it and exit

App1 will get control back and if the file exists it will read and delete it

app1 & app2 are currently working but share the data in cloud
i want them to share it on the device and save the access to the cloud

agraham · Feb 4, 2024

Why 'lost'? See my post above.

Zeev Goldstein · Feb 4, 2024

agraham said:
Why 'lost'? See my post above.

yes, that's why i said "lost" - both apps must be in google play store

i know there are apps that read and write to downloads - so how do they do it?

Erel · Feb 4, 2024

It is not possible in newer versions of Android (on the Play Store). Two apps cannot share a file unless you ask the user to grant access with ExternalStorage. And you will not have direct access to the file so you will probably need to copy it to the app folder each time before opening it.

aeric · Feb 4, 2024

If none of the above satisfy your answer, the easiest way is to have only one same app.

Zeev Goldstein · Feb 4, 2024

Erel said:
It is not possible in newer versions of Android (on the Play Store). Two apps cannot share a file unless you ask the user to grant access with ExternalStorage. And you will not have direct access to the file so you will probably need to copy it to the app folder each time before opening it.

i have no problem to ask the user once for permission
i do it anyways for other things so i can add one more permission

now, if the user granted the permission - will i be able to do what i want seamlessly to the user?
if so than it is perfect to me - how do i do it? just by external storage?
how do other apps that do read and write to downloads do that?

Erel · Feb 5, 2024

There is no such permission and all your questions are answered here: The available options are listed here: SaveAs - Let the user select a target folder + list of other related methods and in the linked tutorials.

Zeev Goldstein · Feb 5, 2024

Erel said:
There is no such permission and all your questions are answered here: The available options are listed here: SaveAs - Let the user select a target folder + list of other related methods and in the linked tutorials.

let me see if i got you right - every time i want to save i need to ask the user?
if that so it can't be a solution for me

i just don't get how other apps can read and write to downloads folder?
that's exactly want i'm looking for
i must be missing something

Erel · Feb 5, 2024

Regular apps cannot read or write to the downloads folder.

Zeev Goldstein · Feb 5, 2024

Erel said:
Regular apps cannot read or write to the downloads folder.

now you'll think i'm a pest...
what's regular?
what is un-regular?
how can i become "un-regular"?

Android Question Access to ALL files

Zeev Goldstein

Well-Known Member

emexes

Expert

[class] FileProvider - share files

Erel

B4X founder

agraham

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Manage External Storage - access internal external storage >= SDK 30

Zeev Goldstein

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aeric

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