Files installed to device

If I choose "Can install to SD card", will it install there by default if it can?

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Yes. However the assets folder (the files added in the Files tab) is a read-only virtual folder. You cannot open a database in this folder. You will still need to copy it to a writable folder.

Is there a way to "clean up" the files left in the virtual folder? Or does it virtually disappear (sorry) after the program is installed?

Jim T

The files in the assets folder stay as they were when installed. I don't think there is any way to change them.

margret said:

The files in the assets folder stay as they were when installed. I don't think there is any way to change them.

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Correct. I believe the "assets" folder is within the apk.

If the database is large then you might want to host it on the internet and then - when your application is installed - download it from the internet and save it to the SD card.

Martin.

Thanks for the input. I will do some re-thinking.

Jim T

I believe the "assets" folder is within the apk.

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That is correct. You can actually see the files if you unzip the apk file.

Installation problems

I have created an app with a large database, currently 9 Mb. The database was renamed to data.jpg, to prevent problems with zipping of the installation package.
The app will be used on some samsung xcover, which only have 130 mb usable ram, when it's new. Some users have others apps running and before installing of an update of my app, so i have to uninstall other apps to ensure that the installation is possible.
How can i avoid this problems? In future updates i can remove the database from the installation, i hope, this would resolve these installation problems. As i understand, the original database stays inside the assets folder an is unused for eternity. I think, its a waste of memory space, if i use the option "Can install to External Storage", would this cange the place of the assets folder?
I i make an update without database, will the complete assets folder overridden and the space gets free?
Thanks for your help!
Reinhard

If you update your app and remove the DataBase from the update, it will overwrite the assets folder and your DataBase will be gone unless you have copied it to another location like: DirInternal or DirRootExternal, etc. Some app stores do not allow to install APPs to the SDCard, you should check each that you plan to use.

margret said:

If you update your app and remove the DataBase from the update, it will overwrite the assets folder and your DataBase will be gone unless you have copied it to another location like: DirInternal or DirRootExternal, etc. Some app stores do not allow to install APPs to the SDCard, you should check each that you plan to use.

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Not to mention users who download the app for the first time won't have the database

Thanks for your answer; because its a closed user group i need the database installation only once and i copied it with the initial installation. Because its not a free app on the market, i send the installation and the updates with email.
So i think i would be possibel, to make a data transfer only app, which only installs the database and a second app, which only update and use the database. Which parameter exactlly ist responsible, in which user directory program and data resides? I think its the application label?!
When the second app uses all the same names and labels, so the memory waste in the assets folder can be cleaned?
Greetings from austria
Reinhard