B4J Tutorial [Server] Upload files from your B4A app to your B4J server over the internet

Erel · Jan 28, 2014

This example shows how to make your B4J server application accessible over the internet.

The implemented server is a simple file server that allows you to upload files from your B4A application to the server over the internet.

The following steps are required in order to make your server accessible over the internet:

As the router (or computer) external IP address changes from time to time we need to use a service that maps a known address to our dynamic address. In this case I used a free service named DuckDNS. You should register with them and choose a unique domain for your server.
They will also provide you with a token. In the Main module we use a timer to call their service (with this token) every 10 minutes. This updates the IP address if needed.
Router setup
- Port forwarding - Configure the router to forward all incoming requests on the given port to your computer address.
- Static IP - On some routers port forwarding will only work with a specific local IP address. The solution is to configure the router to always provide your computer with the same address.
- Search Google for instructions specific to your router.
Firewall - You need to allow incoming connections on the specific port.

Tips:
- There are several points of failures in this configuration. In order to debug it, run the server and call the test handler. Start with calling it from the computer browser (127.0.0.1:54021/test). If there is an error then the server is not running properly.
Now try to call it with duckdns: yourdomain.duckdns.org:54021/test
If it works then the configuration is probably fine. You just need to test it from outside the local network.
If it doesn't work then find your external ip address and try to call it. If it doesn't work with the external ip address then your router is not configured correctly or the firewall is blocking the incoming connection.

- Don't worry. Eventually you will get it working

Now for the actual file server. The handler is quite simple. It supports two types of messages: text messages and files. The handler reads the data directly from the request input stream. The type parameter (from the query string) tells it whether to treat the data as a text message or as a file that needs to be saved.

One important point is that we need to call req.InputStream before calling req.GetParameter. Otherwise the complete stream will be internally read as the server looks for the parameter in the request body. This will not happen if we first call req.InputStream.

The Android application is quite simple. It just uses HttpUtils2 to send the file or text message.

In order to run it you need to update the link variable based on your domain name.

This tutorial opens the door to many interesting solutions. You can easily turn any PC into a backend server for your Android applications.

Erel · Apr 18, 2014

The only "limitation" about this solution regarding the configuration that enable the Server to be available over the internet.

This is not specific to this solution. This is how the internet works...

upsis · Apr 21, 2014

What changes should I make to the FileServer-B4j example can be published on my internet service provider? Thanks

Erel · Apr 22, 2014

Do you have an online server?

upsis · Apr 22, 2014

Yes, we have.

Erel · Apr 22, 2014

The only change you need is to disable the dynamic dns function (disable UpdateIp timer).

driesvp · Apr 27, 2014

When selecting a photo to upload, quite often the photo isn't uploaded. Sometimes after retrying several times, it works.
I notice in debugger mode that when this happens the screen "Waiting for IDE-debugger to connect" appears. When the photo succesfull uploads, this screen does not appear.

Any idea what causes this?

Erel · Apr 27, 2014

This issue happens when the OS kills the process while the third party picker is visible. The solution is to add a service and call Service.StartForeground to prevent it from being killed.

granmaestro · Jun 1, 2014

Erel said:
@billzhan layout files created with v3.20 will not work with previous versions.

@derez sure. Create a new Download handler. Open an InputStream and use File.Copy2 to copy it to the response OutputStream.

please,

can you explain this : Create a new Download handler. Open an InputStream and use File.Copy2 to copy it to the response OutputStream.

thank you

Erel · Jun 1, 2014

Files stored under the www folder are served automatically. If you want to allow other files to be downloaded then you should use a custom handler.

For example you can use this code to create a handler that sends a file from c:\temp to the client. The file name is passed in the query (www.example.com?file=test1.jpg)

B4X:

Sub Handle(req As ServletRequest, resp As ServletResponse)
   Dim FileName As String = req.GetParameter("file")
   Dim In As InputStream = File.OpenInput("c:\temp", FileName)
   File.Copy2(In, resp.OutputStream)
End Sub

granthierry · Jun 1, 2014

Erel said:
Files stored under the www folder are served automatically. If you want to allow other files to be downloaded then you should use a custom handler.

For example you can use this code to create a handler that sends a file from c:\temp to the client. The file name is passed in the query (www.example.com?file=test1.jpg)

B4X:

Sub Handle(req As ServletRequest, resp As ServletResponse) Dim FileName As String = req.GetParameter("file") Dim In As InputStream = File.OpenInput("c:\temp", FileName) File.Copy2(In, resp.OutputStream) End Sub

Thank you Erel,

If i understand : the server send the file. ( i usually use ftp connection )
And before the client send a request.

I don't know if i can make the request.

Thank you

Erel · Jun 2, 2014

Http servers respond to client requests. The client sends a request with HttpUtils2 and the server responds with the file.

granthierry · Jun 2, 2014

Erel said:
Http servers respond to client requests. The client sends a request with HttpUtils2 and the server responds with the file.

Ok

Thank you

Fabrice La · Jul 16, 2014

How to use this example in ssl (https://) ? to avoid :

Error: javax.net.ssl.SSLPeerUnverifiedException: No peer certificate

Erel · Jul 16, 2014

See this tutorial: http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/server-ssl-connections.40130/#content

Fabrice La · Jul 16, 2014

I know this tutorial for Server.
This error
Error: javax.net.ssl.SSLPeerUnverifiedException: No peer certificate
is from B4A on device try to upload file to ssl server. I am using example "FileClient-B4A" and try to upload to ssl Server.

Erel · Jul 16, 2014

You need to initialize HttpClient with hc.InitializeAcceptAll (HttpUtils2Service).

Fabrice La · Jul 16, 2014

I did add :

B4X:

Dim su As StringUtils
        Dim j As HttpJob
        Dim hc As HttpClient
        hc.InitializeAcceptAll("hclient")
        j.Initialize("file", Me)
        link = link & spbox.SelectedItem & "/"
        j.PostBytes(link & "?type=file&name=" & su.EncodeUrl(FileName, "UTF8"), _
            out.ToBytesArray)

No success

Erel · Jul 16, 2014

You need to add HttpUtils2 source code instead of the library and modify HttpUtils2Service. Creating a new HttpClient will not have any effect on the jobs you send.

Fabrice La · Jul 16, 2014

I did what is in the http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/th...re-now-even-simpler.18992/page-15#post-241556

Now it works
Thanks

LucaMs · Jul 24, 2014

Erel said:
Router setup

Port forwarding - Configure the router to forward all incoming requests on the given port to your computer address.

Static IP - On some routers port forwarding will only work with a specific local IP address. The solution is to configure the router to always provide your computer with the same address.

Search Google for instructions specific to your router.

Tips:
- There are several points of failures in this configuration. In order to debug it, run the server and call the test handler. Start with calling it from the computer browser (127.0.0.1:54021/test). If there is an error then the server is not running properly.
Now try to call it with duckdns: yourdomain.duckdns.org:54021/test

I tried calling 127.0.0.1:54021/test and it seems to work ("Your ip address: 127.0.0.1").

Then (my router's ip): xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:54021/test - failed.

I have 1 active port forwarding:

Private IP: <MyPC IP - it is fixed>
Protocol Type: TCP
Public Start Port: 54021
Public End Port: 54021
Connection: PVC0

I also tried disabling both the firewalls (router & pc)

In the client code (I get a "connection timeout") i have:
Private link As String = "http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:54021/upload" (xxx... is my router's ip)

Note that ping (from client) responds.

B4J Tutorial [Server] Upload files from your B4A app to your B4J server over the internet

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