Android Q - File System

TeotiGraphix

Has anybody thought, read or pondered how we can take care of this?

Seeing as how Google has just mandated the "Storage Access Framework", conceptually using the File class, seems like it could cause some major problems in developer's apps if they don't change locations.

In other words File.documentsDirectory/desktopDirectory (Public) on Android Q is not accessible anymore.

So,

File.applicationDirectory File.applicationStorageDirectory File.cacheDirectory File.desktopDirectory File.documentsDirectory

What becomes obsolete, do we have to create Roles, has anybody been using the Storage Access Framework in an AIR app?

From what I see, File.applicationStorageDirectory is about the only safe root now.

I also had an internal file browser in all my apps, which seem to be toast now as well.

TeotiGraphix

Bump,

Is this relevant to anybody?

I guess you would have to have more of a file sharing, writing app.

TeotiGraphix

I have solved this with a native extension, although I wonder if this could be fixed by HARMAN under the covers.

pol2095

I'm not tested Android Q, how are-you solved it ?

TeotiGraphix

pol2095 By researching the Storage Access Framework API. The bottom line is, without AIR adding API to do this (share public files between apps), you have to do it your self within the Android SDK framework with document providers and such.

The answer is not a "step 1, 2 and 3", it was developing an ANE that allowed me to access my public providers and announce my apps as document providers as well which happens in the manifest.

This is going to affect massive devs on Play that don't even know it yet.

pol2095

You try to access to "/storage/emulated/0", I tried in Android Q emulator, it's possible.

TeotiGraphix

pol2095 It's sandboxed though, so this is about sharing files and not loosing the existing public files.

You really need to read google docs on this, it's not "simple" if you are an app that shares or wants to share files.

https://developer.android.com/preview/privacy/scoped-storage

pol2095

For sharing file, it's necessary to use a FileProvider, I use it with an ane too.

TeotiGraphix

pol2095 FileProvideris not the same as DocumentProvider.

pol2095

what do you want to do ? access files stored on a local disk or in the cloud ?

Ender22

What would be the correct way to save a file to a directory that can be easily found/accessed by the user after this change?

TeotiGraphix

Ender22 You need to create a document provider in the manifest that says you serve/receive files. You then need to implement a class and about 4 methods, after that testing. 🙂

It's complicated but not complicated. 🙂 The idea is now all public directories from an app's perspective are in a sandbox.

This means that all files your app created in the public area, will now be in no mans land until you create a root provider so you can access it. This is where I am not entirely sure how AIR will handle this change under the covers.

It's a lot more information to fully implement but this is the general gist.

EDIT: I am being intentionally vague on purpose here, this is something a dev should own if used.

pol2095

Share the Java code and the app descriptor, we can try it.

pol2095

I created a little ane

TeotiGraphix

pol2095 Ha wow man I didn't even realized you got back to this, sorry about that. So looks like you understood what you needed to do! 🙂 Great.

pol2095

@TeotiGraphix
give a sample of the document provider in the manifest that says you serve/receive files, thanks.

leokan23

Some of the updates / Fixes in AIR33 that didn't get a lot of light spot 🙂

Adobe Ref AIR-4198749: Text relocations on Android Q
HARMAN Ref AIR-96: Remove reliance on deprecated “MODE_WORLD_READABLE” flag

This should be more than enough to fix crashes in Android Q (beta 2).

hardcoremore

@leokan23 Where did you read release notes?

leokan23

Harman has already sent the sdk to some ANE vendors and people who accepted terms / signed contracts. Release notes are included.

Android Platform tools has also updated to 28.