[Air] - navigateToURL doesn't open pdf on android

tiagoserra

Hi guys,

I have an application developed in flex and I am trying to open a pdf file in android.
In the past this worked, but now (i don't know why) it doesn't worked anymore.
The program/ide doesn't give me any error and the app doesn't open de pdf file.
I use this code:
try { navigateToURL(new URLRequest(File.documentsDirectory.resolvePath("/pdfs/").url+"/test.pdf")); } catch(error:Error) { trace(error); }

When I'm in debug mode the IDE doesn't hit de catch. It runs normally but doesn't show the pdf.
This only happen in Android, when I try on pc(Windows) works well.
I am using the lastest Air SDK 33.1.1.345. (Maybe this occurs because of the sdk?)

mfrasier

Just shooting in the dark, but could it be a files permission issue?

tiagoserra

I already put this permissions:

		    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
		    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

(I am in the dark too :/ because it doesn't give me any error...)

FliplineStudios

What version of Android is running on the device, and which targetSdkVersion are you using in the app? Android 10+ has introduced some privacy changes with how you're able to access storage, depending on where the PDFs are located that may be what's causing the problem:

https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/privacy
https://developer.android.com/about/versions/11/privacy

tiagoserra

FliplineStudios I'm debugging on Samsung Tab A with Android 10.
I put this code on manifest:
<application android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true"/> <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="15" android:targetSdkVersion="30" />
The pdf file is in sdcard

I add this line <application android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true"/> but the problem remains.... :/

Jeff

tiagoserra
One suggestion, just to rule out the file resolution isn't the source of the problem is to check with the File class that File.documentsDirectory.resolvePath("/pdfs/test.pdf") returns true for exists property (maybe you have already confirmed this)

tiagoserra

Jeff when the file doesn't exists it gives me this error: "requested url is not available"... :/

I tried to change the directory to applicationStorageDirectory but without any results...

Jeff

And as previously mentioned, since you answered Android 10, there are possibly issues using documentsDirectory.

An existing thread that could be relevant:
https://forum.starling-framework.org/d/21307-android-q-file-system

FliplineStudios

You may also want to try targetSdkVersion of 29 -- I believe if you target 30, requestLegacyExternalStorage is no longer valid since it was only an option when targeting 29 (though this is only a solution for a few more months until 30 is required)

yooni126

I have same issue and I am using the lastest Air SDK 33.1.1.345

var htmlFile:File = File.documentsDirectory.resolvePath("WebWin//invoice//" + "billing.html");
if(htmlFile.exist)
{
trace("logo is exist")
navigateToURL(new URLRequest(htmlFile.url), "_blank");
}

when I try on pc(Windows) works well, but on Android (version 5+) or iOS(version 13.6), it shows me only trace line

yooni126

when I share local HTML files with Share ANE,
Share.service.shareFile( htmlFile.url, "html.html", "text/html" );
on mobile, it doesn't show Safari, or when I select Chrome, it prompts me Chrome cannot handle this link!

also as I said, navigateToURL(new URLRequest(htmlFile.url), "_blank");didn't work on mobile devices.

In fact, I want to show the local HTML file in Safari because my users are able to send their HTML files as a PDF in the options menu