File.exist always false

Shaun_Max

Hi I am facing a problem with :

private static var extAsset:File = File.applicationStorageDirectory.resolvePath("ext_assets/assets.zip");
the file assets.zip exists in the ext_assets folder but when I check if (extAsset.exists) it always returns false any idea ? what could be wrong ?

hydroper

Shaun_Max Is the file in the application installation directory (app: rather than app-storage:)?

pol2095

Platform ?

Shaun_Max

pol2095 iOS

Shaun_Max

hydroper I don't know what does that mean? Before creating the mobile builds i mention this folder in the files & folder section, along with other files like asset.car, app icons, etc.

Also according to the code if the file doesn't exist then it has to download the file from the cloud storage and everything works fine.

In my case since the file already exists in the folder, i don't want the app to download anything, just unzip it and move on. But unfortunately its giving me false

hydroper

Shaun_Max Try File.applicationDirectory instead of File.applicationStorageDirectory.

File.applicationStorageDirectory is typically for data files (like cookies).

hydroper

Oh, but if you use File.applicationDirectory, you can't download from the cloud and put files there dynamically. It's referred to as the "installation" directory, so it's read-only. So you've to do some ActionScript conditions.

From airsdk.dev/reference:

Note: You cannot write to files or directories that have paths that use the app: URL scheme. Also, you cannot delete or create files or folders that have paths that use the app: URL scheme. Modifying content in the application directory is a bad practice, for security reasons, and is blocked by the operating system on some platforms. If you want to store application-specific data, consider using the application storage directory (File.applicationStorageDirectory). If you want any of the content in the application storage directory to have access to the application-privileged functionality (AIR APIs), you can expose that functionality by using a sandbox bridge.

Shaun_Max

hydroper Oh!

But then how's everything working fine after the file is downloaded from the cloud storage. Subsequent checks all returns true.

hydroper

Shaun_Max Actually File.applicationDirectory and File.applicationStorageDirectory are different directories. I wrote a test program too and put a foo.txt file at the project root:

package {
    import flash.display.Sprite;
    import flash.filesystem.File;

    public class Main extends Sprite {
        public function Main() {
            trace(new File('app:///foo.txt').exists);
        }
    }
}

It traced true, but I think I forgot to include that file somewhere (app.xml descriptor I think), so if I export the app, the foo.txt won't be included.

hydroper

Also both lines are equivalent:

trace(new File('app:///foo.txt').exists);
trace(File.applicationDirectory.resolvePath('foo.txt').exists);

Shaun_Max

hydroper but where is the foo.txt actually stored ?

And what changes you made in the app.xml ?

hydroper

I forgot where you include files when exporting the AIR app. Is it within the adt command?

hydroper

Shaun_Max The app installation directory varies per OS, so I can't reliably say where it's. Anyway, if you want to include the file within your AIR app, when bundling it with adt you need to pass the files.

I recommend you to use AS&MXML by Josh in VSCode to package/bundle the app (not sure if you already know it). Here's the documentation for asconfig.json: https://github.com/BowlerHatLLC/vscode-as3mxml/wiki/asconfig.json

Here's how to include files:
https://github.com/BowlerHatLLC/vscode-as3mxml/wiki/asconfig.json#files-1

If you're not familiar to asconfig from AS&MXML, here's a template: https://github.com/hydroper/adobe-air-templates/tree/master/empty-app

Shaun_Max

hydroper i am using IntelliJ, we have a separate window to list the files & folders to be included along with the build.

hydroper

To clarify that's the airOptions you want:

"airOptions": {
	"files": [
		{
			"file": "ext_assets/assets.zip",
			"path": "ext_assets/assets.zip"
		}
	]
}

I updated my post above to link to a asconfig template.

hydroper

Shaun_Max I see, I never used that one.

Shaun_Max

hydroper This is how its done in IntelliJ IDEA

Shaun_Max

Also, is this an AIR sdk issue ?

TeotiGraphix

Shaun_Max

https://pasteboard.co/JMjAldOMbX2F.png

Notice the . period.

Shaun_Max

TeotiGraphix yes! Is it because it's inside the source folder?