How to open a file in Android via an Intent

Question

how can I open a file that has been previously stored in the "privat" filesystem? The file is being downloaded by a webservice and should be stored on local fs. I got a "strange" error when trying to open the file via an Intent (Action_View). Although the file is present in the filesystem (saw the file in the file explorer in emulator/eclipse) it won't be shown in the calling galery activity that is launched. Instead of the picture the galery shows a black screen with not content in there (except the action bar). The same occurs when trying to open a pdf/movie/mp3 file via this method (pdf says for example that the file is corrupt).

BTW: The data that has been stored on the local fs is valid (not corrupt), I downloaded the files from debugger (via pull method) and the files can be opened on my workstation...

public void onAttachment(Context context, Attachment attachment) {
    try {
        //Attachment is a structured data object that contains of a byte[], filename and mimetype (like image/jpeg)
        FileOutputStream fos = FileOutputStream fos = context.openFileOutput(attachment.getAttachmentFileName(), Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
        fos.write(attachment.getBinary());
        fos.flush();
        fos.close();
        File f = context.getFileStreamPath(attachment.getAttachmentFileName());
        Uri uri = Uri.fromFile(f);          
        Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
        intent.setDataAndType(uri,attachment.getAttachmentMimetype());
        context.startActivity(intent);                  
    } catch (IOException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

maybe it http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11068648/launching-an-intent-for-file-and-mime-type/11088980#11088980 can help. — ademar111190, Oct 05 '13 at 07:06

Ondřej Z · Answer 1 · 2019-06-07T11:28:41.170

12

What is the type of the Attachment in your code? Perhaps it returns wrong mime type?

This code works for me:

File file = new File("EXAMPLE.JPG");

// Just example, you should parse file name for extension
String mime = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton().getMimeTypeFromExtension(".JPG");

Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.setAction(android.content.Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), mime);
startActivityForResult(intent, 10);

edited Jun 07 '19 at 11:28

answered Sep 25 '12 at 15:13

Ondřej Z

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No, this won't work... The problem is that the activity is successfully being launched (galery, movie-/audio player, pdf-reader) but the content (file) seems invalid... – tim.kaufner Sep 25 '12 at 15:18
The attachment returns the correct mimetype, otherwise the correct activity (Galery/Mediaplayer/PDF-Reader) wouldn't be started at all. – tim.kaufner Sep 26 '12 at 06:48
Wrong. The parameter of getMimeTypeFromExtension MUST be a file extension without the leading '.'. – elmango Oct 30 '13 at 17:54
that worked for me. I was calling `Uri.parse(file.getPath())` instead of `Uri.fromFile(file)`. – IgniteCoders Dec 05 '16 at 08:08

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 25 '12 at 16:19

2

You cannot open files that are not on the sdcard like that. You'll need to copy the file to the sdcard and then opening it.

answered Sep 25 '12 at 16:19

Givi

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Can you give me a link where this is confirmed by google (in sdk documentation). I didn't find anything about that in the official documentation... BTW: When I open the file in an own activity that can handle images it works... – tim.kaufner Sep 26 '12 at 06:47
Unfortunately I'm talking out of experience so I don't have a link. BUT its the same problem as in uploading or emailing a file that's no in the SDCARD... Its the same with opening webview pages & etc.. Hope it helps... Sorry if not.. – Givi Sep 26 '12 at 10:09
So I have to write own Viewer-"Activities" that can handle the files that are stored on this private folder? – tim.kaufner Sep 26 '12 at 10:34
Or just copy them to a private folder on the SDCARD, and if you want delete them after. Private (actually invisible )folder on SDCARD: Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/.priavte_dir" – Givi Sep 26 '12 at 10:49
But the files will be accessible (by another application, for example a filebrowser-app) after that... Also you have you have to imply that the user has a sd-card and it must be mounted too. Hm... – tim.kaufner Sep 26 '12 at 11:37

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

2

When setting the location to "openFileOutput("fileName", Activity.MODE_WORLD_READABLE)" it will work. Other apps cannot read the data (even for viewing) stored when setting to "Context.MODE_PRIVATE"

see other post on stackoverflow

edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

Community

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answered Sep 26 '12 at 14:08

tim.kaufner

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How to open a file in Android via an Intent

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