Passing File with intent, how do i retrieve it

Question

Here is what I am passing. pictureFile is a File

Intent intent = new Intent (context, ShowPicActivity.class);
intent.putExtra("picture", pictureFile);

In the next activity which one of the getters do I use to get it?

Intent intent = getIntent(); .....?

Have you seen anywhere in android sdk someone passed/returned File object via Intent? URI is the android way to do this. I'll try to find an article why you shouldn't do this. — Leonidos, Oct 16 '13 at 07:31
Ok thank you, If it's the best way I will do it that way then! I just want to know why! — dsuma, Oct 16 '13 at 07:36
because File is more than just a refence to a resource. When you pass object via intent a new copy will be created and I'm not sure that the copy of File will be viable in all use cases. If you need to pass a referense use URI, if you need to share File object inside your app share it some other way without serializing. — Leonidos, Oct 16 '13 at 10:26

score 14 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 16 '13 at 07:15

14

File implements serializable ( first thing to check to send an object through an intent. ) ( source )

so you can do it, just cast the resulting object to File like this :

File pictureFile = (File)getIntent.getExtras().get("picture");

It should be fine. (it use the getter for 'object' which needs a serializable object and return it. The cast should be enough.)

answered Oct 16 '13 at 07:15

Guian

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Wouldn't `getSerializableExtra()` be more appropriate? – ban-geoengineering Nov 08 '16 at 14:18

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 11 '21 at 06:45

9

Try the following:

YourPictureClass picture = (YourPictureClass)getIntent().getExtras().get("picture");

By calling getExtras() in your Intent you get an instance of Bundle.
With the normal get() in class Bundle you can read every Object you pass to the calling Intent. The only thing you have to do is to parse it back to the class your object is an instance of.

edited Oct 11 '21 at 06:45

Vilius Sutkus '89

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answered Oct 16 '13 at 07:10

Obl Tobl

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score 8 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 06 '18 at 17:53

You can send it like this:

intent.putExtra("MY_FILE", myFile);

and retrieve it like this:

File myFile = (File)intent.getSerializableExtra("MY_FILE");

However, it may be better (anyone?) to send the file as a string reference, in which case you could send as:

intent.putExtra("MY_FILE_STRING", myFile.toString());

and retrieve/reconstruct like this:

File myFile = new File(intent.getStringExtra("MY_FILE_STRING"));

Passing File with intent, how do i retrieve it

3 Answers3

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