How to transfer a txt data file to my Android app

Question

I must transfer a data file necessary for my app. I read many threads on the subject and I stll don't understand how it works. 1. I'm using android studio 0.8.6. A lot of threads mentions the folder assets which apparently resides in src/main. When I create a new project the folder doesn't exist. I create manually one and I put in it jpg and txt files. 2. I run the following code:

AssetManager am = getAssets(); 
String[] files = new String[0]; 
try { 
files = am.list("Files ; 
} catch (IOException e) { 
e.printStackTrace(); 
} 
for(int i=0;i<files.length;i++){ 
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "File: "+files[i]+" ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); 
}

And I get a files.length = 0 1. I can create files, write in it and read it but I don know where they reside. And that's not what I want to do. I want to pass the data with the app. Sorry for the long email but I'm lost. Thanks in advance!

The above code would not compile, what are you trying to do? Do you mean hard code a txt file or download it somehow? — BenjaminPaul, Oct 08 '14 at 13:19
I would suggest you start this post with code that will compile. — Gutblender, Oct 08 '14 at 13:19

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:11

The code I have used to read files from assets is listed below:

public String ReadFromfile(String fileName, Context context) {
    StringBuilder returnString = new StringBuilder();
    InputStream fIn = null;
    InputStreamReader isr = null;
    BufferedReader input = null;
    try {
        fIn = context.getResources().getAssets()
                .open(fileName, Context.MODE_WORLD_READABLE);
        isr = new InputStreamReader(fIn);
        input = new BufferedReader(isr);
        String line = "";
        while ((line = input.readLine()) != null) {
            returnString.append(line);
        }
    } catch (Exception e) {
        e.getMessage();
    } finally {
        try {
            if (isr != null)
                isr.close();
            if (fIn != null)
                fIn.close();
            if (input != null)
                input.close();
        } catch (Exception e2) {
            e2.getMessage();
        }
    }
    return returnString.toString();
}

This code is not mine and can be found in the answers below:

read file from assets

I apologize as I see that I did not respond to you. – narb Oct 24 '14 at 08:23 — narb, Oct 24 '14 at 08:23

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 01 '14 at 04:22

I did some progress using the following code:

public class MyActivity extends Activity {

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {

        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_my);

        File dir = getFilesDir();
        File f = new File("/data/data/com.example.bernard.myapp/");

        File file[] = f.listFiles();
        for(int i=0;i<file.length;i++){
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "File: "+String.valueOf(file[i]), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        }

    }

I code in hard what seems to me like the root of my app:

File f = new File("/data/data/com.example.bernard.myapp/");

The result is I can see 3 files: lib, cache, files in "files" appears the files I create running the app. I still don't know where is assets, neither where I transfer/put the .txt and .jpg files I want to use with my app. I develop using studio.

How to transfer a txt data file to my Android app

2 Answers2