NullPointerException on taking a picture and save as URI

Question

I'm following this blog post to add this feature onto my app where I can take a picture then save the picture data as a Uri for further functions. But I'm getting an error when I try to open the camera intent.

java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'android.content.res.XmlResourceParser android.content.pm.ProviderInfo.loadXmlMetaData(android.content.pm.PackageManager, java.lang.String)' on a null object reference

I suspect there is something wrong with the file_paths.xml but I double checked there is nothing wrong. I've done some research on different ways of saving images through like FileProvider but most of it doesn't work for me either.

Does anyone know what's wrong with my code?

MainActivity

private void openCameraIntent() {
    Intent pictureIntent = new Intent(
            MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
    if(pictureIntent.resolveActivity(getPackageManager()) != null){
        //Create a file to store the image
        File photoFile = null;
        try {
            photoFile = createImageFile();
        } catch (IOException ex) {
            // Error occurred while creating the File
        }

        if (photoFile != null) {
            Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this,                                                         com.example.camerapplication.provider", photoFile);
            pictureIntent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_OUTPUT,
                    photoURI);
            startActivityForResult(pictureIntent,
                    REQUEST_CAPTURE_IMAGE);
        }
    }
}

@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, @Nullable Intent data) {
    if(requestCode == REQUEST_CAPTURE_IMAGE && resultCode == RESULT_OK){
        Glide.with(this).load(imageFilePath).into(image);
        // TODO:Use Image Uri for further functions
    }
}

private File createImageFile() throws IOException{
    String timeStamp = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd_HHmmss", Locale.getDefault()).format(new Date());
    String imageFileName = "IMG_" + timeStamp + "_";
    File storageDir = getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES);
    File image = File.createTempFile(imageFileName,".jpg",storageDir);
    imageFilePath = image.getAbsolutePath();

    return image;
}

Manifest

<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera" android:required="true" />

// ... Other elements and then
// Within application scope

<provider
    android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
    android:authorities="${applicationId}.provider"
    android:exported="false"
    android:grantUriPermissions="true">
    <meta-data
        android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
        android:resource="@xml/file_paths">
    </meta-data>
</provider>

file_paths.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-path name="my_images" path="Android/data/com.example.cameraapplication/files/Pictures" />
</paths>

EDITED changed to proper path="Android/data/com.example.cameraapplication/files/Pictures"

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 18 '19 at 14:33

0

Are you sure your package name is com.example.cameraapplicationfiles?

I think it should be Android/data/com.example.cameraapplication/files/Pictures

if not try something like this.

for the authorities use full string name android:authorities="com.myCameraDemo.app".

ans for the file_paths.xml <external-path name="site_images" path="Android/data/com.myCameraDemo.app/files/Pictures" />

if it works then you know where the problem is.

answered Jul 18 '19 at 14:33

Im Batman

1,842
1
31
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Yup i forgot to add "/' onto my path directory and i have tried changing based on what u suggested unfortunately it is still giving me the same error – Dexter Siah Tze Ming Jul 18 '19 at 14:45
do not use this. try your package name in manifest file `com.myCameraDemo.app` – Im Batman Jul 19 '19 at 03:35
Do you mean `com.cameraapplication.app` ? So in my authorities would be `android:authorities="com.cameraapplication.app.provider"`? – Dexter Siah Tze Ming Jul 19 '19 at 09:26
What is your app package name. ? – Im Batman Jul 19 '19 at 09:27
`com.example.cameraapplication` – Dexter Siah Tze Ming Jul 19 '19 at 09:28
Then use it `android:authorities="com.example.cameraapplication` and `` – Im Batman Jul 19 '19 at 09:34
Yupp, that solved it, I think is because in my MainActivity i forgot to change one of the line that why it couldn't work. Thanks mate – Dexter Siah Tze Ming Jul 19 '19 at 09:36
Great!. I also had same frustration when im using `file_paths.xml` and all first time. :) – Im Batman Jul 19 '19 at 09:38

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 18 '19 at 14:36

0

I think the external path should be like the following. Considering your application package name is com.example.cameraapplication.

<external-path
    name="documents"
    path="Android/data/com.example.cameraapplication/files/Pictures" />

answered Jul 18 '19 at 14:36

Reaz Murshed

23,691
13
78
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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 18 '19 at 15:04

Your error means that your application ID is not com.example.android.

In your code, you have:

Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, "com.example.android.provider", photoFile);

This means that the authority needs to be com.example.android.provider.

In your manifest, you have:

android:authorities="${applicationId}.provider"

Therefore, ${applicationId} is not com.example.android.

Your android:authorities value is fine, but you need your getUriForFile() call to match. A typical way of doing that is:

Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID+".provider", photoFile);

NullPointerException on taking a picture and save as URI

3 Answers3