How to correct read file from "Downloads" folder in NativeScript app?

Question

I write a Android app on NativeScript.

I have defined required permissions in App_Resources/Android/AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

I know that it's not enough for getting access to storage, so I have requested permission in runtime and check it in System settings.

After downloading some image by browser to Downloads folder I wanna read it in my app. Initially I got a file path by nativescript-mediafilepicker, but for know I use following snippet:

console.log(fs.File.exists('/storage/emulated/0/Download/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png'));
const file = fs.File.fromPath('/storage/emulated/0/Download/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png');
file.readSync(e => console.log('ERROR ' + e));

which print in console:

JS: true
JS: ERROR Error: java.io.FileNotFoundException: /storage/emulated/0/Download/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png: open failed: EACCES (Permission denied)

What I do wrong?

UPDATE I added WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission, but it has no effect:

permissions.requestPermissions(p).then(async () => {
  const publicDirectory = android.os.Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(android.os.Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS).getAbsolutePath();
  const fullPath = `${publicDirectory}/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png`;
  const file = fs.File.fromPath(fullPath);
  file.readSync(e => console.log('ERROR ' + e));
});

JS: ERROR Error: java.io.FileNotFoundException: /storage/emulated/0/Download/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png: open failed: EACCES (Permission denied)

Your should programatically build the path using APIs, `android.os.Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(android.os.Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS).getAbsolutePath();`, now you may pass this path to file system. — Manoj, Apr 01 '20 at 01:33
I tried to do it, but has no success. I updated my question. — Sergei Krivochenko, Apr 01 '20 at 13:22
Based on the error it looks like you haven't acquired runtime permission. Can you try reproducing the issue on Playground and share the link? — Manoj, Apr 01 '20 at 17:40

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 01 '20 at 15:40

4

So, the solution is:

Add in AndroidManifest.xml

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

Add in AndroidManifest.xml

<application android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true" ...>

Get file by string path:

const file = fs.File.fromPath('/storage/emulated/0/Download/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png');
file.readSync(e => console.log('ERROR ' + e));

answered Apr 01 '20 at 15:40

Sergei Krivochenko

567
1
6
21

2

was having issues reading files and the requestLegacyExternalStorage flag fixed the problems. seems to be necessary in Android 10. – kandan Jul 01 '20 at 21:23
requestLegacyExternalStorage worked very well. Thanks! – Karan Raiyani Jan 25 '21 at 15:19

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 03 '21 at 10:41

Good morning,

My system details:

Plugin: @nativescript-community/ui-document-picker
Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS
NativeScript CLI 8.1.4
NVM 0.35.3
Node v16.13.0
NPM 8.1.0
Android 11 API Level 30
"@nativescript/core": "~8.1.1",
"@nativescript-community/ui-document-picker": "^1.1.7",
"@nativescript/android": "8.1.1",

When Open filepicker and select a PDF file from downloads folder the file.readSync sayas error:

Error: java.io.FileNotFoundException: /storage/emulated/0/Download/Test.pdf: open failed: EACCES (Permission denied)

And when call file.read says error:

Error: ReadTask returns no result.

This just happens only when targetSdkVersion is set to 30 and not in 29, but now to publish and app in Google App Store needs targetSdkVersion 30.

Thanks

quealegriamasalegre · Answer 3 · 2020-04-01T03:43:01.680

0

I think to access downloads directory you need to add also the write permission to your manifest i.e. android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

then you can build the path to your file progamaticlly using

new File(Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS).getAbsolutePath()+"/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png");

edited Apr 01 '20 at 03:43

answered Apr 01 '20 at 03:19

quealegriamasalegre

2,887
1
13
35

I tried to do it, but has no success. I updated my question. – Sergei Krivochenko Apr 01 '20 at 13:23

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 13 '21 at 07:59

Add in AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
<application android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true" ...>

Use nativescript-permissions plugin : https://www.npmjs.com/package/nativescript-permissions example:

Permissions.requestPermissions(
            [
                android.Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE,
                android.Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
            ]).then(() => {
               //your code
            };

For Android 10 API 29 you can't use getExternalStorageDirectory() because it was deprecated. more info here: https://developer.android.com/reference/android/os/Environment#getExternalStorageDirectory()

Instead of:

const file = fs.File.fromPath('/storage/emulated/0/Download/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png');

Use:

import {Utils} from '@nativescript/core';

const file = Utils.ad.getApplicationContext().getExternalFilesDir(null).getAbsolutePath() +"/7zoVG9uML7AyjwHl.png"

How to correct read file from "Downloads" folder in NativeScript app?

4 Answers4