How to amend Java code to send multiple email attachments, using Sketchware?

Question

I'm really new to Java and have been building an app on Sketchware. If you're not familiar with it, it uses block programming and you can inject your own code in custom blocks.

As the storage of all app views are local only, I need all the output PDFs to be attached to an email on the press of a button.

The below code works to attach one file but need 6 files attached. All being called from /Documents/ folder on the android device. How can I achieve this?

emailIntent.putExtra(
    Intent.EXTRA_STREAM,
    Uri.fromFile(
        new java.io.File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() +"/Documents/filename.pdf")
    )
);

The filenames I have are in one folder, and are named filename1.pdf, filename2.pdf, etc.

If I try repeating this code with each filename, filename6.pdf will be the only file attached to the email.

Here's the Sketchware block diagram:

Answer 1

First of all, as other answer suggests, currently Intent.ACTION_SEND_MULTIPLE is the way to send multiple files.

But, not having a feature in built-in blocks of Sketchware is not really the exact limitation of the app, as it provides following block which is able to do anything you want in the android way.

And you have already used this element for adding some custom code. So, for solving your problem, the block will be like this:

And here is the details of some of the custom code blocks I've added:

mail.setAction(Intent.ACTION_SEND_MULTIPLE): This custom code has been added by removing default Intent > setAction block. And the action name says it all, this allows sending multiple files through intent.

ArrayList<Uri> uris = new ArrayList<Uri>(): This declares a new ArrayList to store the list of all Uri to be sent through intent.

uris.add(Uri.fromFile(new java.io.File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/Documents/filename1.pdf"))): This line adds the provided uri to the ArrayList named uris. Call this block as many times as you want to add multiple number of files uri to the list.

mail.putParcelableArrayListExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uris): This binds the uris to the EXTRA_STREAM of the intent.

Edit:

Starting from Android 7.0 and up, there is some policy change for security purpose. That's why this extra code is added. The block image above is updated with this code already:

StrictMode.VmPolicy.Builder builder = new StrictMode.VmPolicy.Builder();
StrictMode.setVmPolicy(builder.build());

Though it is advised to use android.support.v4.content.FileProvider to solve this type of issue, but for less support in Sketchware platform, at this point it is better to use above method.

You can read this for more clarification of above fix.

Answer 2

Maybe that will do the job for you.

Here is the code you need to create an emailIntent that contains multiple attachments. The key change is ACTION_SEND_MULTIPLE.

public static void email(Context context, String emailTo, String emailCC,
    String subject, String emailText, List<String> filePaths)
{
    //need to "send multiple" to get more than one attachment
    final Intent emailIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND_MULTIPLE);
    emailIntent.setType("text/plain");
    emailIntent.putExtra(android.content.Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL, 
        new String[]{emailTo});
    emailIntent.putExtra(android.content.Intent.EXTRA_CC, 
        new String[]{emailCC});
    emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, subject); 
    emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, emailText);
    //has to be an ArrayList
    ArrayList<Uri> uris = new ArrayList<Uri>();
    //convert from paths to Android friendly Parcelable Uri's
    for (String file : filePaths)
    {
        File fileIn = new File(file);
        Uri u = Uri.fromFile(fileIn);
        uris.add(u);
    }
    emailIntent.putParcelableArrayListExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uris);
    context.startActivity(Intent.createChooser(emailIntent, "Send mail..."));
}

---

Update

Post discussion in chat-room I would like to conclude that it is not possible to send multiple attachments in email with Sketchware, as it does not offer Intent.ACTION_SEND_MULTIPLE functionality. You need to send multiple emails with attachments one by one.

Above mentioned code will suffice the job you need when you have the liberty to code and this will work with Android as mentioned here.

All I could read about Sketchware is that only one file can be attached at a time, see here.