QStandardPaths & Android

J.Hilk

Hell everyone,

I have some trouble with crossplatform file management.

In my app, I create a temporary pdf and I want to attach it to the native E-Mail programm.

I'm using this code for the file location:

QString filePath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::TempLocation) + "/" + name + "."+ extension;

It works fine in Ios, but in Android this results in /data/user/0/myApp/cache/name.pdf, and I'm unable to attach the file to the E-Mail programm.
If I use a fixed hardcoded path, lets say /sdcard/Download/name.pdf the file is attached properly.

My guess is, that QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::TempLocation) is not a readable location for external programms, under Android?

Is there a StandardPath that would allow this ?

J.Hilk

So I ended up with the following solution, because @VRonin link/example is really extensive and, so do I feel at least, overkill.

void EmailPopup::showEmailPopup(QString receiver, QString extension)
{
#if defined(Q_OS_IOS)
    QString filePath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::TempLocation) + "/" + extension + "."+ extension;
    _impl->showEmail(receiver.toLatin1().data(), filePath.toLatin1().data());
#elif defined(Q_OS_ANDROID)
    QtAndroid::requestPermissions(QStringList("android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"), [this, receiver, extension](QtAndroid::PermissionResultMap resultHash){
        if(resultHash["android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"] == QtAndroid::PermissionResult::Granted){
            QString filePath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::DocumentsLocation) + "/" + extension + "."+ extension;

            QAndroidJniObject javaFilenameStr = QAndroidJniObject::fromString(filePath);
            QAndroidJniObject javaSendToStr = QAndroidJniObject::fromString(receiver);

            QAndroidJniObject::callStaticMethod<void>("app/email/Mailer","sendMail","(Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V", javaFilenameStr.object<jstring>(), javaSendToStr.object<jstring>());
        }else{
            emit errorMessage(tr("Sending E-Mails with attachment requires permission to write"));
       }
    });


#else
    Q_UNUSED(receiver)
    Q_UNUSED(extension)
#endif
}

I decided to use QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::DocumentsLocation) when on Android, thats a path, that allows all apps to access, but requires extra permission.

If the user does not grand the permission he/she can not send the pdf file. But it's checked and requested each time he/she tries to send one. In case once mind changes.

Works fine.

VRonin

This is actually explained in a blog post by @ekkescorner : http://blog.qt.io/blog/2017/12/01/sharing-files-android-ios-qt-app/

J.Hilk

@VRonin thanks, I was not aware of that. Its a rather lengthly post, but I'll read through it.

In the end, I could potentially simply create a folder at /sdcard/MyCompany/MyApp and call it a day. But that doesn't seem very future proof and it would at the very least require external read and write permission.

And I'm hesitant to go that route.

jsulm

@J.Hilk Not all smartphones have a SDCard.

J.Hilk

@jsulm sofar all Android devices refer to the internal solid state memory as "sdcard", confused the hell out of me before too. => /sdcard/ has existed an all the devices I had since 2012

jsulm

@J.Hilk OK, good to know

J.Hilk

So I ended up with the following solution, because @VRonin link/example is really extensive and, so do I feel at least, overkill.

void EmailPopup::showEmailPopup(QString receiver, QString extension)
{
#if defined(Q_OS_IOS)
    QString filePath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::TempLocation) + "/" + extension + "."+ extension;
    _impl->showEmail(receiver.toLatin1().data(), filePath.toLatin1().data());
#elif defined(Q_OS_ANDROID)
    QtAndroid::requestPermissions(QStringList("android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"), [this, receiver, extension](QtAndroid::PermissionResultMap resultHash){
        if(resultHash["android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"] == QtAndroid::PermissionResult::Granted){
            QString filePath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::DocumentsLocation) + "/" + extension + "."+ extension;

            QAndroidJniObject javaFilenameStr = QAndroidJniObject::fromString(filePath);
            QAndroidJniObject javaSendToStr = QAndroidJniObject::fromString(receiver);

            QAndroidJniObject::callStaticMethod<void>("app/email/Mailer","sendMail","(Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V", javaFilenameStr.object<jstring>(), javaSendToStr.object<jstring>());
        }else{
            emit errorMessage(tr("Sending E-Mails with attachment requires permission to write"));
       }
    });


#else
    Q_UNUSED(receiver)
    Q_UNUSED(extension)
#endif
}

I decided to use QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::DocumentsLocation) when on Android, thats a path, that allows all apps to access, but requires extra permission.

If the user does not grand the permission he/she can not send the pdf file. But it's checked and requested each time he/she tries to send one. In case once mind changes.

Works fine.