File component - save (all types of) files in the Private dir (→ internal storage)

Peter · July 13, 2021, 8:44am

The permissions from the last companion on Google Play are:

This app has access to:

Contacts

read your contacts
find accounts on the device

Identity

add or remove accounts
find accounts on the device

Camera

take pictures and videos

Microphone

record audio

Storage

read the contents of your USB storage
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage

Wi-Fi connection information

view Wi-Fi connections

Phone

read phone status and identity

Photos/Media/Files

read the contents of your USB storage
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage

Location

approximate location (network-based)
access extra location provider commands
precise location (GPS and network-based)

Device ID & call information

read phone status and identity

Device & app history

read sensitive log data

Other

view configured accounts
control Near Field Communication
pair with Bluetooth devices
mock location sources for testing
view network connections
control vibration
access Bluetooth settings
full network access
act as the AccountManagerService
use accounts on the device

The permissions from this companion from the testserver are:

Camera
Contacts
Location
Microphone
Phone

So i guess in order to use it you have to set permissions yourself. I was not able to upload any asset to the phone using the companion.

Peter · July 13, 2021, 8:50am

This is from the androidmanifest.xml from the test companion

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.googleapps.permission.GOOGLE_AUTH"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.NFC"/>
<uses-permission android:maxSdkVersion="18" android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MANAGE_ACCOUNTS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.USE_CREDENTIALS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCOUNT_MANAGER"/>
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.apps.googlevoice.permission.RECEIVE_SMS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.apps.googlevoice.permission.SEND_SMS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA"/>
<uses-permission android:maxSdkVersion="18" android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_MOCK_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_LOCATION_EXTRA_COMMANDS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_LOGS"/>

But in my phone i could only see:
Camera
Contacts
Location
Microphone
Phone

Anke · July 13, 2021, 8:53am

Is this a general statement or does it relate to my problem? Of course, no permissions should be required to read from the assets.

Peter · July 13, 2021, 8:56am

I don't know if it relates to your problem, it was just something i noticed and thought that maybe it could be related

Peter · July 13, 2021, 8:58am

If i try to upload an asset using the companion i get the following error.

vknow360 · July 13, 2021, 8:59am

That's obvious.
You need to either reload page or reconnect to companion.

Peter · July 13, 2021, 9:01am

No, this happens with a new connection after a reset connection. So totally fresh.

Anke · July 13, 2021, 9:10am

Android version?

vknow360 · July 13, 2021, 9:17am

Yes I get that error sometime ,but after reloading that is gone.

Sorry, I misunderstood.

Peter · July 13, 2021, 9:20am

Android 11, pixel 4a

SteveJG · July 13, 2021, 12:32pm

I have issues with Android 4.2, 5.1 and 8.1 with the required Companion. It will not load.

This QR links to ai2.appinventor.mit.edu/b/64u7 fails to load either using Companion or Companion with the message : Error: Invalid Link

Is the 'new' testing companion compatible with Android 8.1 and lower?
How large is the test companion apk?

Steve

edit 30 minutes later: after multiple tries was able to download 2.60file1 on Android 5.1 and 8.1

ewpatton · July 13, 2021, 1:08pm

Can you let me know the project name in your account? I can run some tests with a local build server to understand why the assets aren't being included.

TIMAI2 · July 13, 2021, 1:14pm

My experience:
Device: Google Pixel 4A Android 11
Using Companion App 2.60file1
I checked both READ and WRITE permissions in the Designer

Copy to worked from assets to Private using // in front of filename for assets and blank for destination
Copy to worked from assets to ASD using // in front of filename for assets and / for destination
Using App or Shared saved a copy to file to the same place - ASD
Read File from Assets works using //
Read file from ASD worked (/), read file from Private worked (blank)
IsDirectory returned false wherever I pointed it
ListDirectory returned [] wherever I pointed it
MakeFullPath returned correct full path when setting path (?) to files

I find all the different scopes (names) a bit confusing, but guess this is just about learning what they all actually mean and do.

SteveJG · July 13, 2021, 1:24pm

Not recognizing Assets

... Project is called test . Seems same issue as Anke. This on Android 8.1

Peter · July 13, 2021, 1:27pm

My project is called test too. Not able to upload assets.

ewpatton · July 13, 2021, 1:35pm

Thanks for the pointers. I have a theory about why this might be happening.

SteveJG · July 13, 2021, 1:55pm

If the new File component is released without a tutorial with examples I expect it will be a disaster. Experts(?) are confused; what will the novices do? We should start thinking how we can present some Block examples doing this for various versions of Android.

Can the next version 187 be released without this needed File update? I am attempting to compile a collections of simple actions that fail but currently have issues retrieving any File.

What kind of specific examples can we provide for you @ewpatton to help you sort this out realizing this is an Alpha version of File and lots of stuff seems broken?

SteveJG · July 13, 2021, 2:49pm

Cannot load extensions into the Project, probably because these load into assets. Attempted to use Taifun's TaifunFile

TIMAI2 · July 13, 2021, 3:19pm

Do we need an API checker block in the File component, in order to know whether to ask for READ/WRITE permission or not, and to set the file paths accordingly for devices less than Android 10 ?

If on Android 11, will WRITE permission (and therefore READ) be granted automatically to all the scopes?

Is it possible to make the file paths (hidden in the component blocks) more transparent, in order that we have some idea of where a file will be stored ? You can save a file, and have absolutely no idea where it was saved to...

SteveJG · July 13, 2021, 3:32pm

Yes. In order to use the File and create an app that will work with various Android versions, this is essential (or developers are going to have a convoluted experience using someone's extension to determine which directory is appropriate and even then he/she will have to provide the Blocks to figure out where the pieces go.