Reading Files from Internal Storage

[rmcpdias]

Hi, good afternoon.

I have a very basic question - If I have something like this:

Where must the file be placed in order to be read?

Best Regards,
Rui

[Taifun]

from the documentation Storage

ReadFrom( fileName )

Reads text from a file in storage. Prefix the fileName with / to read from a specific file on the SD card (for example, /myFile.txt will read the file /sdcard/myFile.txt ). To read assets packaged with an application (also works for the Companion) start the fileName with // (two slashes). If a fileName does not start with a slash, it will be read from the application’s private storage (for packaged apps) and from /sdcard/AppInventor/data for the Companion.

just use the SaveFile method to save it there
but probably you like to upload your file in the Media section into your project (assets) and read it from there? just use //teste.txt then

Taifun

[Anke]

@rmcpdias

Where must the file be placed in order to be read?

The text file is saved in the privateDir (internal storage):
/data/user/0/<packageName>/files/teste.txt

See also here:

Some basics on Android storage system

From an Android point of view there are an → Internal Storage and an → External Storage . 1. Internal Storage The Internal Storage can only be accessed with a rooted device. 1.1 The app package is saved in /data/data/<packageName>/ In order to be able to debug your app, AI2 saves the assets for → Companion on devices with Android ≥ 10 (API ≥ 29): /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/edu.mit.appinventor.aicompanion3/files/assets/ Android < 10 : /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/edu.mit…

[rmcpdias]

Hello Anke.

If I connect the phone to my PC via USB, am I able to reach that folder?

Best Regards,
Rui

[Anke]

@rmcpdias

If I connect the phone to my PC via USB, am I able to reach that folder?

No, only with a rooted device.

[rmcpdias]

Hello Anke.

When I connect my phone to my computer, there is a folder called Android. Imagine that I wanted to read a file inside "Android/data/packageName/files"...what do I need to put in the file name in order for it to be read from that folder?

Best Regards,
Rui

[Anke]

@rmcpdias

Imagine that I wanted to read a file inside "Android/data/packageName/files"...what do I need to put in the file name in order for it to be read from that folder?

See here:

Save a text file or an image (Canvas) in the ASD & share it on all Android versions

How to save a file (text, Canvas: image) read and share it on all Android versions. [grafik] Note: You cannot share a text file from the → Private dir (internal storage): /data/user/0/<packageName>/files/

[rmcpdias]

So, if I understood correctly, this folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/packageName/files/

is the one that is shown when I connect my Phone to my PC via USB as:

/Android/data/packageName/files

?

[Taifun]

Both paths are identical...
The first is a full path, the second a relative path on the internal (emulated) sdcard...

You might want to elaborate, what exactly you are trying to do...

Taifun

[Anke]

@rmcpdias

So, if I understood correctly

1. This path is an → absolute path:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/packageName/files/

2. and this path is a → relative path:

/Android/data/packageName/files

Some components need a relative and others an absolute path.

3. And on top of that, some components or Android versions require a → full path:

file:///storage/emulated/0/Android/data/packageName/files/

I would recommend these 3 terms to distinguish the paths:

• relative path (e.g.): /Download
• absolute path: /storage/emulated/0/Download
• full path: file:///storage/emulated/0/Download

[rmcpdias]

Hi, I'm developing a Contacts App, that reads the contacts from a CSV file.

But I don't want to redistribute the App every time a new contact is added to the list, so the contacts file must be a in a place that's accessible both by the App and by a PC with a USB connection to the phone.

That being said, what do I need to enter on the file name in order to read if from /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/packageName/files/
?

Best Regards,
Rui

[Anke]

@rmcpdias

so the contacts file must be a in a place that's accessible both by the App and by a PC with a USB connection to the phone.

Yes, that is possible (even on Android 11).

@rmcpdias

That being said, what do I need to enter on the file name in order to read if from /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/packageName/files/
?

Did you read my guide?

[rmcpdias]

Yes, I did.

From what I understood,the filename must be "/Android/data/packageName/files/filename.extension"

Is this correct?

Best Regards,
Rui

[Anke]

@rmcpdias

the filename must be "/Android/data/packageName/files/filename.extension"

On Android 10+ (to save / read a text file with the File component) the path is:
/fileName.txt
This path is redirected to the ASD for devices with Android 10+.

and on Android < 10 the path to the ASD (for the File component) is a relative path:
/Android/data/packageName/files/fileName.txt

[Taifun]

@rmcpdias

That being said, what do I need to enter on the file name in order to read if from /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/packageName/files/

Why don't you store the file in a shared directory?
/Downloads or /Documents would be the correct place..

Taifun

[rmcpdias]

And how would I reference a shared directory such as /Downloads or /Documents?

[Taifun]

@rmcpdias

how would I reference a shared directory

As already said

@Anke

I would recommend these 3 terms to distinguish the paths:

• relative path (e.g.): /Download
• absolute path : /storage/emulated/0/Download
• full path : file:///storage/emulated/0/Download

Taifun

[rmcpdias]

So they are interchangeable? I can use any of the 3 formats?

These questions might seem silly to you but I'm only using MIT App Inventor for a week

[Taifun]

@rmcpdias

So they are interchangeable? I can use any of the 3 formats?

as @Anke already tried to explain, generally they are the same, however some components require a specific format

@Anke

And on top of that, some components or Android versions require a → full path:

please check the documentation for which type of path to use... for the file component just use the relative path

Taifun

[rmcpdias]

Hi, good afternoon.

I've been trying to save the file on /Downloads, but without success.

I've tried:

/Download/test.txt
/storage/emulated/0/Download/testt.txt
file:///storage/emulated/0/Download/text.text

But nothing worked....the file names are always appended to the ASD. For instance, if the file name is
/storage/emulated/0/Download/test.txt
it will try to save on
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/appname//storage/emulated/0/Download/test.txt

Am I doing something wrong?

Best regards,
Rui