Unable to download a PDF file created with an API

Daniel_Metzger1 · October 9, 2021, 10:06pm

Hi All,

My app creates a table of insulin doses in HTML for a nice screen view, and then optionally to an API (html2pdf.app) to create a PDF file, using the Web Component.

This works beautifully in the Companion, the file is written to the Companion's ASD and can be shared with a Sharing component no problem.

So I don't think the problem is with the API.

When I create an APK, everything works, up to the point the HTML file is sent to the API and it attempts to download it to the app's ASD. I get an error message "Error 908: The permission WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE has been denied. Please enable it in the settings app." This is on both a Pixel running Android 12 beta, and a tablet running Android 11.

I looked in the APK manifest and deleted the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, as I've seen suggested. Then the APK, when run, does ask for permission to access media and files, but then I get the same error message.

I also tried to direct the API file to the /storage/emulated/0/Download folder using the File MakeFullPath block and Shared scope, that didn't work.

So I gather this is a storage permissions problem. My question is whether anyone has a suggestion about how to do this with AI2's current version? Or if they thought the new Storage Access Framework extension would work (although I'm not sure I understand how I'd do that)?

Many thanks for any suggestions.

Taifun · October 10, 2021, 1:24am

This is a known bug...
As workaround set the default file scope to Legacy in the Designer Screen settings
Taifun

Daniel_Metzger1 · October 10, 2021, 5:49am

Thanks! That worked perfectly. Much appreciated.

Anke · October 10, 2021, 6:48am

But how was it possible to remove WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE in the Manifest? That could only be possible because DefaultFileScope was already set to Legacy in the Designer. Since only then WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE is declared in the Manifest on devices with Android 11+.

So your statement that you removed WRITE permission from the Manifest doesn't seem to be true.

Daniel_Metzger1 · October 10, 2021, 7:56am

Sorry, I was incomplete in what I said. With DefaultFileScope set to App, the manifest showed:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
    <uses-permission android:maxSdkVersion="29" android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

What I meant was I deleted both of those.

With DefaultFileScope now set to Legacy, the manifest shows:

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

Anke · October 10, 2021, 9:01am

Yes, because with DefaultFileScope = App WRITE permission is only declared on devices with Android < 11 (API < 29).

But that's exactly how it should be, because WRITE permission is no longer available on devices with Android 11+. So declaring WRITE on devices running Android 11+ should have no effect. In this respect, this is illogical / wrong and of course a bug.

In fact, no permission at all should be requested for this.

Daniel_Metzger1 · October 10, 2021, 4:34pm

Right! Which is why setting the DefaultFileScope to Legacy didn't seem intuitive. But at least it works until the bug is fixed.

rouhollah_Afshari · July 7, 2026, 5:19pm

Hi Everybody

I have the same question.

I have a webviewer that it has 4 tables. the data on tables was filled by APP. finally i would like to create pdf by this webviewer. I use following .html file.
when I check the .html file in windows, it works but it doesn’t work when I create .apk file.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html><head><meta charset="utf-8"/>
<style>
body{font-family:"Times New Roman";margin:15px}
.header{background:#000;color:#fff;padding:8px;text-align:center;font-weight:bold}
table{border-collapse:collapse}
.main{width:100%;table-layout:fixed}
.main th,.main td{border:1px solid #000;padding:3px;text-align:center}
.no{width:6%}
.section{margin-top:12px}
.sectiontitle{text-align:center;font-weight:bold;font-size:18px;margin:6px}
input{width:95%;border:none;border-bottom:1px solid #000;text-align:center}
.bottom{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:15px;margin-top:15px}
.small{width:100%}
.small th,.small td{border:1px solid #000;padding:4px}
.small .n{width:12%}.small .a{width:22%}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div id="examContent">
<div class="info">Student Name:<span id="StudentName"></span> Grade:<span id="Grade"></span> Date:<span id="ExamDate"></span> Duration:<span id="Duration"></span><table><tr><th colspan="2">Teacher Marking</th></tr><tr><td>T1</td><td id="Mark1"></td></tr><tr><td>T2</td><td id="Mark2"></td></tr><tr><td>T3</td><td id="Mark3"></td></tr><tr><td>T4</td><td id="Mark4"></td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td id="TotalMark"></td></tr></table></div>
<div class="header">UCMAS INTERNATIONAL GRADING EXAMINATION (MENTAL ARITHMETIC)</div>
<div class="section">
<div class="sectiontitle">Addition / Subtraction</div>
<table class="main"><tr><th class="no">No</th><th>Table 1</th><th>Table 2</th><th>Table 3</th><th>Table 4</th><th>Table 5</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td id="T1_1_1"></td><td id="T1_1_2"></td><td id="T1_1_3"></td><td id="T1_1_4"></td><td id="T1_1_5"></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td id="T1_2_1"></td><td id="T1_2_2"></td><td id="T1_2_3"></td><td id="T1_2_4"></td><td id="T1_2_5"></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td id="T1_3_1"></td><td id="T1_3_2"></td><td id="T1_3_3"></td><td id="T1_3_4"></td><td id="T1_3_5"></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td id="T1_4_1"></td><td id="T1_4_2"></td><td id="T1_4_3"></td><td id="T1_4_4"></td><td id="T1_4_5"></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td id="T1_5_1"></td><td id="T1_5_2"></td><td id="T1_5_3"></td><td id="T1_5_4"></td><td id="T1_5_5"></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td id="T1_6_1"></td><td id="T1_6_2"></td><td id="T1_6_3"></td><td id="T1_6_4"></td><td id="T1_6_5"></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td id="T1_7_1"></td><td id="T1_7_2"></td><td id="T1_7_3"></td><td id="T1_7_4"></td><td id="T1_7_5"></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td id="T1_8_1"></td><td id="T1_8_2"></td><td id="T1_8_3"></td><td id="T1_8_4"></td><td id="T1_8_5"></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td id="T1_9_1"></td><td id="T1_9_2"></td><td id="T1_9_3"></td><td id="T1_9_4"></td><td id="T1_9_5"></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td id="T1_10_1"></td><td id="T1_10_2"></td><td id="T1_10_3"></td><td id="T1_10_4"></td><td id="T1_10_5"></td></tr><tr><td>Ans</td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A1_1" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A1_2" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A1_3" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A1_4" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A1_5" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></table></div>
<div class="section">
<div class="sectiontitle">Addition / Subtraction</div>
<table class="main"><tr><th class="no">No</th><th>Table 1</th><th>Table 2</th><th>Table 3</th><th>Table 4</th><th>Table 5</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td id="T2_1_1"></td><td id="T2_1_2"></td><td id="T2_1_3"></td><td id="T2_1_4"></td><td id="T2_1_5"></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td id="T2_2_1"></td><td id="T2_2_2"></td><td id="T2_2_3"></td><td id="T2_2_4"></td><td id="T2_2_5"></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td id="T2_3_1"></td><td id="T2_3_2"></td><td id="T2_3_3"></td><td id="T2_3_4"></td><td id="T2_3_5"></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td id="T2_4_1"></td><td id="T2_4_2"></td><td id="T2_4_3"></td><td id="T2_4_4"></td><td id="T2_4_5"></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td id="T2_5_1"></td><td id="T2_5_2"></td><td id="T2_5_3"></td><td id="T2_5_4"></td><td id="T2_5_5"></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td id="T2_6_1"></td><td id="T2_6_2"></td><td id="T2_6_3"></td><td id="T2_6_4"></td><td id="T2_6_5"></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td id="T2_7_1"></td><td id="T2_7_2"></td><td id="T2_7_3"></td><td id="T2_7_4"></td><td id="T2_7_5"></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td id="T2_8_1"></td><td id="T2_8_2"></td><td id="T2_8_3"></td><td id="T2_8_4"></td><td id="T2_8_5"></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td id="T2_9_1"></td><td id="T2_9_2"></td><td id="T2_9_3"></td><td id="T2_9_4"></td><td id="T2_9_5"></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td id="T2_10_1"></td><td id="T2_10_2"></td><td id="T2_10_3"></td><td id="T2_10_4"></td><td id="T2_10_5"></td></tr><tr><td>Ans</td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A2_1" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A2_2" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A2_3" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A2_4" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="A2_5" inputmode="decimal" spellcheck="false" type="text"/></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></table></div>
<div class="bottom">
<div>
<div class="sectiontitle">Multiplication</div>
<table class="small">
<tr><th class="n">No</th><th>Question</th><th class="a">Answer</th></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td id="M1"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM1" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td id="M2"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM2" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td id="M3"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM3" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td id="M4"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM4" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td id="M5"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM5" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td id="M6"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM6" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td id="M7"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM7" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td id="M8"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM8" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td id="M9"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM9" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td id="M10"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AM10" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr></table></div><div><div class="sectiontitle">Division</div><table class="small"><tr><th class="n">No</th><th>Question</th><th class="a">Answer</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td id="D1"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD1" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td id="D2"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD2" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td id="D3"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD3" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td id="D4"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD4" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td id="D5"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD5" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td id="D6"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD6" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td id="D7"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD7" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td id="D8"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD8" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td id="D9"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD9" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td id="D10"></td><td><input autocomplete="off" id="AD10" inputmode="numeric" spellcheck="false" step="1" type="number"/></td></tr></table></div></div>

<script>

function sendExamAnswers(){

    let result = {

        table1: [],
        table2: [],
        table3: [],
        table4: []

    };

    // --------------------------
    // Table 1
    // --------------------------

    for(let i=1;i<=5;i++){

        result.table1.push(
            document.getElementById("A1_"+i).value
        );

    }

    // --------------------------
    // Table 2
    // --------------------------

    for(let i=1;i<=5;i++){

        result.table2.push(
            document.getElementById("A2_"+i).value
        );

    }

    // --------------------------
    // Table 3
    // --------------------------

    for(let i=1;i<=10;i++){

        result.table3.push(
            document.getElementById("AM"+i).value
        );

    }

    // --------------------------
    // Table 4
    // --------------------------

    for(let i=1;i<=10;i++){

        result.table4.push(
            document.getElementById("AD"+i).value
        );

    }

    window.AppInventor.setWebViewString(
        JSON.stringify(result)
    );

}

function downloadPDF(){

    let element=document.getElementById("examContent");

    let opt={

        margin:0.5,

        filename:"Exam.pdf",

        image:{
            type:'jpeg',
            quality:1
        },

        html2canvas:{
            scale:2
        },

        jsPDF:{
            unit:'in',
            format:'a4',
            orientation:'portrait'
        }

    };

    html2pdf().set(opt).from(element).save();

}

function PrintPage(){

    window.print();

}



</script>


<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/html2canvas/1.4.1/html2canvas.min.js"></script>

<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jspdf/2.5.1/jspdf.umd.min.js"></script>

<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/html2pdf.js/0.10.1/html2pdf.bundle.min.js"></script>


<div style="text-align:center;margin:20px;">

<button onclick="downloadPDF()"
style="
padding:12px 30px;
font-size:18px;
background:#1976d2;
color:white;
border:none;
border-radius:8px;
cursor:pointer;">
Download PDF
</button>

</div>
</div>

</body>

</html>

TIMAI2 · July 7, 2026, 6:27pm

where is it ?

rouhollah_Afshari · July 7, 2026, 8:13pm

html text

rouhollah_Afshari · July 7, 2026, 8:16pm

I Pasted the html file in my request, but i don't know why it didn't send.
I uploaded it in somewhere and send the link here:

file

TIMAI2 · July 7, 2026, 10:00pm

If using the native webviewer component, you will need an extension -> webviewextra in order to facilitate a download.

Tested and working, but you do not get a notification or toast with the download.

Example blocks, using html file from assets:

Taifun · July 8, 2026, 6:50am

Because it must be formatted accordingly to apoear
I did this now for you

Taifun

rouhollah_Afshari · July 14, 2026, 1:57pm

Thank you so much.
I use your prepare method, when I click on "Download PDF" button, two messages appear:

got base64 from blob

after this message:
2) Downloading blob to file

but I can't find the downloaded file in phone.
Where it downloaded?

TIMAI2 · July 14, 2026, 5:36pm

See here for filename format:

also note that a download may not work for an html file in the assets, it may need to be in an online server.