Android saving file to external storage

Question

I have a little issue with creating a directory and saving a file to it on my android application. I\'m using this piece of code to do this :

String filename         


        

Answer 1

You need a permission for this

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

and method:

public boolean saveImageOnExternalData(String filePath, byte[] fileData) {

    boolean isFileSaved = false;
    try {
        File f = new File(filePath);
        if (f.exists())
            f.delete();
        f.createNewFile();
        FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(f);
        fos.write(fileData);
        fos.flush();
        fos.close();
        isFileSaved = true;
        // File Saved
    } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
        System.out.println("FileNotFoundException");
        e.printStackTrace();
    } catch (IOException e) {
        System.out.println("IOException");
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
    return isFileSaved;
    // File Not Saved
}

Answer 2

I have created an AsyncTask for saving bitmaps.

public class BitmapSaver extends AsyncTask<Void, Void, Void>
{
    public static final String TAG ="BitmapSaver";

    private Bitmap bmp;

    private Context ctx;

    private File pictureFile;

    public BitmapSaver(Context paramContext , Bitmap paramBitmap)
    {
        ctx = paramContext;

        bmp = paramBitmap;
    }

    /** Create a File for saving an image or video */
    private  File getOutputMediaFile()
    {
        // To be safe, you should check that the SDCard is mounted
        // using Environment.getExternalStorageState() before doing this. 
        File mediaStorageDir = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()
                + "/Android/data/"
                + ctx.getPackageName()
                + "/Files"); 

        // This location works best if you want the created images to be shared
        // between applications and persist after your app has been uninstalled.

        // Create the storage directory if it does not exist
        if (! mediaStorageDir.exists()){
            if (! mediaStorageDir.mkdirs()){
                return null;
            }
        } 
        // Create a media file name
        String timeStamp = new SimpleDateFormat("ddMMyyyy_HHmm").format(new Date());
        File mediaFile;
            String mImageName="MI_"+ timeStamp +".jpg";
            mediaFile = new File(mediaStorageDir.getPath() + File.separator + mImageName);  
        return mediaFile;

    } 
    protected Void doInBackground(Void... paramVarArgs)
    {   
        this.pictureFile = getOutputMediaFile();

        if (this.pictureFile == null) { return null; }

        try
        {
            FileOutputStream localFileOutputStream = new FileOutputStream(this.pictureFile);
            this.bmp.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.PNG, 90, localFileOutputStream);
            localFileOutputStream.close();
        }
        catch (FileNotFoundException localFileNotFoundException)
        {
            return null;
        }
        catch (IOException localIOException)
        {
        }
        return null;
    }

    protected void onPostExecute(Void paramVoid)
    {
        super.onPostExecute(paramVoid);

        try
        {
            //it will help you broadcast and view the saved bitmap in Gallery
            this.ctx.sendBroadcast(new Intent("android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED", Uri
                    .parse("file://" + Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory())));

            Toast.makeText(this.ctx, "File saved", 0).show();

            return;
        }
        catch (Exception localException1)
        {
            try
            {
                Context localContext = this.ctx;
                String[] arrayOfString = new String[1];
                arrayOfString[0] = this.pictureFile.toString();
                MediaScannerConnection.scanFile(localContext, arrayOfString, null,
                        new MediaScannerConnection.OnScanCompletedListener()
                        {
                            public void onScanCompleted(String paramAnonymousString ,
                                    Uri paramAnonymousUri)
                            {
                            }
                        });
                return;
            }
            catch (Exception localException2)
            {
            }
        }
    }
}

Answer 3

For API level 23 (Marshmallow) and later, additional to uses-permission in manifest, pop up permission should also be implemented, and user needs to grant it while using the app in run-time.

Below, there is an example to save hello world! as content of myFile.txt file in Test directory inside picture directory.

In the manifest:

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

Where you want to create the file:

int permission = ActivityCompat.checkSelfPermission(MainActivity.this, Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE);

String[] PERMISSIONS_STORAGE = {Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE};

if (permission != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED)
{
     ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(MainActivity.this,PERMISSIONS_STORAGE, 1);
}

File myDir = new File(Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES), "Test");

myDir.mkdirs();

try 
{
    String FILENAME = "myFile.txt";
    File file = new File (myDir, FILENAME);
    String string = "hello world!";
    FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(file);
    fos.write(string.getBytes());
    fos.close();
 }
 catch (IOException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
 }

Answer 4

since android 4.4 file saving has been changed. there is

ContextCompat.getExternalFilesDirs(context, name);

it retuns an array.

when name is null

the first value is like /storage/emulated/0/Android/com.my.package/files

the second value is like /storage/extSdCard/Android/com.my.package/files

android 4.3 and less it retuns a single item array

parts of little messy code but it demonstrates how it works:

    /** Create a File for saving an image or video 
     * @throws Exception */
    private File getOutputMediaFile(int type) throws Exception{

        // Check that the SDCard is mounted
        File mediaStorageDir;
        if(internalstorage.isChecked())
        {
            mediaStorageDir = new File(getFilesDir().getAbsolutePath() );
        }
        else
        {
            File[] dirs=ContextCompat.getExternalFilesDirs(this, null);
            mediaStorageDir = new File(dirs[dirs.length>1?1:0].getAbsolutePath() );
        }


        // Create the storage directory(MyCameraVideo) if it does not exist
        if (! mediaStorageDir.exists()){

            if (! mediaStorageDir.mkdirs()){

                output.setText("Failed to create directory.");

                Toast.makeText(this, "Failed to create directory.", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

                Log.d("myapp", "Failed to create directory");
                return null;
            }
        }


        // Create a media file name

        // For unique file name appending current timeStamp with file name
        java.util.Date date= new java.util.Date();
        String timeStamp = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd_HHmmss",Locale.ENGLISH)  .format(date.getTime());

        File mediaFile;

        if(type == MEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO) {

            // For unique video file name appending current timeStamp with file name
            mediaFile = new File(mediaStorageDir.getPath() + File.separator + slpid + "_" + pwsid + "_" + timeStamp + ".mp4");

        }
        else if(type == MEDIA_TYPE_AUDIO) {

            // For unique video file name appending current timeStamp with file name
            mediaFile = new File(mediaStorageDir.getPath() + File.separator + slpid + "_" + pwsid + "_" + timeStamp + ".3gp");

        } else {
            return null;
        }

        return mediaFile;
    }



    /** Create a file Uri for saving an image or video 
     * @throws Exception */
    private  Uri getOutputMediaFileUri(int type) throws Exception{

          return Uri.fromFile(getOutputMediaFile(type));
    }

//usage:
        try {
            file=getOutputMediaFileUri(MEDIA_TYPE_AUDIO).getPath();
        } catch (Exception e1) {
            e1.printStackTrace();
            return;
        }

Answer 5

Update 2018, SDK >= 23.

Now you should also check if the user has granted permission to external storage by using:

public boolean isStoragePermissionGranted() {
    String TAG = "Storage Permission";
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 23) {
        if (this.checkSelfPermission(android.Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE)
                == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
            Log.v(TAG, "Permission is granted");
            return true;
        } else {
            Log.v(TAG, "Permission is revoked");
            ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, new String[]{Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE}, 1);
            return false;
        }
    }
    else { //permission is automatically granted on sdk<23 upon installation
        Log.v(TAG,"Permission is granted");
        return true;
    }
}

public void saveImageBitmap(Bitmap image_bitmap, String image_name) {
    String root = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().toString();
    if (isStoragePermissionGranted()) { // check or ask permission
        File myDir = new File(root, "/saved_images");
        if (!myDir.exists()) {
            myDir.mkdirs();
        }
        String fname = "Image-" + image_name + ".jpg";
        File file = new File(myDir, fname);
        if (file.exists()) {
            file.delete();
        }
        try {
            file.createNewFile(); // if file already exists will do nothing
            FileOutputStream out = new FileOutputStream(file);
            image_bitmap.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.JPEG, 90, out);
            out.flush();
            out.close();

        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

        MediaScannerConnection.scanFile(this, new String[]{file.toString()}, new String[]{file.getName()}, null);
    }
}

and of course, add in the AndroidManifest.xml:

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

Answer 6

Try This :

1. Check External storage device
2. Write File
3. Read File

public class WriteSDCard extends Activity {

    private static final String TAG = "MEDIA";
    private TextView tv;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
        tv = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.TextView01);
        checkExternalMedia();
        writeToSDFile();
        readRaw();
    }

    /**
     * Method to check whether external media available and writable. This is
     * adapted from
     * http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/data/data-storage.html
     * #filesExternal
     */
    private void checkExternalMedia() {
        boolean mExternalStorageAvailable = false;
        boolean mExternalStorageWriteable = false;
        String state = Environment.getExternalStorageState();
        if (Environment.MEDIA_MOUNTED.equals(state)) {
            // Can read and write the media
            mExternalStorageAvailable = mExternalStorageWriteable = true;
        } else if (Environment.MEDIA_MOUNTED_READ_ONLY.equals(state)) {
            // Can only read the media
            mExternalStorageAvailable = true;
            mExternalStorageWriteable = false;
        } else {
            // Can't read or write
            mExternalStorageAvailable = mExternalStorageWriteable = false;
        }
        tv.append("\n\nExternal Media: readable=" + mExternalStorageAvailable
            + " writable=" + mExternalStorageWriteable);
    }

    /**
     * Method to write ascii text characters to file on SD card. Note that you
     * must add a WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission to the manifest file or this
     * method will throw a FileNotFound Exception because you won't have write
     * permission.
     */
    private void writeToSDFile() {
        // Find the root of the external storage.
        // See http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/data/data-
        // storage.html#filesExternal
        File root = android.os.Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
        tv.append("\nExternal file system root: " + root);
        // See
        // http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3551821/android-write-to-sd-card-folder
        File dir = new File(root.getAbsolutePath() + "/download");
        dir.mkdirs();
        File file = new File(dir, "myData.txt");
        try {
            FileOutputStream f = new FileOutputStream(file);
            PrintWriter pw = new PrintWriter(f);
            pw.println("Hi , How are you");
            pw.println("Hello");
            pw.flush();
            pw.close();
            f.close();
        } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            Log.i(TAG, "******* File not found. Did you"
                + " add a WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission to the   manifest?");
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
        tv.append("\n\nFile written to " + file);
    }

    /**
     * Method to read in a text file placed in the res/raw directory of the
     * application. The method reads in all lines of the file sequentially.
     */
    private void readRaw() {
        tv.append("\nData read from res/raw/textfile.txt:");
        InputStream is = this.getResources().openRawResource(R.raw.textfile);
        InputStreamReader isr = new InputStreamReader(is);
        BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(isr, 8192); // 2nd arg is buffer
        // size
        // More efficient (less readable) implementation of above is the
        // composite expression
        /*
         * BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(
         * this.getResources().openRawResource(R.raw.textfile)), 8192);
         */
        try {
            String test;
            while (true) {
                test = br.readLine();
                // readLine() returns null if no more lines in the file
                if (test == null) break;
                tv.append("\n" + "    " + test);
            }
            isr.close();
            is.close();
            br.close();
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
        tv.append("\n\nThat is all");
    }
}