Improvements to sending view intent - applications don't open when trying to open a file

[Filip]

Describe the bug
When trying to open an epub file on Android I get a message that there are no apps to open the file with although there are a few that can.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Upload a file.
2. Open the file object.
3. Click on it to open it.
4. Error. The file doesn’t open.

Expected behavior
I expected the file to be opened in one of the apps that can open epub files.

System Information:

• OS: Android 11
• Device Manufacturer/Model: Fairphone 4
• Anytype Version: e.g. 0.8.2-alpha

[edwards]

This has been quite an recurring issue with the Android version.

The fundamental issue seems to be that many applications that register for being able to open a file with intent-filter in manifest cannot accept an android:scheme value of “http”, which is what Anytype sends the intent as, along with a local HTTP URL. For example, the EPUB reader (Librera Reader) only registers to handle scheme values of “content” and “file”, not “http”, explaining why it’s unable to open it from Anytype.

It looks like one solution to this would be for the Android app to download the file, make it available via a file provider and URI, then share that with the intent.

@AndroidTeam Would the proposed solution be feasible?

[Filip]

Is it possible somehow to download the file from the file object itself? There’s no download option anywhere there. Unless you link the file somewhere else, you can’t seem to download it.

[edwards]

Just tested it out and it looks like I got the same result as you. Would you mind making a feature request for that?

[sambouwer]

Linking @Filip’s FR

Add download option to the menu file type objects

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. The only way to currently download a file on Android is if the file is linked somewhere. You can then long click on it to open a menu and download it from there. There is no such option if you open the file directly, from a relation, for instance. Describe the solution you’d like Add an option to download a file from either the hamburger menu or from long clicking on the file in the canvas.

Therefore, closing the bug report.

Edit: reopening, I can’t read… Reopening (thanks for flagging, @Filip!)

[Filip]

For anyone with this problem, Moon+ Reader seems to download the files correctly. I’d still leave the thread open in case the team want’s to try and implement @edwards idea for better compatibility with other readers.

[mikelpz]

It fails to open a PDF using the Android app. Using latest version 0.9.0.

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Open a note containing a PDF
2. Try to open the PDF
3. It shows an error.

Expected behavior
The PDF should be opened. On the iOS app it shows a preview, not sure if it should work as well on Android.

System Information:

• OS: Android 11 (e/os)
• Fairphone 4
• Anytype Version: e.g. 0.9.0

Error displayed:

[mikelpz]

I currently have these apps that handle opening PDFs, and the intent is launched when selecting a PDF file at the file manager.

GitHub - SufficientlySecure/document-viewer: Document Viewer is a highly...

GitHub - JavaCafe01/PdfViewer: A simple Pdf document viewer 💼 [DISCONTINUED]

index

[Mohammad]

Describe the bug
Not all PDF viewer apps are available to choose from when opening a PDF. (I use XODO pdf viewer to view and edit PDF files but when i open pdf from Anytype it’s not available to choose it to open the file)

Expected behavior
Listing all pdf viewer apps to choose from.

System Information:

• OS: e.g. Android 12
• Device Manufacturer/Model: Samsung S21
• Anytype Version: e.g. 0.6.0

[mordan]

@Filip @mikelpz @Mohammad Hi! Please, check it on lat latest es Android version and let me know if issue is still here

[sambouwer]

For pdf files this is not yet working: no default app set for pdf files. I have Google Drive and MS Office, but pdf files are always opening in Google Drive.

[Filip]

Pdf seem to be messed up a bit for me too. Adobe can’t seem to open them, but I’m sure it was able to open them before.
Audio seems to work now, epbu worked fine with MoonReader before and .azw3 files seem to first be downloaded using the browser.
.docx and .odt still show the no application found.
Video doesn’t work at all. The inline one.

[Filip]

This is still not working for me. I get the new sharing menu now, but adobe pdf reader no longer shows up for pdfs and moon reader for epubs.

[edwards]

I also have the new “Open with” menu with Anytype Android 0.11.0, and it fixes the issue with most of the PDF-compatible apps on the phone. Not having to download PDFs makes my Downloads folder much less cluttered and makes the app just that much more better to use; thank you for the improvement!

I’m able to confirm it’s opening with:

• Samsung PDF viewer
• Xodo PDF
• Librera Fdroid

However, GrapheneOS PDF reader (on the Play Store) complains that “cannot open file of an invalid MIME type”. Looking at the intent that is sent with an intent interceptor app, it looks like the MIME type is left blank, and resending it with MIME of application/pdf makes it work with the GrapheneOS PDF reader.

I suspect @Filip’s problem is also related to the blank MIME type - those applications might not have registered to open blank ones.

[Filip]

I’ve tested it with Librera and MoonReader and both of them show up in the new sharing menu, but they both crash on opening the files.

Edit: Correction, MoonReader seems to work fine with some of the files I uploaded earlier, but ti doesn’t work with the newer ones.