Android created a file in Android/data/com.mypackage but looks for it in data/data/com.mypackage

Question

This is how I create the file:

File directory = null;
    File file = null;

    try {

        directory = new File(this.getExternalFilesDir(null));
    } catch (Exception ex) {

        ex.printStackTrace();
        if (!directory.exists()) {
            directory.mkdirs();
        }
    }

    file = new File(directory, "user_data.json");

    if (!file.exists()) {
        try {

            file.getParentFile().mkdirs();
            file.createNewFile();
        } catch (Exception e) {

            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

and then this file appears in:

Android/data/com.mypackage.asd/files/user_data.json

but later on when I need it, using this code:

FileInputStream fis = null;
        try {
            fis = context.openFileInput("user_data.json");
        } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

I get a NullPointerException and I see that the system looks for the file in

data/data/com.mypackage.asd/files/user_data.json

Why does it replace "Android" with "data" in the path?

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 14 '14 at 13:27

1

In the first case, you are using getExternalFilesDir().

In the second case, you are using openFileInput().

Those are not pointing to the same place.

If you want your file to be placed onto external storage, use getExternalFilesDir() everywhere.

If you want your file to be placed onto internal storage, use getFilesDir() and/or openFileInput().

answered Jun 14 '14 at 13:27

CommonsWare

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so I should replace getExternalFilesDir() with getFilesDir()? – Kaloyan Roussev Jun 14 '14 at 13:28
@J.Kowalski: That would depend on whether you want this file to be placed on internal storage or external storage. – CommonsWare Jun 14 '14 at 13:30
ok I chose to use getExternalFilesDir() everywhere. how do I read the file this way? – Kaloyan Roussev Jun 14 '14 at 13:45
1

@J.Kowalski: Use standard Java file I/O. You already have the code to get the `File`, so use `FileInputStream` or `FileReader` or whatever. – CommonsWare Jun 14 '14 at 13:47

Android created a file in Android/data/com.mypackage but looks for it in data/data/com.mypackage

1 Answers1