How to open Files in flutter windows with default app - windows

I am able to open PDF file with the below code in flutter windows platform,
Process.run(
'C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat DC\\Acrobat\\Acrobat.exe', [_path]);
My problem is specifying the path to the app, it can be different!
Is there a way to open the file automatically with the Windows Standard App?
For example: .pdf files with Acrobath Reader, .txt files with Notepad, .csv with Excel ....etc
Thx for Help!

The Win32 API for this is ShellExecute
https://pub.dev/documentation/win32/latest/win32/ShellExecute.html
Example:
final verb = 'open'.toNativeUtf16();
final file = 'yourfile.pdf'.toNativeUtf16();
final params = ''.toNativeUtf16();
final path = 'C:\yourfolder\'.toNativeUtf16();
ShellExecute(0, verb, file, params, path, SW_SHOW);

The new answer is (I only care about Windows):
// incoming path uses forward slashes
Future<void> launchFile(String path, String file) async {
if (file.isEmpty) {
path = path.replaceAll("/", "\\"); // necessary for Windows
await Process.start('explorer', [path]);
}
else {
ProcessResult result = await
Process.run('cmd', ['/c', 'start', '', '$path/$file']);
if (result.exitCode == 0) {
// good
}
else {
// bad
}
}
}
The /c will close the cmd window after launch. Explorer seems to prefer backslashes.
I asked ChatGPT to tell me how to deal with spaces in filenames because I could not figure it out. Apparently I needed an empty parameter after 'start'.
Code is minimal to show the basics; add your own error detection/handling, etc.

Related

NativeScript: How to copy a file from an apps folder to a user accessible folder?

I want to copy storage.db to documents or downloads folder. It's very easy to get the file path:
const filePath = application.android.context.getDatabasePath("storage.db").getAbsolutePath();
But, what isn't that easy is to copy that file to a folder users have access to. I searched this whole forum, and I found nothing useful for my case.
I'm using NativeScript 4.0.1 with vanilla JS.
If you want to share the DB file, the easiest way is to use nativescript-share-file plugin, send the file path and it will give you a nice dialog with intent picker, user may choose to Email the file Or save it to local folder etc.,
const shareFile = new ShareFile();
shareFile.open({
path: filePath,
});
I finally found the solution. I've seen so many users trying to achieve this, and I hope this will help all of you.
Add this to your AndroidManifest.xml:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
Install nativescript-permissions:
npm i nativescript-permissions
Asking for permission:
const permissions = require('nativescript-permissions');
permissions.requestPermission(android.Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, "");
Require the necessary modules:
const fileSystemModule = require("tns-core-modules/file-system");
const application = require("application");
Then, create this function where you need to use it:
function copyFile() {
var myInput = new java.io.FileInputStream(appModule.android.context.getDatabasePath("storage.db").getAbsolutePath());
var myOutput = new java.io.FileOutputStream("/storage/emulated/0/databases/storage.db");
try {
var buffer = java.lang.reflect.Array.newInstance(java.lang.Byte.class.getField("TYPE").get(null), 1024);
var length;
while ((length = myInput.read(buffer)) > 0) {
myOutput.write(buffer, 0, length);
}
}
catch (err) {
console.info("Error", err);
}
//Close the streams
myOutput.flush();
myOutput.close();
myInput.close();
}
exports.copyFile = copyFile;
In my case, the file storage.db will be copied to /storage/emulated/0/databases. If you need to create a folder, just do the following:
try {
var javaFile = new java.io.File("/storage/emulated/0/newfolder");
if (!javaFile.exists()) {
javaFile.mkdirs();
javaFile.setReadable(true);
javaFile.setWritable(true);
}
}
catch (err) {
console.info("Error", err);
}
If the destination folder has a file with the same name as the one you want to copy, you need to remove it first. That's why you should create a specific folder to guarantee it's empty.

How to include resources to application for windows phone?

I have a problem: I created new c# project for windows phone (in VS 2013) and set test file property as "Copy if newer", but I cannot see file in emulator's Local folder. What do I do wrong?
More detailed:
Create app:
File->New->Project->Templates->Visual C#->Store Apps->Windows Phone Apps->Blank App (Windows Phone)
set test file property
run on emulator (there is a button for this) and list files with code:
async void listFolder()
{
StorageFolder local = Windows.Storage.ApplicationData.Current.LocalFolder;
Stack<StorageFolder> stack = new Stack<StorageFolder>();
stack.Push(local);
StorageFolder current;
string path;
byte[] bytes;
StorageFile logFile = await local.CreateFileAsync("log.txt", CreationCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting);
using (var s = await logFile.OpenStreamForWriteAsync())
{
while (stack.Count > 0)
{
current = stack.Pop();
foreach (StorageFolder f in await current.GetFoldersAsync())
{
stack.Push(f);
}
path = current.Path;
bytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(current.Path + "\n");
s.Write(bytes, 0, bytes.Length);
foreach (StorageFile f in await current.GetFilesAsync())
{
bytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(f.Path + "\n");
s.Write(bytes, 0, bytes.Length);
}
s.Flush();
}
}
}
Check file with Windows Phone Power Tools. Local folder contains log.txt only. Log contains Local directory and log file. No TestText.txt
How do I include file to application and access it on emulator?
Limitations:
I do need to held data on local storage (no web links, no cloud)
If you want to access files that come with your package, then you need to use Package.InstalledLocation, you won't find those files in ApplicationData.LocalFolder.
Note that files included in Package are read-only and you won't be able to write them.
Some more information you will also find at this answer.

Saving custom Word document using FilePicker in Windows Store app

I am making a Windows Store application and I want to allow users that press an "Export To Word" button to have all the data that they have input into the app to be displayed in a Word document and saved to a desired location on their computer. The code below is a test segment of code that almost does what I am after, however after saving the document and opening it using Word rather than the app, it cannot open the file due to it being corrupted apparently. However when you open it in Notepad the text is displayed as I want.
private async void exportToWord_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
await ExportToWord();
}
private async Task ExportToWord()
{
// Create the picker object and set options
Windows.Storage.Pickers.FileSavePicker savePicker = new Windows.Storage.Pickers.FileSavePicker();
savePicker.SuggestedStartLocation = Windows.Storage.Pickers.PickerLocationId.DocumentsLibrary;
// Dropdown of file types the user can save the file as
savePicker.FileTypeChoices.Add("Word", newList<string>{".docx"});
// Default file name if the user does not type one in or select a file to replace
savePicker.SuggestedFileName = "Test";
Windows.Storage.StorageFile file = await savePicker.PickSaveFileAsync();
MessageDialog mD;
if (file != null)
{
// Prevent updates to the remote version of the file until we finish
// making changes and call CompleteUpdatesAsync.
Windows.Storage.CachedFileManager.DeferUpdates(file);
// write to file
await Windows.Storage.FileIO.WriteTextAsync(file, createContentsOfFile());
// Let Windows know that we're finished changing the file so the other
// app can update the remote version of the file.
// Completing updates may require Windows to ask for user input.
Windows.Storage.Provider.FileUpdateStatus updateStatus = await Windows.Storage.CachedFileManager.CompleteUpdatesAsync(file);
if (updateStatus == Windows.Storage.Provider.FileUpdateStatus.Complete)
{
mD = newMessageDialog("Connect exported to:" + file, "Export Successful");
}
else
{
mD = newMessageDialog("Could not save file. Try again", "Export Unsuccessful");
}
}
else
{
mD = newMessageDialog("Operation canceled because the file could not be found. Try again", "Export Unsuccessful");
}
await mD.ShowAsync();
}
private string createContentsOfFile()
{
return "Testing...";
}
I believe the issue is that I am outputting plain text to the Word document but it needs to be in a certain format to be output correctly and be displayed in a Word doc. Is there any way of doing this in Windows Store apps?
Any help would be appreciated.
I'm not aware of any Word doc components available for Windows Runtime apps (Microsoft doesn't provide one, but there could be a third party component I'm not aware of).
You can get documentation on the docx format and for simple text it may not be too complex (I'm not sure), or you can use another format which Word can open.
If you don't need formatting I'd probably stick with txt.
If you need small amounts of formatting then rtf is a good option. It is fairly simple to generate yourself or the RichEditBox can export RTF format text which you can then save into a .doc file and open in Word.

Where are files saved while debugging a Silverlight 5 Application in Internet Explorer 10?

I have some code that saves an xml file to the file system.
public static void Save(T obj, string FileName)
{
if (Application.Current.HasElevatedPermissions)
{
string myDocuments = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments);
string path = System.IO.Path.Combine(myDocuments, FileName);
using (var writer = new StreamWriter(path))
{
var serializer = new XmlSerializer(typeof(T));
serializer.Serialize(writer, obj);
writer.Flush();
}
}
else
{
throw new Exception("Cannot Save File. Application Requires Elevated permissions.");
}
}
While debugging using Internet Explorer 10 the file is not saved to the listed path in the path variable "C:\Users\Travis\Documents\Save.xml"
I call load with the exact same path "C:\Users\Travis\Documents\Save.xml" and the file loads correctly but the file still does not exist at the listed location.
I searched the file system with no results for Save.xml but it has to exist since it is able to load after application exit.
If I access the same page using Chrome the file is created successfully at the location.
I am wondering where Internet Explorer saves the file?
I found that if I uncheck "Enable Protected Mode" in IE's Security tab then the file is created in the location as expected.

NotifyFilter of FileSystemWatcher not working

I have a windows service (and verified the code by creating a similar WinForms application) where the NotifyFilter doesn't work. As soon as I remove that line of code, the service works fine and I can see the event-handler fire in the WinForms application.
All I'm doing is dropping a text file into the input directory for the FileSystemWatcher to kick off the watcher_FileChanged delegate. When I have the _watcher.NotifyFilter = NotifyFilters.CreationTime; in there, it doesn't work. When I pull it out, it works fine.
Can anyone tell me if I'm doing something wrong with this filter?
Here is the FSW code for the OnStart event.
protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
_watcher = new FileSystemWatcher(#"C:\Projects\Data\Test1");
_watcher.Created += new FileSystemEventHandler(watcher_FileChanged);
_watcher.NotifyFilter = NotifyFilters.CreationTime;
_watcher.IncludeSubdirectories = false;
_watcher.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
_watcher.Error += new ErrorEventHandler(OnError);
}
private void watcher_FileChanged(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e)
{
// Folder with new files - one or more files
string folder = #"C:\Projects\Data\Test1";
System.Console.WriteLine(#"C:\Projects\Data\Test1");
//Console.ReadKey(true);
// Folder to delete old files - one or more files
string output = #"C:\Temp\Test1\";
System.Console.WriteLine(#"C:\Temp\Test1\");
//Console.ReadKey(true);
// Create name to call new zip file by date
string outputFilename = Path.Combine(output, string.Format("Archive{0}.zip", DateTime.Now.ToString("MMddyyyy")));
System.Console.WriteLine(outputFilename);
//Console.ReadKey(true);
// Save new files into a zip file
using (ZipFile zip = new ZipFile())
{
// Add all files in directory
foreach (var file in Directory.GetFiles(folder))
{
zip.AddFile(file);
}
// Save to output filename
zip.Save(outputFilename);
}
DirectoryInfo source = new DirectoryInfo(output);
// Get info of each file into the output directory to see whether or not to delete
foreach (FileInfo fi in source.GetFiles())
{
if (fi.CreationTime < DateTime.Now.AddDays(-1))
fi.Delete();
}
}
I've been having trouble with this behavior too. If you step through the code (and if you look at MSDN documenation, you'll find that NotifyFilter starts off with a default value of:
NotifyFilters.FileName | NotifyFilters.DirectoryName | NotifyFilters.LastWrite
So when you say .NotifyFilter = NotifyFilters.CreationTime, you're wiping out those other values, which explains the difference in behavior. I'm not sure why NotifyFilters.CreationTime is not catching the new file... seems like it should, shouldn't it!
You can probably just use the default value for NotifyFilter if it's working for you. If you want to add NotifyFilters.CreationTime, I'd recommend doing something like this to add the new value and not replace the existing ones:
_watcher.NotifyFilter = _watcher.NotifyFilter | NotifyFilters.CreationTime;
I know this is an old post but File Creation time is not always reliable. I came across a problem where a Log file was being moved to an archive folder and a new file of the same name was created in it's place however the file creation date did not change, in fact the meta data was retained from the previous file (the one that was moved to the archive) .
Windows has this cache on certain attributes of a file, file creation date is included. You can read the article on here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/172190.

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