How to download a file in iOS (Ionic 2/3)? - ios

Question

I am trying to download a file and save that file in iOS. I am using ionic-native-file plugin to achieve this. The file has been download but i could not find that file in the device.
filewrite = (): void => {
let transfer = this.fileTransfer.create();
let path = "";
let dir_name = 'Download';
let file_name = "Sample.pdf";
if (this.platform.is('ios')) {
this.platform.ready().then(() => {
path = this.file.documentsDirectory;
this.file.writeFile(path,file_name,this.pdfSrc).then((entry) => {
this.showAlert("download completed");
}, (error) => {
this.showAlert("Download Failed.");
}).catch(err=>{
this.showAlert("Download Failed catch.");
this.showAlert(err.message);
});
}
)
}
};
Download completed alert shows and the downloaded path is:
file:///var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/6DE22F30-5806-4393-830A-14C8A1F320BE/Library/Cloud/Sample.pdf
But i could not find that location in the device. Then, i google and saw here.
cordova.file.documentsDirectory - Files private to the app, but that
are meaningful to other application (e.g. Office files). Note that for
OSX this is the user's ~/Documents directory. (iOS, OSX)
So, i can't see the file actually as it is private to the application. Then i saw in the same link:
So, i tried with the both preference in my config.xml but nothing happened.
Is there any approach to download the file iOS or to dropbox or anywhere else?

Answer 1

I've struggled to find the right directory to save to on different platforms with this cordova plugin too. I landed on using file.externalRootDirectory on Android, and file.cacheDirectory on iOS.
The right location likely depends on what you intend to do with the file. In my case I just needed it stored short-term so I can open it using the user's native PDF reader.