I am trying to update my app for WatchKit and I save a NSKeyedArchiver file to the NSDocumentsDirectory normally.
With updating to app groups I need to store it in the app groups folder. The issue I am having is I cant figure out how to just get the path, and not have it referenced as a file I am looking for.
The way it is set up now is to find the file it gives the path as a NSString
/Users/ME/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/43F/data/Containers/Data/Application/5E/Documents/fav
but when I store to app groups, no matter which way I access the folder, it is returned
file:///Users/ME/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/43F/data/Containers/Data/Application/5E/Documents/fav
What is the best way to just obtain the path to the shared group, rather than have the app looking for the direct file?
So coffee deprived me had forgotten about the .path for filemanager.
NSURL *fileManagerURL = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] containerURLForSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier:#"group.com"];
NSString *tmpPath = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", fileManagerURL.path];
NSString *finalPath = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#",[string stringByAppendingString:#"/Favourites2"]];
I was running into the same problem. I was going through the whole process of building a string to my save location and now I'm switching over to app groups and using the
NSURL *fileManagerURL = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] containerURLForSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier:groupID];
Well, the problem is, now instead of a string to the location that starts with "/Users/yourname/Library..." you get "file:///Users/yourname/Library..."
Here's what I did. I created the NSURL. Then I called absoluteString on it.
NSURL groupPath = [[fileManager containerURLForSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier:groupID] absoluteString];
I now have a string that I need to strip off the first 7 characters of, then my old code works just fine, except now instead of being in the Documents directory, it's in a shared app group that can be accessed by both my old code and my new watchkit extension.
Here's the code to strip off the first 7 characters (index 6 since you start with 0), you should be able to use either method...
NSString *newGroupPath = [groupPath substringFromIndex:6];
or
NSString *newGroupPath = [groupPath substringWithRange:NSMakeRange(6, [str length]-6)];
This just removes the "file://" from the absoluteString that was made from the NSURL and gives you back your older string path the starts "/Users/YourName/Library/Developer/yada yada yada"
Hope that helps you, I have spent 4 hours figuring it out.
It seems to work for me on the simulator, I haven't tried it on the Watch yet. But at least my app is now working the way it was before, just saving the data in a shared app group. (I have a singleton that manages all of my data throughout my app, and I want that same singleton to provide data to my watch app).
Related
This is strange, but basically I download and save a video locally, and the store the url path to provide to an AVPlayer to play.
This works fine the first time I do it. I download a file, and then I can play it to my hearts content as many times UNTIL I exit the app. When I launch the app a second time, I now get a black screen when I try to play the same exact video using the same exact path.
Because I am using the Simulator I can verify that the videos and pictures indeed very much still exist in the same folder I saved them to, and I can still play them if I click on them from the Finder.
Maybe it's a caching issue? If it matters, I've saved them straight to the Library directory as I test this.
Relevant Code:
NSString *outputFile = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"video_%#.mp4", guid];
NSString *outputDirectory = [NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSApplicationSupportDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES) objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *tempPath = [outputDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:outputFile];
NSURL *fileURL = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:tempPath];
// save the video to the URL
Then I "persist" it using an NSString [fileURL path] (The way I've built this out, assume the solution requires an NSString to NSURL conversion).
Later I create an AVPlayerItem:
NSURL *url = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:persistedObject.contentURL];
NSLog(#"url: %#", url); // prints a valid location**
AVPlayerItem *item = [AVPlayerItem playerItemWithURL:url];
** for example this is a sample url location
url: file:///Users/gabriel/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/CE1FC933-808C-4003-9BE4-DEC59B787FF7/data/Containers/Data/Application/FAD072B4-B5B0-4487-8A76-57B047324A00/Library/picture_D8DEAFA5-0843-4AA3-BB32-C61E32D13579.mp4
It's been suggested I use URLForDirectory:inDomain:appropriateForURL:create:error: and URLByAppendingPathComponent: instead, which I will look into. But still confused as to why it would play when I first download it, but not after app exits when it's the same exact file.
You've made a classic mistake. You are persisting the full path. But the full path changes. Never persist a full path. Only persist the part of the path relative to the value obtained from NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains.
Given what you are doing, you should only persist the base filename (outputFile). Then when the app starts, you rebuild the full path again like you did originally but use the persisted filename to append it to the dynamically obtained path to the application support folder.
Here is the NSURL object that I am using for creating and accessing important configuration file on iOS with features:
hidden from user
not user generated file (storing configuration related to user)
not temp or cache (not possible to create later with existing data)
must be backed up by iCloud/iTunes
[NSURL fileURLWithPath:[[NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(
NSLibraryDirectory,
NSUserDomainMask,
YES) objectAtIndex:0]
stringByAppendingString:#"/important.txt"]];
As suggested in FileSystemOverview (developer.apple.com), I am storing this file under Library.
Maybe better way is storing it under Library/Application Support.
Using NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains, which takes:
enum NSSearchPathDirectory
NSApplicationDirectory
NSDeveloperApplicationDirectory
NSLibraryDirectory
NSDeveloperDirectory
NSApplicationSupportDirectory
...
enum NSSearchPathDomainMask
NSUserDomainMask
NSLocalDomainMask
NSSystemDomainMask
...
BOOL expandTilde
Is this the correct way of storing such a file?
There are couple of alternatives for NSSearchPathDirectory and NSSearchPathDomainMask.
Also what about the expandTilde, on iOS is it necessary?
Is there a better way of doing it, instead of creating path as a NSString using objectAtIndex and appending file name then converting it to NSURL?
Thanks.
Using NSApplicationSupportDirectory would be my first choice for this.
But keep a few things in mind:
Unlike the "Documents" folder, the "Library/Application Support" folder doesn't exist in an iOS app sandbox by default so you must create the folder before trying to use it.
"Hidden from the user" only means that the user won't see it under normal circumstances. But the file is easily accessible by anyone with any technical knowledge.
You do want to pass YES for the expandTilde parameter so your app returns a proper path when you run the app in the simulator. On a real iOS device, it makes little difference.
Do not use stringByAppendingString: to create paths. Use stringByAppendingPathComponent:.
NSString *appSupportPath = [NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSApplicationSupportDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES) firstObject];
NSString *filePath = [appSupportPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"important.txt"];
NSURL *fileURL = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:filePath];
You can get a direct NSURL using NSFileManager:
NSURL *appSupportURL = [[[NSFileManager defaultManager] URLsForDirectory:NSApplicationSupportDirectory inDomains:NSUserDomainMask] firstObject];
NSURL *fileURL = [appSupportURL URLByAppendingPathComponent:#"important.txt"];
I have an iOS app that stores the absolute path of files in a database and in generated html documents. I just recently updated my iPhone to iOS 8 and now when ever I run the app it seems that the app is installed in a different directory every re-compile. For example on the first build/run [[NSBundle mainBundle] bundlePath] returns something different on the next build/run. What is going on? Is this a new feature of Apple?
Update: A bug report was created
Code example:
If I run the following line over multiple build/runs then I will get a different result each time.
#define kOLD_PATH #"oldPath"
NSString* newPath = [NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSLibraryDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES) lastObject];
NSString* oldPath = [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] objectForKey:kOLD_PATH];
NSLog(#"New Path: %#", newPath);
NSLog(#"Old Path: %#", oldPath);
NSLog(#"Result: %#", [oldPath isEqualToString:newPath] ? #"Same" : #"Changed");
[[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] setObject:newPath forKey:kOLD_PATH];
[[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] synchronize];
The output looks like this over multiple runs
New Path: /var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/4FFCE2CB-580D-409A-90CB-EF2B8A1FB653/Library
Old Path: /var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/B038B2DA-F85D-4E18-A5F1-8635834EC454/Library
Result: Changed
Full Disclosure: In my app the user imports a web page (ePub) that has resources. The resources are stored with the web page. The web page also accesses resources that are part of the app bundle. To achieve this when I load the web page the base url is set to the directory the web page is in and the bundle resources are accessed via absolute file paths. Now that file paths change on every update this is broken. I tried creating symbolic links to the bundle resources but that also fails un subsequent updates.
In iOS 8, The file system layout of app containers has changed. Applications and their content are no longer stored in one root directory.
From the iOS 8 Release Notes:
The file system layout of app containers has changed on disk. Rather
than relying on hard-coded directory structure, use the
NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains function or the
URLForDirectory:inDomain:appropriateForURL:create:error: method of the
NSFileManager class. See Accessing Files and Directories in File
System Programming Guide.
This is not a bug. Make sure you use the recommended APIs (from the above quote) and you won't have a problem.
So, If you are trying to access a bundled resource you added to the project, you would use:
[[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"resourceName" ofType:#"extension"];
But if you want to use something that you put in the documents directory, you would use:
[[NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES) firstObject] stringByAppendingPathComponent:#"resourceName.extension"];
Refer Technical Note 2406 by Apple
The breaking change is
Beginning in iOS 8, the Documents and Library directories are no
longer siblings of your application's bundle.
Don't store full path/URL to your documents. Store the file name and always generate full path/URL with recommended approach.
Get the DocumentsDirectory URL
// Returns the URL to the application's Documents directory.
- (NSURL *)applicationDocumentsDirectory {
{
return [[[NSFileManager defaultManager] URLsForDirectory:NSDocumentDirectory inDomains:NSUserDomainMask] lastObject];
}
Then you get path out of url and append the file name to generate full path.
don't know if you solved your problem, but this link is possible the answer.
https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documentation/FileManagement/Conceptual/FileSystemProgrammingGuide/AccessingFilesandDirectories/AccessingFilesandDirectories.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40010672-CH3-SW10
Locating Files Using Bookmarks
A few lines before this section in the page is this text:
"Important: Although they are safe to use while your app is running, file reference URLs are not safe to store and reuse between launches of your app because a file’s ID may change if the system is rebooted. If you want to store the location of a file persistently between launches of your app, create a bookmark as described in Locating Files Using Bookmarks."
Good bye.
I think the different path for each build and run is the intended way of things happening in iOS simulator. It is not an issue.
/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/4FFCE2CB-580D-409A-90CB-EF2B8A1FB653/Library
/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/B038B2DA-F85D-4E18-A5F1-8635834EC454/Library
I found even if you use the recommended way
- (NSURL *)applicationDocumentsDirectory
{
return [[[NSFileManager defaultManager] URLsForDirectory:NSLibraryDirectory inDomains:NSUserDomainMask] lastObject];
}
The results are same. Different path for each build & run.
I'm having a problem with the code I'm writing.
I'm writing an iOS program (I'm an iOS rookie) which basically requires me to use quick look framework to view some documents on the iPhone (*.doc, *.ppt, *.pdf etc..) which are stored in the database (Core Data - SQLite, nothing external). I need to add the files somehow, but since iOS isn't really allowing me to browse through its file system I can't find and save the documents i need in database. Which kinda blocks everything else i need to do until I can get those documents from the database. (to set up table views that list the files and the details about the files etc.)
This is for a class project so it doesn't need to be perfect condition, I just need to be able to browse through a few documents while I'm presenting the project. I can add all the documents I'm going to use at one time while I'm coding and I won't need to be able to add any new files when I'm using the program during the presentation. And I don't want it to make it more complicated if i don't have to. Like connecting to an external database with the files already saved in and use a php buffer-page to connect to that database or anything like that. I don't have the necessary server system to execute that php file. I want this operation to be done inside the phone.
The solutions I was able to think of so far:
Grab some random office files from the internet and save them into the database. Then use them later.
Create image scans of some office files and "cheat" by using the scanned image instead of actual documents.
I would really appreciate it if someone can tell me another and much easier way to handle this. Please just keep in mind that while I have a programming background with Java and C#, I'm still an iOS rookie and just barely moving on from scratching the surface. So it is likely that I don't know about something iOS provides by default and I'm just pulling my hair out for nothing.
I think thats it, I hope I didn't forget anything. If you need more details I'm going to be here and I can provide them almost instantly. Thanks everyone in advance for your help.
It sounds like NSFileManager will help you.
If you place your documents into your project tree, they will be available to your app. Use NSFileManager to copy them into the app's Documents folder using something like:
- (void)placeBundleFileInDocuments:(NSString *)filename
{
NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSString *bundlePath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:[[filename lastPathComponent] stringByDeletingPathExtension] ofType:[filename pathExtension]];
NSString *documentsFolderPath = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#/", [NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES) objectAtIndex:0]];
NSString *path = [documentsFolderPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:[NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", filename]];
if ([fileManager fileExistsAtPath:path])
return;
NSError *error = nil;
[fileManager copyItemAtPath:bundlePath toPath:path error:&error];
if (error) {
NSLog(#"Unable to copy file (%#).", error.localizedDescription);
}
}
Then, you can use NSFileManager to retrieve details about the files. You might find this method useful:
- (NSDictionary *)attributesOfItemAtPath:(NSString *)path error:(NSError **)error
I hope this helps!
I have found that so far the path sent to application:openURL:sourceApplication:annotation: is:
file://localhost/private/var/mobile/Applications/<GUID>/Documents/Inbox/file
To check that the filesystem operations that I am about to perform are indeed likely to succeed (and that the url given to me is not a location outside the sandbox), it looks like I have to do this:
NSString* hdurl = [[#"file://localhost/private" stringByAppendingString:NSHomeDirectory()] stringByAppendingString: #"/"];
NSString* path = url.absoluteString;
if ([path hasPrefix:hdurl]) {
// now ready to e.g. call fopen on: [path substringFromIndex:#"file://localhost".length]
Now, I seem to vaguely recall (and this is probably wrong) that in the past I have seen the file:/// style URL being used. That would clearly cause this code to fail.
How am I to know that it will always give me a file://localhost URL prefix?
Apple's documentation on URLs is strangely missing a section on file URLs.
An NSURL that points to a file on the local file system is called a "file URL". To convert the NSURL to an NSString representing the file's path you use:
NSString *filePath = [url path];
To check to see if an NSURL represents a file URL, use:
BOOL isFileURL = [url isFileURL];
Keep in mind that if your app is passed a file URL, you will always have access to the file. There is no need to check if it starts with any prefix. Why would iOS pass you a file that you don't have access to?