Testflight update build will remove datas - ios

I have an application which downloads images/context from server.
Save images to /documents, context to database coredata.
Let say I've downloaded all the datas (app display all the necessary datas (images/context)) and for some reason I uploaded a new build of the app in testflight I then update the app on my device and when I run the app it now won't display the images that I've downloaded on the previous build but I still have the context. So my question is did the new build remove all the datas inside /documents? If so how come I still have my context datas (database coredata)?

Is your app utilizing an absolute path to the Documents folder? This is bad, as recorded here.
You would normally want to use something like:
- (NSString *)documentsDirectory
{
if (_documentsDirectory == nil)
{
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
self.documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
}
return _documentsDirectory;
}
to get the path dynamically. You could then use the following to log it contents and see what's there:
NSArray *documentsDirectory = [fileManager contentsOfDirectoryAtPath:self.dataController.documentsDirectory error:NULL];
NSLog(#"documentsDirectory is: \n%#", [documentsDirectory description]);

Related

Is document directory path constant for iOS device?

I am saving video/image in document directory.Now once the image is saved in document directory I want to save its reference in my local database.So I am thinking I can save URL of the image in the local database.
So is it constant throughout my app?
It's not constant, i have observed every time you launch the app it'll be different, but your data is moved to this new path. You can save your file name in your database, and dynamically append this file name to NSDocument directory.
- (NSString *)documentsFilePath:(NSString *)fileName {
NSArray *dirPaths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *docsDir = [dirPaths firstObject];
NSString *filePath = [docsDir stringByAppendingPathComponent:fileName];
return filePath;
}
- (void)storeFile:(NSString *)fileName {
NSString *filePath = [self documentsFilePath:fileName];
// create if needed
if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:filePath]) {
// Write your data to file system here...
}
}
- (void)deleteFile:(NSString *)fileName {
NSString *filePath = [self documentsFilePath:fileName];
if ([[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:filePath]) {
NSError *deleteErr = nil;
[[NSFileManager defaultManager] removeItemAtPath:filePath error:&deleteErr];
if (deleteErr) {
NSLog(#"Can't delete %#: %#", filePath, deleteErr);
}
}
}
Please handle nil checks and store only filename in DB
No, it's not constant. Whenever your app reinstall or updated on device the document directory will change, because when app installed on device os made an directory for app with some random id and each install this random it get changed by OS.
So, you need to make it dynamic own your own, like store the file name only and append the document directory path while using it.
I would suggest only saving the filename or subdirectory/filename (if you have a subdirectory) in the database and then only attaching that to the NSDocumentDirectory.
This will ensure that you always know where the file is...
NSDocumentDirectory is however consistent accross updates, so the files should remain in the document directory even if you update...

Loading XML config from URL on iOS - [Metaio SDK]

in must examples of Metaio SDK docs the xml's are loaded from Assets folder (more specifically, from NSBundle in iOS).
But in iOS, you can't write into a file in your app's bundle -- the entire bundle is read-only
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/Cocoa/Reference/Foundation/Classes/NSBundle_Class/index.html
In my project I need download all stuff to working with Metaio SDK, things like Videos, Sounds, 3D models and trackable images and your xml configs.
For example, from the Metaio docs, to work with a XML then are in Assets, are easy like:
NSString* MarkerTrackingFile = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"tracking" ofType:#"xml" inDirectory:#"Assets/tracking"];
But how I said, I need to get this XML from internet, so, to do this I make an method to download.
(This is just a dirty code for study, not optimized without threads and anything special, for now)
/*********************************************/
-(void)downloadXML{
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString *filePath = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#/%#", documentsDirectory,#"markerless_tracking.xml"];
NSString *contents = [NSString stringWithContentsOfFile:filePath];
NSLog(#"%#", contents);
}
After this download, I try to use this XML in my project, I confirmed this consistence, but not work when I call him with this method, but i receive the message from error: No success loading the tracking configuration
- (void) loadTrackingConfigurationFiles
{
// Markerless tracking configuration file
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSString* markerlessTrackingFile = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#/%#", documentsDirectory,#"markerless_tracking.xml"];
// We apply the correct one to the SDK
if(markerlessTrackingFile)
{
bool success = m_metaioSDK->setTrackingConfiguration([markerlessTrackingFile UTF8String]);
if( !success)
NSLog(#"No success loading the tracking configuration");
}
}
My main question is: Is possible loading a xml from outside NSBundle folder in METAIO SDK? In my project i don't have anything in local folders, everything is downloaded, tracking images, videos, sounds, xml etc, is viable the use Metaio SDK for this purpose?
I appreciate any help, examples or suggestions.

What is the hexadecimal part in the Documents folder's path?

I have a file located in my app's Documents folder. When the app is terminated I save the file's URL in the AppDelegate's applicationWillTerminate method:
// archiver init code
[archiver encodeObject:file.URL forKey:kFileURL];
// finish encoding and write data to file system
But when trying to restore the file on the next app launch the file manager cannot locate the file: After calling
NSURL *fileURL = [unarchiver decodeObjectForKey:kFileURL];
NSString *filePath = fileURL.path;
the method
[[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExists:filePath];
returns NO.
I tried to find the reason for this and I discovered that the path to the Documents folder changes with every app launch. The part that changes is the hexadecimal folder in the middle. Here are two examples:
/private/var/mobile/Applications/04083A4A-87AC-4E3C-8BA1-F002B97AE304/Documents/...
/private/var/mobile/Applications/65D136BA-42C3-887A-B947-7FE396978153/Documents/...
I always thought that the hexadecimal part is some sort of ID unique to every app. But as it changes: What exactly is that number?
And how can I relocate my file then after terminating and relaunching my app?
You should just get the directory for the document folder and then load your file.
+ (NSString *)documentDataPath
{
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
if ([paths count] == 0) {
return nil;
}
NSString *directory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
if (directory == nil) {
NSLog(#"NSDocumentDirectory not found!");
}
return directory;
}

Xcode 6 keeps renaming my app's directory in iOS8 simulator after each run.

I'm running Xcode 6 Beta 5 but this has been happening since the first beta. My app's directory in the simulator keeps being renamed after each run. It took me a while to figure this out. I'm using this to get the doc's dir reference.
NSString *folder = [NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory,
NSUserDomainMask,
YES) lastObject];
NSLog(#"Documents Dir: %#",folder);
Now for example on the first run it'll be:
/Users/Joey/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/5B9930EE-A9B4-4B36-BABB-AA864ACAF2DE/data/Containers/Data/Application/4B10C2E4-A5C3-4C64-93B1-4069FCCB9C46/Documents
Second run now it's:
/Users/Joey/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/5B9930EE-A9B4-4B36-BABB-AA864ACAF2DE/data/Containers/Data/Application/7E9EB62D-115A-4092-AD23-CB6BA3E5E10F/Documents
Third run:
/Users/Joey/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/5B9930EE-A9B4-4B36-BABB-AA864ACAF2DE/data/Containers/Data/Application/EC8F41E8-52ED-4B10-9808-B3ACC46FC6AA/Documents
This is wreaking havoc with my app because it stores path references for certain files within the app. It's not that my NSLog statement is returning incorrect results, I verified this is what happening in Finder. It's changing the name every time. Has anyone seen this happen? Is this a "feature" that I'm misunderstanding?
Turns out Xcode 6 does in fact change the app's UUID every run, and I'm in the wrong for storing absolute paths.
USE SIMPHOLDERS
I used this app on Xcode 5 opens the Documents folder, for the currently running app in the simulator, in Finder.
http://simpholders.com/
not ready for Xcode 6 yet (as of sep 24 2014) but saves all this hassle.
In Xcode 6 / iOS8 The bundle is now separate from the data./ The application GUID is regenerated between runs in Xcode (not sure why)
DOCUMENTS DIR:/Users/gbxc/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/AC79941F-EC56-495E-A077-773EEE882732/data/Containers/Data/Application/C220D351-0BE7-46BA-B35E-D16646C61A3F/Documents
mainBundlePath_:/Users/gbxc/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/AC79941F-EC56-495E-A077-773EEE882732/data/Containers/Bundle/Application/12200D1D-9B67-408B-BCF7-38206CBE0940/myappname.app/BLANK_BLOG_SCALED.jpg
1. FIND THE DEVICES FOLDER in SIMULATOR
/Users/gbxc/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/
open each /device.plist to see which GUID is which device in XCode - I think this is static
3. FIND THE DEVICE you're running on iPad 2 - I think this is static
/Devices/AC79941F-EC56-495E-A077-773EEE882732
4. Find your application /Documents folder
/AC79941F-EC56-495E-A077-773EEE882732/data/Containers/Data/Application/C220D351-0BE7-46BA-B35E-D16646C61A3F/Documents
BEWARE the GUID C220D351-0BE7-46BA-B35E-D16646C61A3F is regenerated everytime the app is run in XCode 6
NSArray *paths_ = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
if(paths_){
_docsDir = [paths_ firstObject];
DebugLog(#"DOCUMENTS DIR:%#",_docsDir);
}else{
ErrorLog(#"paths_ is nil - cant get Documents directory");
}
MAIN BUNDLE path
NSString *mainBundlePath_ = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:#"someimageinyourbundle" ofType:#"jpg"];
/AC79941F-EC56-495E-A077-773EEE882732/data/Containers/Bundle/Application/12200D1D-9B67-408B-BCF7-38206CBE0940/clarksonsiq.app/BLANK_BLOG_SCALED.jpg
NEVER CACHE THE PATH to /Documents between runs it will change.
I was serializing it to a plist and couldnt figure out why they kept disappearing
The GUID above /Documents keeps changing between runs but if you have /Documents open in Finder the folder stays open.
https://devforums.apple.com/thread/235911?tstart=0
https://devforums.apple.com/thread/238754?tstart=0
Free Solution
Use Open Source Library OpenSim. OpenSim is an open source alternative for SimPholders, written in Swift.
Paid Solution
Use SimPholder application to know current application location.
For xcode 6.0 >
Download SimPholder 2.0 alpha 2
For xcode 5.1 <
Download SimPholders 1.5
I can confirm that this is Xcode 6 related not iOS 8.
I have two development machines. On one of them I have Xcode 5. I was working all the time on that machine and my URL's were fine (photo app, photos are visible).
Yesterday I checked in form git my source on a machine with Xcode 6. I noticed that my photos are not visible any more, only photos that are created during that app session.
After little debugging, I realized that file:///var/mobile/Applications/B6A6BAEF-C90C-4A2A-93DB-E6700B88971F/Documents/ is changing on every app run.
All that time I am working with iOS 7 device.
I am going to check once more on a machine with Xcode 5 to confirm when I get my hands on it.
You need to to save only path inside DocumentDirectory(directory/file name), and add it to the DocumentDirectory every time you load the file...
-(void)saveImage:(UIImage *)image{
NSData *pngData = UIImagePNGRepresentation(image);
NSString *pathInDocumentDirectory = [APP_DocumentDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:PROFILE_IMAGE_NAME];
NSString *filePath = [self documentsPathForFileName:pathInDocumentDirectory];
//Save pic file path - DirName/Filename.png
[XYZPreferencesHelper setUserImageFilePath:pathInDocumentDirectory];
//Write the file
[[NSFileManager defaultManager] createFileAtPath:filePath contents:pngData attributes:nil];
}
-(void)loadSavedUserPicture{
//Load saved DirName/Filename.png
NSString *pathInDocumentDirectory = [XYZPreferencesHelper getUserImageFilePath];
if (pathInDocumentDirectory != nil){
//Full path with new app Document Directory
NSString *filePath = [self documentsPathForFileName:pathInDocumentDirectory];
if ([[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:filePath]){
NSData *pngData = [NSData dataWithContentsOfFile:filePath];
UIImage *image = [UIImage imageWithData:pngData];
if (image != nil){
userPicImageView.image = image;
}
}
}
}
- (NSString *)documentsPathForFileName:(NSString *)name
{
NSString *documentsPath = [self createRestcallDirectoryIfNotExist];
return [documentsPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:name];
}
-(NSString *)createRestcallDirectoryIfNotExist{
NSString *path;
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsPath = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
path = [documentsPath stringByAppendingPathComponent:APP_DocumentDirectory];
NSError *error;
if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:path]) //Does directory already exist?
{
if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] createDirectoryAtPath:path
withIntermediateDirectories:NO
attributes:nil
error:&error])
{
NSLog(#"Create directory error: %#", error);
}
}
return documentsPath;
}
Because app's UUID changes and not reliable 
so we should not store urls instead we should store just file names and reconstruct url at runtime , on update/reinstall iOS creates new home directory, stores app bundle in it and copies documents files so url changes


How to access and display documents from iPad3 programatically?

I am implementing an application that allows users to add and share different documents. I am done with adding documents by enabling "Application supports iTunes file sharing" in the plist. So user can add his/her documents directly to the application with the help of iTunes. Now my problem is I need access and display all documents under my application in a table view with their title. Based on the user selection I need to display it in a pdf or any other format.
How can I access all the documents under my application?
Also is there any other way to dump documents in to my application except using iTues? Please suggest a better option.
I found a solution for this. By using the following code snippet we can easily access all the files.
NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
NSString *documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
NSFileManager *manager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
NSArray *fileList = [manager contentsOfDirectoryAtPath:documentsDirectory error:nil];
for (NSString *s in fileList)
{
if ([s hasSuffix:#".pdf"])
{
//do stuff
}
else
{
// do stuff
}
}

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