Android open pdf file

Question

I'm developing an Android application and I have to open some files.

This is my code using intent:

public class FacturaActivity extends Activity {

    (...)

    public void downloadInvoice(View view) {
        File file = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() +"/"+ filename);
        Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
        intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file),"application/pdf");
        intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY);
        startActivity(intent);
    }
}

File is in the root directory of the SD card and I can manually open it.

Problem

Application is closed when it arrives at startActivity(intent). I think the problem is in AndroidManifest.xml file, but I don't know how to put it correctly.

AndroidManifest.xml

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

<uses-sdk
    android:minSdkVersion="8"
    android:targetSdkVersion="8" />

<application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:theme="@style/AppTheme"
    android:name="###.MyApplication" > <!--cant show complete name-->
    <activity
        android:name="###.MainActivity"
        android:label="@string/app_name" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>

    <activity 
        android:name=".FacturaActivity" >
    </activity>

</application>

LogCat

07-03 15:49:13.094: E/AndroidRuntime(1032): FATAL EXCEPTION: main
07-03 15:49:13.094: E/AndroidRuntime(1032): java.lang.IllegalStateException: Could not execute method of the activity
(...)
07-03 15:49:13.094: E/AndroidRuntime(1032): Caused by: android.content.ActivityNotFoundException: No Activity found to handle Intent { act=android.intent.action.VIEW dat=file:///mnt/sdcard/201209_F2012212782.PDF typ=application/pdf flg=0x40000000 }
07-03 15:49:13.094: E/AndroidRuntime(1032):     at android.app.Instrumentation.checkStartActivityResult(Instrumentation.java:1408)
07-03 15:49:13.094: E/AndroidRuntime(1032):     at android.app.Instrumentation.execStartActivity(Instrumentation.java:1378)
07-03 15:49:13.094: E/AndroidRuntime(1032):     at android.app.Activity.startActivityForResult(Activity.java:2817)
07-03 15:49:13.094: E/AndroidRuntime(1032):     at android.app.Activity.startActivity(Activity.java:2923)

Can you help me to complete AndroidManifest? Or how can I open that pdf?

Answer 1

The problem is that there is no app installed to handle opening the PDF. You should use the Intent Chooser, like so:

File file = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() +"/"+ filename);
Intent target = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
target.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file),"application/pdf");
target.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY);

Intent intent = Intent.createChooser(target, "Open File");
try {
    startActivity(intent);
} catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
    // Instruct the user to install a PDF reader here, or something
}   

Answer 2

As of API 24, sending a file:// URI to another app will throw a FileUriExposedException. Instead, use FileProvider to send a content:// URI:

public File getFile(Context context, String fileName) {
    if (!Environment.getExternalStorageState().equals(Environment.MEDIA_MOUNTED)) {
        return null;
    }

    File storageDir = context.getExternalFilesDir(null);
    return new File(storageDir, fileName);
}

public Uri getFileUri(Context context, String fileName) {
    File file = getFile(context, fileName);
    return FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID + ".provider", file);
}

You must also define the FileProvider in your manifest:

<provider
    android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
    android:authorities="com.mydomain.fileprovider"
    android:exported="false"
    android:grantUriPermissions="true">
    <meta-data
        android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
        android:resource="@xml/file_paths" />
</provider>

Example file_paths.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-files-path name="name" path="path" />
</paths>

Replace "name" and "path" as appropriate.

To give the PDF viewer access to the file, you also have to add the FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION flag to the intent:

private void displayPdf(String fileName) {
    Uri uri = getFileUri(this, fileName);

    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.setDataAndType(uri, "application/pdf");

    // FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION is needed on API 24+ so the activity opening the file can read it
    intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY | Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);

    if (intent.resolveActivity(getPackageManager()) == null) {
        // Show an error
    } else {
        startActivity(intent);
    }
}

See the FileProvider documentation for more details.

Answer 3

String dir="/Attendancesystem";

 public void displaypdf() {

        File file = null;
            file = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()+dir+ "/sample.pdf");
        Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), file.toString() , Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        if(file.exists()) {
            Intent target = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
            target.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "application/pdf");
            target.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY);

            Intent intent = Intent.createChooser(target, "Open File");
            try {
                startActivity(intent);
            } catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
                // Instruct the user to install a PDF reader here, or something
            }
        }
        else
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "File path is incorrect." , Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }