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why using Intent.ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT does not list the Dropbox?

why using Intent.ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT does not list the Dropbox?

lannyf77
New member | Level 2

Tried on Android Os 4.4, and above, if using Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT the android's file picker lists Google drives, Google Photos, Dropbox, etc. If using Intent.ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT, there just are no apps (like Dropbox, Photos etc.) in the file picker's drawer except only Google Drive.

 

How to list the Dropbox in Android's file picker drawer if using Intent.ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT?

 

code snippet of using ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT and ACTION_GET_CONTENT are listed below:

 

Intent openIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT) {        openIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT);        openIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
    }    openIntent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_OPENABLE);    openIntent.setType("*/*");    startActivityForResult(openIntent, ANDROID_FILE_PICKER);
Intent openIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);openIntent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_OPENABLE);openIntent.setType("*/*");startActivityForResult(openIntent, ANDROID_FILE_PICKER);

 

15 Replies 15

Mark
Super User II
*moves to API forum*

 


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lannyf77
New member | Level 2

see https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/document-provider.html

the ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT is intent and to get the files returned by document providers. The Document provider—A content provider that allows a storage service (such as Google Drive) to reveal the files it manages.

 

So when using the ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT the Dropbox should be listed in the picker. Why it does not?

Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff
Thanks for the post! The Dropbox Android app doesn't implement ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT, but I'll be sure to pass this along as feedback.

Andrew H.15
Explorer | Level 4

It would be great if the Dropbox app supported ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT, as well as ACTION_CREATE_DOCUMENT and ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT_TREE, along with FLAG_GRANT_PERSISTABLE_URI_PERMISSION for persistent access to a folder (or file) in Dropbox.

 

This would be extremely useful for allowing other apps to read and write files in Dropbox locally, and let the Dropbox app handle syncing the data (rather than each individual app via the SDK).

Andrew H.15
Explorer | Level 4

I wrote an open letter to cloud storage providers like Dropbox: https://medium.com/steadfast-innovation/open-letter-to-cloud-storage-apps-on-android-a2d0eb919fc4. Please read it and consider implementing support for the Android Storage Access Framework.

Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff

@Andrew H.15 Thanks for writing this up! I'll send it along to the right people on our side.

matejukmar
New member | Level 2

Is there any progress on supporting/enabling this functionality from Dropbox. We were expecting to have Dropbox option in the app we're developing.

Greg-DB
Dropbox Staff

@matejukmar I don't have an update on this unfortunately.

mksdb
New member | Level 2

Its been quite a while - does Dropbox have any intentions of supporting SAF on Android?

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