Phonegap how to download and open pdf file in android app

Question

recently i am working on a android apps build in phonegap, i am quite new with mobile development and this i smy first appsbut, and i am stuck when try to download some documents (pdf, doc, jpg) to local storage and open it, after search through google and i tried to follow this solution.

I followed the exact code in the example and below is how i call the plugins:

window.plugins.downloader.downloadFile(url,'/sdcard/download/', 'test.pdf', true, downloadOkCallbak, downloadErCallbak);
    window.plugins.pdfViewer.showPdf('/sdcard/download/test.pdf');

The url is my remote file, when i execute it, i got error: "TypeError: window.plugins is undefined". Anyone help is appreciated.

[update] My code of showPdf function:

public String showPdf(String fileName) {

    File file = new File(fileName);

    if (file.exists()) {
        try {
            Uri path = Uri.fromFile(file);
            Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
            intent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
            intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);


            //intent.setData(Uri.parse(fileName));
            this.ctx.startActivity(intent);
            return "";
        } catch (android.content.ActivityNotFoundException e) {
            System.out.println("PdfViewer: Error loading url "+fileName+":"+ e.toString());
            return e.toString();
        }            

    }else{
        return "file not found";
    }

}

[Update 2] I got below error in web console: Uncaught ReferrenceError: LocalFileSystem is not defined at ...

What could be the issue?

Are you having your classes that extend DroidGap and Plugin classes? Mind if you share some code of your showPdf function. — Rashmi.B, Jun 24 '13 at 08:48
Yes, it extends plugin class, it's too long to past the code here, i will put it in below reply. — Derrick.X, Jun 24 '13 at 15:27
sorry i can't paste my code below, i updated my question to include the code. — Derrick.X, Jun 24 '13 at 16:01

Omnicon · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-13T02:32:01.370

13

I had the same problem as the OP and many unsuccessful approaches later I came to the following solution (tested with Cordova 3.1.0-3.3.0 & Samsung Galaxy S3 & iOS 7):

Solution

First, get the file by requesting the file system and then download it from your server with fileTransfer.download(). After completing the download call the FileOpener (which will open a pop up where to choose from apps like Adobe Reader). Note: Make sure to include the FileTransfer feature via CLI/Terminal: cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.file

Navigate to your project folder
Open CLI/Terminal and type in: cordova plugin add https://github.com/don/FileOpener.git
After successful download and storage of your file on the device (see above) you open it with: window.plugins.fileOpener.open("file:///sdcard/Android/data/com.example.application/document.doc") or the appropriate path on iOS.

That's it! Good luck!

edited Feb 13 '14 at 02:32

answered Jan 07 '14 at 06:31

Omnicon

314
2
9

This plugin does exactly what I want, no more struggling with bad or incomplete documentation. This answer is very helpful +1! – A1rPun Jul 27 '15 at 11:59
- I found this plugin very nice for handling file opening https://github.com/pwlin/cordova-plugin-file-opener2 - "File Transfer" Cordova plugin has been deprecated in favor of XMLHttpRequest, see https://cordova.apache.org/blog/2017/10/18/from-filetransfer-to-xhr2.html – Maxime Pacary Nov 12 '18 at 17:02
Very useful doc on this page (write temporary/permanent files): https://cordova.apache.org/docs/en/latest/reference/cordova-plugin-file – Maxime Pacary Nov 12 '18 at 17:07

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:32

0

Make sure you've had these lines in your manifest.xml :

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

You can find help here How to download a pdf file in Android?

edited May 23 '17 at 10:32

Community

1
1

answered Jun 24 '13 at 08:44

Adrien Cerdan

1,005
1
11
21

Thanks for the answer, yes I have that permissions set. actually i am looking for a solution using phonegap + jquery mobile, which means i can call to download / open the pdf via javascript. – Derrick.X Jun 24 '13 at 15:24

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 30 '14 at 03:11

Make sure

You should install git and install file plugins(cordova 3.0+)

File and file transfer plugin

$ cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.file $ cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.file-transfer

Ps. Try plugin fileOpener2

https://build.phonegap.com/plugins/1117

SANAT · Answer 4 · 2015-11-18T09:16:15.737

Try this to open any kind of documents from URL using following steps:

install this plugin : cordova plugin add https://github.com/ti8m/DocumentHandler
use this code :

handleDocumentWithURL(function() { console.log('success'); }, function(error) { console.log('failure'); if (error == 53) { console.log('No app that handles this file type.'); } }, 'http://www.example.com/path/to/document.pdf');

It works for me both on Android and IOS. I used it for open images and PDF files.

Android : It opens files using system apps if available, otherwise it give an error, which you can handle.

IOS : It opens files in popup like view with Done button and Option button.

It doesn't show your docs URL.

Source is available here : https://github.com/ti8m/DocumentHandler

Phonegap how to download and open pdf file in android app

4 Answers4

Solution

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