Cannot open PDF file in external app

Question

I would like to open a PDF file when the user clicks on a button. Currently, i am using this code to achieve this:

Uri path = Uri.fromFile(new File("file:///android_asset/regola11_1.pdf"));
            Intent pdfIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
            pdfIntent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
            pdfIntent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
            startActivity(pdfIntent);

but it doesn't work.

When i select to use Adobe Acrobat, i get a message, displayed as a Toast, that says

"This file could not be accessed Check the location or the network and try again."

When i try with Drive PDF Viewer, i get

"Cannot display PDF ( regola11_1.pdf cannot be opened)"

The PDF file is stored in

app > build > intermediates > assets

Where is the problem?

EDIT

Now i'm using the following code:

File file = new File("\"file:///android_asset/regola11_1.pdf");
            Uri path = Uri.fromFile(file);
            Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
            intent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
            intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);

            try {
                context.startActivity(intent);
            }
            catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
                Toast.makeText(context, "No application available to view PDF", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            }

But when i try to open the PDF by clicking on the button, the app crashes.

This is the log i get:

05-31 10:05:25.132  24474-24474/? E/AndroidRuntime﹕ FATAL EXCEPTION: main
Process: com.andrey.andreyvedis.iamaref, PID: 24474
java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'void android.content.Context.startActivity(android.content.Intent)' on a null object reference
        at com.andrey.andreyvedis.iamaref.FragmentR11.onClick(FragmentR11.java:147)
        at android.view.View.performClick(View.java:4781)
        at android.view.View$PerformClick.run(View.java:19873)
        at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:739)
        at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:95)
        at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:135)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5293)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:372)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:904)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:699)

This is my class:

public class FragmentR11 extends Fragment implements  View.OnClickListener{
// TODO: Rename parameter arguments, choose names that match
// the fragment initialization parameters, e.g. ARG_ITEM_NUMBER
private static final String ARG_PARAM1 = "param1";
private static final String ARG_PARAM2 = "param2";
Context context;



// TODO: Rename and change types of parameters
private String mParam1;
private String mParam2;


/**
 * Use this factory method to create a new instance of
 * this fragment using the provided parameters.
 *
 * @param param1 Parameter 1.
 * @param param2 Parameter 2.
 * @return A new instance of fragment FragmentR11.
 */
// TODO: Rename and change types and number of parameters
public static FragmentR11 newInstance(String param1, String param2) {
    FragmentR11 fragment = new FragmentR11();
    Bundle args = new Bundle();
    args.putString(ARG_PARAM1, param1);
    args.putString(ARG_PARAM2, param2);
    fragment.setArguments(args);
    return fragment;
}

public FragmentR11() {
    // Required empty public constructor
}

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    if (getArguments() != null) {
        mParam1 = getArguments().getString(ARG_PARAM1);
        mParam2 = getArguments().getString(ARG_PARAM2);
    }



}

@Override
public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
                         Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    // Inflate the layout for this fragment
    return inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_r11, container, false);


}

@Override
public void onViewCreated(View view, Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onViewCreated(view, savedInstanceState);

    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD1).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD2).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD3).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD4).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD5).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD6).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD7).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD8).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD9).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD10).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD11).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD12).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD13).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD14).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD15).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD16).setOnClickListener(this);
    getActivity().findViewById(R.id.bD17).setOnClickListener(this);


}

/**private void openPDF(final String pathToPDF) {
    File file = new File(pathToPDF);
    Uri path = Uri.fromFile(file);
    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
    intent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
    try {
        startActivity(intent);
    } catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
        Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Devi installare un'app per aprire PDF, come Adobe Acrobat Reader ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
}*/


@Override
public void onClick(View v) {



    switch(v.getId()){

        case R.id.bD1: {

            /**Uri path = Uri.fromFile(new File("regola11_1.pdf"));
            Intent pdfIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
            pdfIntent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
            pdfIntent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
            startActivity(pdfIntent);
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 1 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();*/

            File file = new File("\"file:///android_asset/regola11_1.pdf");
            Uri path = Uri.fromFile(file);
            Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
            intent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
            intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);

            try {
                context.startActivity(intent);
            }
            catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
                Toast.makeText(context, "No application available to view PDF", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            }
            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD2:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 2 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }


        case R.id.bD3:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 3 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD4:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 4 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD5:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 5 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD6:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 6 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD7:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 7 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD8:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 8 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD9:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 9 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD10:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 10 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD11:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 11 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD12:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 12 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD13:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 13 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD14:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 14 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD15:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 15 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD16:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 16 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }

        case R.id.bD17:

        {
            Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "Hai cliccato Regola 17 in Reg11 ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            break;
        }


    }

}

}

Can someone help me?

EDIT 2

I have found the solution, check my answer below for the code.

Thank you all for your answers.

shannontesla · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-29T08:01:03.417

12

Ok guys, problem solved!

This is the code that i use to open a PDF file, stored on external memory:

File pdfFile = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(),"namePdfFile.pdf");//File path
            if (pdfFile.exists()) //Checking if the file exists or not
            {
                Uri path = Uri.fromFile(pdfFile);
                Intent objIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
                objIntent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
                objIntent.setFlags(Intent. FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
                startActivity(objIntent);//Starting the pdf viewer
            } else {

                Toast.makeText(getActivity(), "The file not exists! ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

            }

edited May 29 '18 at 08:01

answered May 31 '15 at 12:36

shannontesla

885
1
8
27

3

getting `android.os.FileUriExposedException: file:///storage/emulated/0/Download/privacy_notice.pdf exposed beyond app through Intent.getData()` error – Sujay Nov 29 '18 at 13:31
Hey @Sujay you have to give the activity handling your intent the permission. – Ayokunle Paul Mar 29 '19 at 13:15
It will invoke `android.content.ActivityNotFoundException: No Activity found to handle Intent` if no application can open PDF. – CoolMind Dec 12 '19 at 12:00

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered May 30 '15 at 18:37

4

Third-party apps cannot access your assets via file:///android_asset URLs.

You can:

Try using my StreamProvider, to have a ContentProvider in your app that can serve the PDF straight from assets, or
Use FileProvider from the Android Support package, after copying the file from assets to internal storage, as is demonstrated in this sample app, or
Copy the file to external storage and use a Uri created from Uri.fromFile() to point to that copy

answered May 30 '15 at 18:37

CommonsWare

986,068
189
2,389
2,491

Sorry but i am a beginner, and i don't know how to use https://github.com/commonsguy/cwac-provider. Can you kindly give me step-by-step instructions? – shannontesla May 30 '15 at 19:45
@AndreyVedishchev: If you are beginner, I would recommend that you go with the third bullet in my answer. – CommonsWare May 30 '15 at 19:46
Ok but, how to do it? – shannontesla May 31 '15 at 07:44
Second bullet + applying this on the intent: http://stackoverflow.com/a/33754937/1069884 – limlim Apr 26 '17 at 13:47
Thanks a lot, 2nd option works great. `FileProvider` allow other app to open app's internal file with permission. – Hiren Dabhi Mar 06 '19 at 11:49
@CommonsWare `Intent.ACTION_VIEW` works well, but sharing file stored in app's internal storage using `Intent.ACTION_SEND` can't attached the file to selected app from the suggested apps. Any help would be appreciated. `Intent i = new Intent(); i.setAction(Intent.ACTION_SEND); i.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, "subject"); i.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "text"); i.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uri); i.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY); i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);` – Hiren Dabhi Mar 07 '19 at 10:12

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 13 '19 at 12:35

For newer API you can open PDF in WebView, see Load PDF file in webview. I tested, on API 21 device it offered several applications to open, in API 27 it opened inside WebView.

For usual opening in external reader copy this code. I used: intent.resolveActivity != null but launching the intent throws an ActivityNotFound exception, https://stackoverflow.com/a/57141679/2914140. You should define FileProvider first.

// Try to open PDF and return false if it is not possible.
fun openPdf(file: File, context: Context): Boolean {
    val uri = getUriFromFile(file, context)
    if (uri == null) {
        return false
    } else {
        val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).apply {
            setDataAndType(uri, "application/pdf")
            flags = Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP
            addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION)
        }
        // Validate that the device can open your File.
        val activityInfo = intent.resolveActivityInfo(context.packageManager, intent.flags)
        return if (activityInfo?.exported == true) {
            context.startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent, "Open PDF")))
            true
        } else {
            false
        }
    }
}

// Get URI from file.
fun getUriFromFile(file: File, context: Context): Uri? =
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
        Uri.fromFile(file)
    } else {
        try {
            FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, context.packageName + ".provider", file)
        } catch (e: Exception) {
            if (e.message?.contains("ProviderInfo.loadXmlMetaData") == true) {
                throw Error("FileProvider doesn't exist or has no permissions")
            } else {
                throw e
            }
        }
    }

In API 29 emulator (without PDF applications) I found that it opened PDF in built-in library.

score 1 · Answer 4 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:10

1

Add this Permission and check again :

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

it seems, there is a problem with accessing to the file.

Try to open another pdf file and let us know what's the Log.

and also i think you cannot use this : file:///android_asset

and take a look at this :

Choose the file with ExternalStorageDirectory:

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");

From : https://stackoverflow.com/a/17453242/4945820

With Assets Folder:

and here is the code, if you are using this with Assets Folder!

File file = new File("file:///android_asset/example.pdf");
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "application/pdf");
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY);
startActivity(intent);

and then add above permission and check it again with Assets code. Also, check this: https://stackoverflow.com/q/28032029/4945820

edited May 23 '17 at 12:10

Community

1
1

answered May 30 '15 at 18:39

developerdroid

42
1
12

I have replaced mine code with yours, and added the above permissions. Unfortunately, when i replace "+ filename" with the name of a PDF file, for instance, "regola11_2.pdf", it is coloured in red and i get a "Cannot resolve symbol 'regola11_2.pdf' ". Can you tell me what i have done wrong? – shannontesla May 30 '15 at 19:24
Edit and Updated.you should use the second part of codes(with Assets) – developerdroid May 30 '15 at 19:41
There is a problem with this Address : `"file:///android_asset/regola11_1.pdf"` & `app > build > intermediates > assets` use this reply for create an Assets folder : http://stackoverflow.com/a/26706866/4945820 – developerdroid May 30 '15 at 20:33
I can't believe it. It keeps not working. Now my PDF files are in "AppName>app>src>main>assets. When i try to open them in my application on my phone, i get the same error messages. I can't understand why... – shannontesla May 31 '15 at 07:28
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY) solved my problem – supro_96 Jul 09 '19 at 09:55

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 30 '15 at 11:51

1

Setting data as "file:///" + filePath worked out for me.

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse(filePath));
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.parse("file:///" + filePath), "application/pdf");
context.startActivity(intent);

answered Jul 30 '15 at 11:51

Sushant

1,272
2
15
31

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered May 07 '17 at 05:38

I had the same problem, after hours dealing with the problem I realized that I missed to add "/" between file path and file name.

So the file was not found and I've got "This file could not be accessed Check the location or the network and try again." message.

Hope this help someone ;)

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 03 '18 at 08:19

0

My Problem is resolved after adding this permission :)

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

answered Feb 03 '18 at 08:19

Vindhya Sharma

88
10

score 0 · Answer 8 · edited Feb 06 '19 at 03:53

The error is because every time the pdf starts downloading again, but since downloading cann't be completed in that limited time period, it shows invalid format error and the file id is still in downloading state.Use code like..

Searchedtext = text.getText().toString();
File file = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/pdf", Searchedtext + ".pdf");

if (file.exists()) {
    showPdf();
}
else {
    download();
    showPdf();
}

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Dec 26 '19 at 07:40

0

Ask runTime Persion for WRITE STORAGE other wise file itself will not store to external storage <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

answered Dec 26 '19 at 07:40

jagadishlakkurcom jagadishlakk

531
6
7

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Jan 25 '20 at 15:34

Had the same problem. This sounds silly, maybe outrageously stupid but guys let me tell you, I've tried everything, from correct permissions to FileProvider,ContentProvider custom classes but nothing worked (cost almost 7 hours). And guess what worked, uninstalling the app and running after re-installation, worked like a charm without anything extra. If nothing works give it a shot.

If you are using Android 9+ then you need to at least test once in lower versions.

Cannot open PDF file in external app

10 Answers10

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