FileProvider throws exception on GetUriForFile
android, android-fileprovider, uri
Solution
I finally found good example code on how to create ContentProviders and FileProviders on https://github.com/commonsguy/cw-omnibus/tree/master/ContentProvider
The actual error in my code was that in the Manifest file I had the `provider` tag outside of the `application` tag, but it must be inside. The Manifest must look like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:versionCode="1" android:versionName="1.0" package="com.company.app">
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="13" />
<permission
android:name="com.company.app.fileprovider.READ"
android:description="@string/perm_read"
android:label="@string/perm_read_label"/>
<uses-permission android:name="com.company.app.fileprovider.READ"/>
<application android:label="MyApp">
<provider
android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
android:authorities="com.company.app.fileprovider"
android:exported="false"
android:grantUriPermissions="true"
android:readPermission="com.company.app.fileprovider.READ">
<meta-data
android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
android:resource="@xml/file_paths" />
</provider>
</application>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
</manifest>
Problem
I followed the example code on the android developer reference on FileProviders but it won't work. I have setup the path `files/exports/` in the file provider definition in my Manifest and the referenced files does exist at that path. In my Manifest: ``` <provider android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider" android:authorities="com.company.app.fileprovider" android:exported="false" android:grantUriPermissions="true"> <meta-data android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS" android:resource="@xml/file_paths" /> </provider> ``` And in `xml/file_paths.xml` ``` <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> <paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"> <files-path name="exports" path="exports/"/> </paths> ``` Then I try to get the content-uri with the following code: ``` Java.IO.File exportFile = new Java.IO.File ("/data/data/com.company.app/files/exports/file.pdf"); Android.Net.Uri exportUri = Android.Support.V4.Content.FileProvider.GetUriForFile (this, "com.company.app.fileprovider", exportFile); ``` However I get this error: ``` Exception of type 'Java.Lang.NullPointerException' was thrown. at Android.Runtime.JNIEnv.CallStaticObjectMethod (IntPtr jclass, IntPtr jmethod, Android.Runtime.JValue[] parms) [0x00064] in /Users/builder/data/lanes/monodroid-mlion-monodroid-4.10.2-branch/4b53fbd0/source/monodroid/src/Mono.Android/src/Runtime/JNIEnv.g.cs:1160 at Android.Support.V4.Content.FileProvider.GetUriForFile (Android.Content.Context context, System.String authority, Java.IO.File file) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 at com.company.App.ImageAndSubtitle.cloudStorageDidDownloadFile (System.Object sender, com.company.App.CloudStorageEventArgs args) [0x001f7] in /app_path/Screens/ImageAndSubtitle.cs:187 --- End of managed exception stack trace --- java.lang.NullPointerException at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.parsePathStrategy(FileProvider.java:243) at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.getPathStrategy(FileProvider.java:217) at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.getUriForFile(FileProvider.java:130) at mono.java.lang.RunnableImplementor.n_run(Native Method) at mono.java.lang.RunnableImplementor.run(RunnableImplementor.java:29) at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:615) at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:92) at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:137) at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:4838) at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method) at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511) at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:875) at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:642) at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method) ``` Update From the Android source code I could hunt that down so far as I now know that this command in `android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.parsePathStrategy(FileProvider.java:243)` will fail and return `null`: ``` final ProviderInfo info = context.getPackageManager().resolveContentProvider(authority, PackageManager.GET_META_DATA); ``` But I have no idea why...