Configure download folder (external_sd)

[owncloud]

Configure download folder (external_sd)

[codethief]

Any updates on this? Not being able to sync to the SD card is what's keeping me from fully using the Android client right now.

[davivel]

@zoff99 , other people has other priorities different than this. For example, there are devices without SD card support, and their users don't care about a feature like this.

We try to make happy as many people as possible, but we can't satisfy everybody. Of course, we could have done it wrong, maybe this should have been addressed before. It's difficult to tell objectively.

What I can grant you is that we work really hard every day on improving the app, and that our first priority is providing value to the users.

[zoff99]

i am happy that the app exists at all

[DeepDiver1975]

And really the amount of this bounty is a joke and peanuts in what the real worth of the feature is, so I claimed it since I wrote the implementation for it.

Let me put it this way: as soon as your pr is merged you can easily reclaim the bounty and I'll 200$ on top. Deal?

[EMCP]

@codethief the feature is available in beta... I'm going to test it now.. but it looks like I may run into issues since I'm on Android 6.x

[laurentperrinet]

I tested the nexcloud beta client available on fdroid (while still using my owncloud clients) and for the first time, the storing of files on the external card effectively worked without a glitch. (my 2-years old sdcard was eagerly waiting for this!)

[davivel]

We have a process to review and accept PRs. In this repository, this process includes technical approval by an OC internal developer, quality approval by an OC internal QA engineer, and priority approval by OC management. Might be different, but right now it's that way, for everybody. And this PR didn't go through these stages.

If you want to claim a bounty due to its inclusion in a fork, you should apply to the bounties in the context of that fork.

The argument of ignoring this pull request is that there isn't enough "workforce", but I have a feeling that is strictly personal reasons.

I'm sorry you feel that way, but there are no personal reasons behind that. Other PRs by you have been reviewed and approved in this project in the past. The list can be checked by anyone here:

https://github.com/owncloud/android/pulls?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=is%3Apr%20author%3Aprzybylski%20is%3Amerged

No personal criteria has been applied in any case.

If it were because of lack of "workforce" then you probably shouldn't ignore my consulting offer which I sent do owncloud couple of times, with no response.

I have no idea of this, but I'll dare to say this is an oversimplification. There are hundreds of legit reasons to leave a consulting offer without response that have nothing to do with personal reasons.

If you are still interested in get this PR merged, please, rebase it and I'll try to push so that it's considered for higher priority.

[przybylski]

@DeepDiver1975 deal

[DeepDiver1975]

@przybylski fyi: i just removed you from the owncloud orga - you lost all repos access. I'm sorry - but this is not the way this is going to work out. We had a deal and you did break it.

[rperezb]

Thanks for the suggestion.

We will include it to the product backlog.

[davivel]

Thanks, mokasin. The path is not hardcoded, but it's true we can improve the way it's handled.

Could be helpful that you told us what model is your device.

[przybylski]

This is a problem on Android side, because we are using getExternalStorageDirectory to get external memory of device.
But as you can read in docs " Traditionally this is an SD card" means that it should point to SD card, but it's not mandatory.

[mokasin]

It's a Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 (GT-I8160).

The most obvious way to solve the issue: Just let the user decide in the settings menu what path to use (with a proper presetting). But this most probably occurred to you already ;-).

Thank you very much.

[ElGranLoky]

Same problem,

With >= 4.2.2 is mandatory, becouse android now emulated the memory, and sdcard start to point always to the internal memory of the phone.

[guiyou65]

Same request for me (samsung gt-i8160 Android 4.1.2). It would be nice if we have the choice.

[Franz47]

Same here. I still have enough memory on my internal SD-Card of my tablet (Medion Lifetab P9514 with Android 4.0.3) but I definitely want to put the directory on the external SD-Card. On my Android phone (Alcatel One Touch 918D with Android version 2.3.5) I have no chance to use owncloud because the internal memory is very small, but putting the directory onto the external SD-card would solve the problem.

[przybylski]

If this issue will eventually get resolved then some security problems arises.
Because in non rooted phones internal memory in encrypted, which isin't true for external memory.
Most of users are not aware of this and might falsely accuse OC of uncarefull data handling, which is a bad thing.

[mokasin]

That's a security flaw in in Android itself. That's hardly addressable by an app.

Best thing, I think, is to point it to the internal memory by default, but give the possibility to choice. That should patronize enough.

[boltronics]

I have a Sony Xperia Z Ultra which also has this problem, where files are stored in /storage/emulated/legacy/owncloud which is local. I need it to use /storage/removable/sdcard1/owncloud instead. I've sadly just hit the point where I can no longer use ownCloud due to this space limitation.

Regarding encryption, I can confirm that my device did give me the option of additionally encrypting the SD card during the encryption stage, which I have done (and verified on a computer that the SD card cannot be mounted). I don't know if that was a Sony thing or a native Android function in newer Android versions, but I agree that it shouldn't be a concern of the ownCloud project either way.

[jochenwezel]

to bring this issue back on a current Status: this enhancement is still required
Samsung Galaxy with required WiFi etc. Features is only available with 16 GB internal Memory - and the users already have got approx. 18 GB of data in ownCloud...

[ralf1070]

Any news on this? This feature would help a lot.

[davivel]

Nothing new, sorry.

Contributions are welcome.

+1
This would be a nice feature, I had to delete the owncloud-data folder because I ran out of memory on the internal memory, after the last automatic upload of pictures. :(

[davivel]

@rperezb , @MTRichards , should we consider this for the short / mid term?

[MTRichards]

We have to figure out how to handle this with encrypted data. Probably possible, just more effort as a result. Didn't we discuss this already?

[ralf1070]

Whats is the actual problem with encrypted data?

If it is the data is unencrypted on sd cards problem - add a simple message: "warning: entered path points to unencrypted storage". So the user can decide ...

[davivel]

Shouldn't be a problem for encrypted data, provided we implement this feature as a simple relocation of the root folder of the account in the local file system. I wouldn't differentiate several locations where the app makes different things, just allow the user to move the local ownCloud folder to other point.

[davivel]

I think that what we discussed the last time was the policy of copying files that are uploaded from the device into the local ownCloud folder.

[jochenwezel]

In case it is not automatically there: It might be helpful to persist the changed owncloud location somehow so that after the next owncloud update, it just continues using the changed location

[rajbps]

This would be a great idea where the user gets the option to either use their sd card or internal memory. And if we get a popup message when we select the sd card that the card storage might not be encrypted and its the user responsability to ensure that encryption is enabled would get OC off the hook. I have a samsung S4 ad i had to do a factory reset as OC filled it up after a while. So this feature would be the best solution.

Hope it can be done soon as this conversation started over a year ago.

Cheers,

Raj

[bcu8heq2]

+1

[markum]

I believe the user should be allowed to sync more than one folder, not matter where it is. I would like to use Owncloud to backup data from my phone which is at different places.

[ralf1070]

To be honest - as a first step it would very much help if it would be possible to at least change the current root folder. To have more folders available could be interesting, but - at least for me - is a minor add on.

[fajabird]

Im waiting so long now for this, please please implement. But mind the new write restrictions coming with kitkat on external_sd: whole external_sd is read-only except the following:

1. System apps like the stock samsung file manager
2. Per app private home-directory located in: external_sd/Android/data/...
3. Rooted devices with removed restrictions

Suggestion: 2 radio buttons for internal sd & external sd plus path-entry-box which in case external sd is chosen and write restrictions are present is inactive and preset with private home path, else user can enter any path.

Please,please

[davivel]

@fajabird , thanks for the notice. Yes, the restrictions on external storage access are very important from Android 4.4.

Unfortunately, I still cannot say when this feature will be added. Contributions are welcome.

[Ixtalo]

+1

Because of storage shortage I need to store files on the external SD card.
But this is really a problem for Android >=4.4, because of the newly introduced Android RW limitation.

As a workaround change the logic for the storage path in FileStorageUtils.java. For me this works on a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014.

The following patch places all Owncloud downloads on the external SD card in the application data folder in /storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.owncloud.android/files/

Patch for utils/FileStorageUtils.java:

22,26d21
< import com.owncloud.android.MainApp;
< import com.owncloud.android.R;
< import com.owncloud.android.datamodel.OCFile;
< import com.owncloud.android.lib.resources.files.RemoteFile;
<
32a28,32
> import com.owncloud.android.MainApp;
> import com.owncloud.android.R;
> import com.owncloud.android.datamodel.OCFile;
> import com.owncloud.android.lib.resources.files.RemoteFile;
>
40c40,53
<     //private static final String LOG_TAG = "FileStorageUtils";
---
>     //private static final String TAG = FileStorageUtils.class.getSimpleName();
>
>
>     @SuppressLint("NewApi")
>       private static final File getBaseStorePath() {
>         File baseStoragePath = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
>         if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT) {
>             File[] dirs = MainApp.mContext.getExternalFilesDirs(null);
>             if (dirs.length > 1) {
>                 baseStoragePath = dirs[1];
>             }
>         }
>         return baseStoragePath;
>     }
43,44c56,57
<         File sdCard = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
<         return sdCard.getAbsolutePath() + "/" + MainApp.getDataFolder() + "/" + Uri.encode(accountName, "@");
---
>         //File sdCard = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
>         //return sdCard.getAbsolutePath() + "/" + MainApp.getDataFolder() + "/" + Uri.encode(accountName, "@");
45a59
>         return getBaseStorePath().getAbsolutePath()  + "/" + Uri.encode(accountName, "@");
53,54c67,68
<         File sdCard = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
<         return sdCard.getAbsolutePath() + "/" + MainApp.getDataFolder() + "/tmp/" + Uri.encode(accountName, "@");
---
>         //File sdCard = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
>         //return sdCard.getAbsolutePath() + "/" + MainApp.getDataFolder() + "/tmp/" + Uri.encode(accountName, "@");
55a70
>         return getBaseStorePath().getAbsolutePath() + "/tmp/" + Uri.encode(accountName, "@");
60c75
<         File savePath = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
---
>         File savePath = getBaseStorePath();
68d82
<
´´´

[Kernald]

Is there any behaviour decided on what to do with existing files? Is there any path stored in the database?

[davivel]

@Kernald, paths are stored in database for every file with local copy, and probably should remain that way, since we want to change the current behaviour in uploads and stop duplicating files - what means keeping a full path at least for the uploaded files.

This issue is considered in our roadmap, but without no estimated time to implement it. In few words: we need to change the implementation of FileStorageUtils.getSavePath() so that the current base sdCard.getAbsolutePath() + "/" + MainApp.getDataFolder() + "/" is changed with a value previously saved in the app settings. Its default value should match sdCard.getAbsolutePath() + "/" + MainApp.getDataFolder() + "/". The paths of the local files, although saved in the database, are generated from this method.

Then we would need adding an entry in the Settings activity to allow the users change the value saved in settings. Changing the value would require ** moving ** the current folder to the new location, what may result in errors to condider, of course.

[Kernald]

Okay, thanks. Moving files involve updating the database entries, hence my question.

[tomachinz]

I would like to second this - its a VITAL feature that I am not installing Bittorrent Sync in order to get arond: BTSync is able to sync both /mnt/sdcard (internal) and also /mnt/extsdcard (external) even if both are encrypted.
Very frustrating to have to go back to BTSync when I've nearly switched everything else over to ownCloud.

[dejj]

This seems to take forever.
I moved my owncloud folder to sdcard using:

cd /mnt/sdcard
cp -R owncloud /Removable/MicroSD/owncloud
mv owncloud owncloud.bkup
su
mkdir owncloud
mount -o bind /Removable/MicroSD/owncloud owncloud

[RonGee]

Any chance of getting a copy of Ixtalo's version? No sd card support is a total deal-breaker for me.

[guettli]

I ask myself if a native android client app is needed at all.

I use FolderSync since some weeks since it can sync to an external sd card. Works nice - I am happy.

Which features does the native app have, which you don't get by using the web interface with your mobile device?

[terokorp]

+1

[guettli]

@terokorp what was the +1 for?

please implement this feature

OR

My though: Why is this app needed at all? A web interface and WebDAV sync is all you need.

[mthmulders]

@guettli, I personally use the 'share to ownCloud' integration quite a bit. It allows me to directly upload a picture / video from the Gallery in my phone to my ownCloud server. I don't see how you would do that using the mobile web interface.

[terokorp]

@guettli Sorry, I didint read whole discussion, just few at beginning. my 1+ was "please implement this feature".
My device has just 11G for user and owncloud used most of it (used most of it before moving files manually to sd card). Every time when I add new music/audiobooks I have to manually move files to SD card after download.

I have tried few WebDAW sync clients, but none of them had working selective sync. I also use owncloud instant upload and share to ownCloud. This ownCloud client is almost perfect for me, only thing which I need more is reported on this issue.

edit 1 Oct 2016: changed phone. So in theory I can take my "+1" off; no external storage on one+3

[marissacute]

I would like this feature as well. I want to use owncloud to download my music library to my phone, that's not going to fit on my internal memory.

There must be more use cases like mine where the to be synced data is too large to reasonably go on the phone's internal memory, you can't expect all users to setup WebDAV sync.

[guettli]

I create a very related ticket: #1173

Quoting:
{{{

What does the development roadmap of owncloud-android look like?

Where is the focus of the developers today, tomorrow, ...?

What are the next steps?

What will be done later?
}}}

[tobiasKaminsky]

There are just too few man power for this.
(And I personally do not have an external sd card, so therefore this issue has low priority for me [note: I am not an official developer and doing this in my spare time).

So either try to support by developing code or there is a bounty hunter: https://www.bountysource.com/teams/owncloud/issues?tracker_ids=11489

[guettli]

@tobiasKaminsky thank you for the hint. I donated 20$ to get this external sd card issue.
Unfortunately I saw no way to tell this inside the donation.
See https://www.bountysource.com/orders/3578

[tobiasKaminsky]

I do not know the work flow exactly, but this should be the site to start with:
https://www.bountysource.com/issues/541829-configure-download-folder-external_sd

[tobiasKaminsky]

(As time changes and therefore new devices are purchased, I am working on this).
A really simple and awful solution is already working: you have to type the path manually and the app does not bother if the folder already exists and just writes into it.

So, for having this fully working

• check if folder exists: warn
• after changing path: move all files --> is this needed? All files have to be copied and then deleted.

Anything else missing?

[daemoniac]

Hello together,

I have a little different problem: My owncloud syncs the pictures, but not the movies (with direct upload via wifi). I have a brand new Sony Xperia Z5 - the pictures are safed in internal memory, the videos (because of the size of 4k movie material) on the external sd card.

As written: pictures sync, movies not.

So it would be great if it would be possible to configure both path manual in the android app.
Thanks so far!

[tobiasKaminsky]

I doubt that this has something to do with the location of the owncloud folder itselfs.
You mean instantupload? If so, please open a new issue.

[przybylski]

@tobiasKaminsky are you still working on it?
I have some spare time now and would like to grab that ;)

[tobiasKaminsky]

@przybylski I will commit my changes tonight into a branch in this repository, so that you can work on it.

[tobiasKaminsky]

@przybylski Here it is: #1258
If you have any question please let me know!

Todo is:

• allow folder choosing
• check if folder exists: warn
• after changing path: move all files --> is this needed? All files have to be copied and then deleted.

[przybylski]

@tobiasKaminsky Thanks!
this feature progress can be tracked at my fork: https://github.com/przybylski/android/tree/externalSD

[przybylski]

This feature is now ready to merge in #1276
however it requires this to work: owncloud/android-library#91

[marneu]

Seconding the request:
Unfortunately the App uses the internal sdcard storage, thus making it on a 16Gb hard to survive where I do have a 128Gb external SD card.
To overcome the barrier it would be nice to do it like Titanium Backup and serve an option to store the synced data on the extSDcard device. Just an idea...

[tobiasKaminsky]

@marneu As you can see @przybylski has implemented this feature and it is right now in the beta version.
So there is no need in putting a "+1" reply.
Regarding you proposal about the option: it is already there and was discussed...Please try to search before posting.

[marneu]

Thanks Tobias, is there a way to participate in the beta?

[przybylski]

@marneu you can download APKs from here https://github.com/owncloud/android/tree/beta/apks/

[marneu]

Great: Do i need the uninstall the app before pushing the apk?

[tobiasKaminsky]

No. It is possible to install it alongside the official app.
The beta version is also available at f-droid.
But please only use just one instant uploader as otherwise it may come to strange behaviour.

[mhoess]

Hi,
syncing to a sd card folder does not work on android 4.x (think because of authorizatization issues for writing on SD Card)
Can somebody help?

[marneu]

Did you try SDFix (nextapp.sdfix)?

[tobiasKaminsky]

The app should work without any other app required.
I do not know if Andrid 4.x behaves different than >5 regarding the storage on sdcards...

[EMCP]

I tried to follow the link towards https://github.com/owncloud/android/blob/beta/apks/owncloud-beta-20151202.apk , inside ES File Manager and in my own browser. Getting a 'cannot parse' error message on install attempts.

Would love to test and verify this so I can start using own cloud more regularly, with an SD Card instead of my local storage.

[tobiasKaminsky]

Normally this is working the way you described it.
You can also install it via fdroid.

[bes1002t]

It would be necessary to implement this feature. I have just 16GB internal storage so I need it soon.

[przybylski]

@bes1002t this feature is in testing in beta, you can check is it working for you

[bes1002t]

ah ok thank you :)

[Technical-Angel]

I'm using ownCloud beta 20151202.

I cannot change the storage path at all. I created a owncloud folder on the SD card and I get Error: While migrating.

When trying to change the folder to internal storage, I get an error log screen.

I have about 30GB that I'm trying to drop down to the tablet, and I really want to help make this feature work!!! :)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, Android version 5.0.2

[marneu]

Did you load with f-droid (https://f-droid.org/) on the tab?
You should use the lastest beta and try to switch back to internal and then to external again, this should do the trick. The folder will be created for you (no need to do it yourself), check /owncloud-beta on your ext card. Maybe you should deinstall the "official" owncloud app, that helped in my case in any of the beta series.

[Technical-Angel]

I uninstalled the official app before I started doing anything with the beta.

I just removed the beta I had installed and installed 20160120 using f-droid. I previously installed the beta using the built in APK installer. I now only have the option of default or the SD card, but when switching to SD, I still get the error: while migrating message.

Log file is empty.

And, as an aside, am I barking up the wrong tree here? I want ownCloud to do on Android what it does on PC, automatically compare the files on the server to the files on the device and synchronize them. I would like for this to happen without any user interaction.

While going over documentation and settings, it doesn't appear that that is the case. Am I missing something or am I looking at the wrong program?

[tobiasKaminsky]

And, as an aside, am I barking up the wrong tree here? I want ownCloud to do on Android what it does on PC, automatically compare the files on the server to the files on the device and synchronize them. I would like for this to happen without any user interaction.

While going over documentation and settings, it doesn't appear that that is the case. Am I missing something or am I looking at the wrong program?

This is (currently) not working, but it will be implemented sooner or later. The previous step (manually syncing folders) will be soon in official app.
(Please correct me if I am wrong @davivel)

[laurentperrinet]

This is a very nice feature but I also get the "error: while migrating message" message. I am on android 4. Is there any way to see what is going wrong?

[przybylski]

@Meduz Only via logfile. Because of android system fragmentation it takes some time to provide reliable implementation for all distributions. It would be nice to know that kind of phone you own.

[laurentperrinet]

Thanks for the answer @przybylski.
Below is the information for my device . Unfortunately I could not find a way to root it.

************ DEVICE INFORMATION ***********
Brand: samsung
Device: v1awifi
Model: SM-P900
Id: KOT49H
Product: v1awifixx

************ FIRMWARE ************
SDK: 19
Release: 4.4.2
Incremental: P900XXUANI1

[przybylski]

@Meduz log file should be stored on your device, in the same place where files are.

[ksyz]

This looks like related issue. SD Card on Android 5 (Lollipop)

[cbernet]

Hi all, this feature would really be great to have. My use case is to set up a home cloud to manage the family files (lots of music, videos, photos). Therefore, I do need a cloud service that supports sd cards on android phones. The lack of support of external sd cards is the only thing driving me away from owncloud at the moment. That's a pity because apart from that, owncloud does look like the best solution.

[gasparakos]

I installed owncloud-beta-20160606.apk and working as expected, downloaded files stored on selected external storage. This is on android 4.0.4 (Sony Xperia), removable SD card mounted on /mnt/ext_card. Thank You for your work!

[ralf1070]

Am 31.07.2016 um 08:57 schrieb gasparakos [email protected]:

I installed owncloud-beta-20160606.apk and working as expected, downloaded files stored on selected external storage. This is on android 4.0.4 (Sony Xperia), removable SD card mounted on /mnt/ext_card. Thank You for your work!

Any chance we see this in mainline anytime soon?

[davivel]

Sorry, but with our current bandwidth, I wouldn't expect this in mainline before winter.

[zoff99]

i wonder how anybody is using this without ability to choose folder?
why are other features even developed while this is not fixed?

[teadur]

+1 this really needed feature and should get to main asap, whats the holdup if its already in beta ?
Its quite sad to see that this feature request hasnt goten completed in 4 years, seems quite essential to me.
If there is anything i could do to speed up the proccess to get it into main let me know.

[marneu]

@taedur: Just a question:
You are using your cam on the smartphone, pictures go to DCIM, right?
What would be the benefit, if you could configure it to, lets say owncloud?

So why should the destination folder be named in a specific way, other than the one used?

[EMCP]

@marneu I'm not understanding your question but I'll give you my usecase

I have an NVidia Shield Tablet running the sound system of my car.. hooked up to an external monitor + AUX . I wanted owncloud app to stick the files on the SD Card so I could get ~100GB of space to place music videos on myown cloud. When I pull up to a wifi hotspot, I can sync the contents of my SD-Card with my owncloud.

As it stood, owncloud had hardcoded to use my tablets internal memory (16GB) .. and severely limited the usefulness of owncloud for this project.

[zoff99]

@EMCP use this version as a workaround, where you can select you card.
!use at your own risk!

https://circleci.com/gh/zoff99/owncloud_android/17#artifacts/containers/0

https://17-67236307-gh.circle-artifacts.com/0/tmp/circle-artifacts.rVJ6sn0/owncloud_android_circleci_e8071b367bdf1db7bb567dfe7cc3599ca74dfedc.apk

[zoff99]

why they won't merge (for years) is totally beyond me :-(
it's just 1 click

[marneu]

@ecmp I'm using the former beta, loaded from f-droid, and this one does the trick - using a sd-card.
What I missunderstood was, I thought the name of the resulting folder is the prob.

[teadur]

@marneu My use case is basicaly the same as @EMCP
I have loads of data in owncloud (music), that i want to sync to my sony z5c external sdcard so i can listen to my media on the move, not only behind pc.

[zoff99]

@Meduz
+1 nextcloud beta from fdroid works fine

[davivel]

Hi, @przybylski .

May I ask why did you self-assign and then closed the issue? This is not done yet.

Thanks

[DeepDiver1975]

@przybylski please also remove your claim on bountysource - the pr is not merged yet - https://www.bountysource.com/issues/541829-configure-download-folder-external_sd THX

[przybylski]

@DeepDiver1975 I would prefer not to remove the claim. My reasoning is:
This feature were ready over a year ago and many users are reporting that it has been working for them for a long time, regardless is it owncloud or nextcloud, which is using the same implementation.
The argument of ignoring this pull request is that there isn't enough "workforce", but I have a feeling that is strictly personal reasons. If it were because of lack of "workforce" then you probably shouldn't ignore my consulting offer which I sent do owncloud couple of times, with no response.
And really the amount of this bounty is a joke and peanuts in what the real worth of the feature is, so I claimed it since I wrote the implementation for it.

[DeepDiver1975]

@DeepDiver1975 deal

so - please remove the claim and I'll add the 200$ - thx