Android: How to open a specific folder via Intent

Question

I thought this would be easy but as it turns out unfortunately it's not.

What I have:

I have a folder called "myFolder" on my external storage (not sd card because it's a Nexus 4, but that should not be the problem). The folder contains some *.csv files.

What I want:

I want to write a method which does the following: Show a variety of apps (file browsers) from which I can pick one (see picture). After I click on it, the selected file browser should start and show me the content of "myFolder". No more no less.

My question:

How exactly do I do that? I think I came quite close with the following code, but no matter what I do - and I'm certain that there must be something I didn't get right yet - it always opens only the main folder from the external storage.

public void openFolder()
{
File file = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(),
    "myFolder");

Log.d("path", file.toString());

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "*/*");
startActivity(intent);
}

Answer 1

Intent chooser = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);
Uri uri = Uri.parse(Environment.getDownloadCacheDirectory().getPath().toString());
chooser.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_OPENABLE);
chooser.setDataAndType(uri, "*/*");
// startActivity(chooser);
try {
startActivityForResult(chooser, SELECT_FILE);
}
catch (android.content.ActivityNotFoundException ex)
{
Toast.makeText(this, "Please install a File Manager.",
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}

In code above, if setDataAndType is "*/*" a builtin file browser is opened to pick any file, if I set "text/plain" Dropbox is opened. I have Dropbox, Google Drive installed. If I uninstall Dropbox only "*/*" works to open file browser. This is Android 4.4.2. I can download contents from Dropbox and for Google Drive, by getContentResolver().openInputStream(data.getData()).

Answer 2

File temp = File.createTempFile("preview", ".png" );
String fullfileName= temp.getAbsolutePath();
final String fileName = Uri.parse(fullfileName)
                    .getLastPathSegment();
final String filePath = fullfileName.
                     substring(0,fullfileName.lastIndexOf(File.separator));
Log.d("filePath", "filePath: " + filePath);

fullfileName:

/mnt/sdcard/Download_Manager_Farsi/preview.png

filePath:

/mnt/sdcard/Download_Manager_Farsi

Answer 3

this code will work with OI File Manager :

        File root = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getPath()
+ "/myFolder/");
        Uri uri = Uri.fromFile(root);

        Intent intent = new Intent();
        intent.setAction(android.content.Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
        intent.setData(uri);
        startActivityForResult(intent, 1);

you can get OI File manager here : http://www.openintents.org/en/filemanager

Answer 4

Today, you should be representing a folder using its content: URI as obtained from the Storage Access Framework, and opening it should be as simple as:

Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, uri);
startActivity(i);

Alas, the Files app currently contains a bug that causes it to crash when you try this using the external storage provider. Folders from third party providers however can be displayed in this way.

Answer 5

This should work:

Uri selectedUri = Uri.parse(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/myFolder/");
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(selectedUri, "resource/folder");

if (intent.resolveActivityInfo(getPackageManager(), 0) != null)
{
    startActivity(intent);
}
else
{
    // if you reach this place, it means there is no any file 
    // explorer app installed on your device
}

Please, be sure that you have any file explorer app installed on your device.

EDIT: added a shantanu's recommendation from the comment.

LIBRARIES: You can also have a look at these file/directory choosers libraries https://android-arsenal.com/tag/35 if the current solution doesn't help you.

Answer 6

You seem close.

I would try to set the URI like this :

String folderPath = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()+"/pathTo/folder";

Intent intent = new Intent();  
intent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);
Uri myUri = Uri.parse(folderPath);
intent.setDataAndType(myUri , "file/*");   
startActivity(intent);

But it's not so different from what you have tried. Tell us if it changes anything ?

Also make sure the targeted folder exists, and have a look on the resulting Uri object before to send it to the intent, it may not be what we are expected.