Cannot create PDF files in Android 11 (Permission denied)

[Unknown]

I am trying to create PDF with the nuget Syncfusion.Xamarin.Pdf version 19.3.0.47 and with Xamarin.Forms version 5.0.0.2196, I am using an emulator with Android 11.0 (API 30) and I have used the following documentation to develop an example: https://www.syncfusion.com/kb/9174/how-to-create-a-pdf-file-in-xamarin The problem arises when I try to create the PDF in Android 11 as it shows me the following error: /storage/emulated/0/Download/Syncfusion/Output.pdf:

open failed: EACCES (Permission denied)

In the AndroidManifest.xml I have added in the application tag the property: android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true" so I have read this is necessary in new versions of Android.

I am aware of the new runtime permission model for Android SDK version 23 and above so I have added the provider_paths.XML file in the Android resources folder:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
  <external-path name="external_files" path="."/>
</paths>

And I have updated the AndroidManifest.xml as indicated in your documentation:

<?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.companyname.syncfusionpdf">
    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="21" android:targetSdkVersion="30" />
    <application android:label="SyncfusionPdf.Android" android:theme="@style/MainTheme" android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true">
      <provider android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
      android:authorities="${applicationId}.provider"
      android:exported="false"
      android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                   android:resource="@xml/provider_paths" />
      </provider>
    </application>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
</manifest>

The problem is that when I add the provider_paths.xml file the project does not compile showing the following error:

invalid file path 'C:\Users\sample\source\repos\SyncfusionPdf\SyncfusionPdf\SyncfusionPdf.Android\obj\Debug\110\res\provider_paths.xml'. SyncfusionPdf.Android

I'm stuck since I can't get this to work on Android 11, could you provide a functional repository for Android 11 generating PDF?

I published the repository where I am doing all these tests on GitHub in case you need it: https://github.com/nacompllo/SyncfusionPdf

[Gowthamraj Kumar]

Hi Sergio Lillo, 

 

Thank you for contacting Syncfusion support.

 

We have created a sample to write the PDF document in Android 11 and attached it for your reference. Kindly try this sample on your end and let us know whether it works or not.  

  

In this sample we have modified the following, 

1. Enabled the androidLegacyExtranalStorage in the AndroidManifest.xml file.

            <application android:label=" PDFXamarinSample.Android" android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true">  

  

2. User permission for read, write external storage.

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

</uses-permission>  

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

  

3. Replaced the following code to get the external storage download folder in the SaveAndroid.cs file.

if (Android.OS.Environment.IsExternalStorageEmulated)  

  {  

root = Android.OS.Environment.GetExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Android.OS.Environment.DirectoryDownloads).AbsolutePath;              

  }  

  

Sample link: https://www.syncfusion.com/downloads/support/forum/170076/ze/PDFXamarinSample1888920970 

  

If still you are facing an same issue, kindly please share the modified sample to check the issue on our end. So, that it will be helpful for us to analyze and assist you further on this.  

  

Regards, 

Gowthamraj K 

[Unknown]

Your example throws an exception, to replicate it do the following:

-Install the sample application and create a PDF.

-Install the application a second time but with a different package name, for example:

com.mycompany.pdfxamarinsample -> app installed for the first time

com.sample -> application installed for the second time

-You tried to create a PDF in the application that you installed the second time with a different package name and the following exception occurred:

-The crash occurs on the line:

FileOutputStream outs = new FileOutputStream(file);


Message:

"/storage/emulated/0/Download/Syncfusion/Output.pdf: open failed: EACCES (Permission denied)"

StackTrace:

  at Java.Interop.JniEnvironment+InstanceMethods.CallNonvirtualVoidMethod (Java.Interop.JniObjectReference instance, Java.Interop.JniObjectReference type, Java.Interop.JniMethodInfo method, Java.Interop.JniArgumentValue* args) [0x0008e] in <bd6bd528a8784b7caf03e9f25c9f0d7b>:0
  at Java.Interop.JniPeerMembers+JniInstanceMethods.FinishCreateInstance (System.String constructorSignature, Java.Interop.IJavaPeerable self, Java.Interop.JniArgumentValue* parameters) [0x0004f] in <bd6bd528a8784b7caf03e9f25c9f0d7b>:0
  at Java.IO.FileOutputStream..ctor (Java.IO.File file) [0x00071] in /Users/builder/azdo/_work/1/s/xamarin-android/src/Mono.Android/obj/Release/monoandroid10/android-30/mcw/Java.IO.FileOutputStream.cs:64
  at SaveAndroid.SaveAndView (System.String fileName, System.String contentType, System.IO.MemoryStream stream) [0x000da] in D:\Descargas\PDFXamarinSample1888920970\PDFXamarinSample\PDFXamarinSample.Android\SaveAndroid.cs:43
  --- End of managed Java.IO.FileNotFoundException stack trace ---
java.io.FileNotFoundException: /storage/emulated/0/Download/Syncfusion/Output.pdf: open failed: EACCES (Permission denied)
at libcore.io.IoBridge.open(IoBridge.java:492)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:236)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:186)
at crc64ee486da937c010f4.ButtonRenderer.n_onClick(Native Method)
at crc64ee486da937c010f4.ButtonRenderer.onClick(ButtonRenderer.java:104)
at android.view.View.performClick(View.java:7448)
at android.view.View.performClickInternal(View.java:7425)
at android.view.View.access$3600(View.java:810)
at android.view.View$PerformClick.run(View.java:28305)
at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:938)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:223)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:7656)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:592)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:947)
Caused by: android.system.ErrnoException: open failed: EACCES (Permission denied)
at libcore.io.Linux.open(Native Method)
at libcore.io.ForwardingOs.open(ForwardingOs.java:166)
at libcore.io.BlockGuardOs.open(BlockGuardOs.java:254)
at libcore.io.ForwardingOs.open(ForwardingOs.java:166)
at android.app.ActivityThread$AndroidOs.open(ActivityThread.java:7542)
at libcore.io.IoBridge.open(IoBridge.java:478)
... 15 more

[Gowthamraj Kumar]

Hi Sergio, 

 

Thank you for your update. 

 

Currently, we are checking the reported issue with sample on our end and we will update the further details on November 9^th 2021.

 

Regards, 

Gowthamraj K 

[Surya Venkatesan]

Hi Sergio, 

 

Thank you for your patience.  

 

Still we are analyzing the reported issue with provided details on our end and we will update the further details on November 11^th 2021. 

 

Regards, 

Surya V 

[Gowthamraj Kumar]

Hi Sergio, 

 

Thank you for your patience. 

 

On our further analysis, the Android.OS.Environment.GetExternalStoragePublicDirectory API is deprecated in Android 11. The reported exception occurs due to this API to get the storage directory of different package name on second time. We have found the alternative solution to overcome this issue by using GetExternalFilesDir() method instead of Environment.GetExternalStoragePublicDirectory () to get the external file directory from Application context. 

 

Please find the below code snippet, 

if (Android.OS.Environment.IsExternalStorageEmulated) 

{ 

root = Android.App.Application.Context.GetExternalFilesDir(Android.OS.Environment.DirectoryDownloads).AbsolutePath; 

} 

else 

root = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments); 

   

We have attached the runnable sample for your reference, please find the sample from below link,
Sample: https://www.syncfusion.com/downloads/support/directtrac/general/ze/PDFXamarinSample-1531951196  

 

Please let us know if you need any further assistance in this. 

 

Regards, 

Gowthamraj K