How to attach a pdf to intent to send (to email, dropbox, etc) in android

Question

Hey so I save my pdf in external data storage. Eg:

Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getPath() + "/file.pdf"

Then, I try to attach it to intent to send:

        File attachment = this.getFileStreamPath(fileDirectory + "/" + fileName);


        Uri uri = Uri.fromFile(attachment);

        Intent emailIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
        emailIntent.setDataAndType(Uri.parse("mailto:"), "text/plain"); // I have also tried "application/pdf"

        emailIntent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);

        emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, "Calc PDF Report");
        emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, " PDF Report");

        emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uri);
        startActivity(Intent.createChooser(emailIntent, "Send mail..."));
        finish();

and im getting the error:

 Caused by: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: File /storage/emulated/0/file.pdf contains a path separator

I am thinking it is something wrong with were I am saving my file, but can't find any examples that are up-to-date.

Answer 1

To share a file as an email attachment using intent, you need to use a FileProvider.

/**
 * Generate file content and returns uri file
 */
public static Uri generateFile(Context context) {
  File pdfDirPath = new File(context.getFilesDir(), "pdfs");
  pdfDirPath.mkdirs();

  File file = new File(pdfDirPath, "attachment.pdf");
  file.deleteOnExit();

  Uri uri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, context.getPackageName() + ".file.provider", file);
  FileOutputStream os = null;
  try {
    Logger.info("Generate file " + file.getAbsolutePath());
    os = new FileOutputStream(file);
    document.writeTo(os);
    document.close();
    os.close();
  } catch (IOException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
  }
  return uri;
}

private void share(Context context) {
  Uri uri = generateFile(context);

  final Intent emailIntent = new Intent(android.content.Intent.ACTION_SEND);
  emailIntent.setType("text/plain");

  emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uri);
  emailIntent.putExtra(EXTRA_SUBJECT, "Send something");
  emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "You receive attachment");
  emailIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);

  startActivity(emailIntent);
}

In your app add the file provider definition:

AndroidManifest.xml

<application
  android:name=".DemaApplication"
  android:allowBackup="false"
  android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
  android:label="@string/app_name"
  android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
  android:supportsRtl="true"
  android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

  <provider
    android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
    android:authorities="${applicationId}.file.provider"
    android:exported="false"
    android:grantUriPermissions="true">
    <meta-data
       android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
             android:resource="@xml/provider_paths" />
  </provider>
  ...
</application>

provider_path.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <files-path
        name="internal_files"
        path="/"/>
    <!--<external-path name="external_files" path="./files"/>-->
</paths>

At last but not least, you need to specify the file provider path (where are your files). I hope this helps. Here , the official documentation about how to send email and attachment with intent.

Answer 2

Problem #1: getFileStreamPath() does not support subdirectories and is not related to external storage , where your file resides.

Problem #2: Uri.fromFile() will not work on Android 7.0, as your app will crash with a FileUriExposedException . To fix this and Problem #1, use FileProvider to set up a content Uri that you can use for EXTRA_STREAM .

Problem #3: ACTION_SEND does not use a "data" Uri (ie, your "mailto:" should not be there).

Problem #4: The MIME type of a PDF is not text/plain — as your comment notes, use application/pdf .

Problem #5: getExternalStorageDirectory() is deprecated on Android 10 and higher, and you will not be able to write files there. Consider using getExternaFilesDir(null) (called on a Context ) for a better location that works without permissions and on more Android OS versions.

can't find any examples that are up-to-date

The documentation covers the use of ACTION_SEND .