Better selection of backup location

[mpldr]

Checklist

• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one feature request.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.
• I optionally donated to support the Fossify mission.

Feature description

When selecting a backup-location it is not possible to just add an existing directory to the storage locations.

As an example, I want my Backups in /storage/emulated/0/Backups/Calendar/. /storage/emulated/0/Backups/ already exists. I now can't add the subdirectory, as I simply can not select it.

Why do you want this feature?

I am backing up my stuff with syncthing and, for this purpose, have the aptly named Backup directory, where all the backups are stored and then synchronised with my other devices.

Additional information

No response

[mpldr]

This also affects the other apps, it's just that the calendar is where it is most urgent for me.

[Aga-C]

Actually, it seems to be a bug. I have no problem with adding a subdirectory and setting backup there. Can you add details about your phone model and OS version?

Please also check if you can do this in other paths, not managed by Syncthing.

[mpldr]

On Wed 24 Jan 2024 13:29:52, Agnieszka C wrote: Actually, it seems to be a bug. I have no problem with adding a subdirectory and setting backup there. Can you add details about your phone model and OS version?

Android 14 (GrapheneOS), Pixel 5

Please also check if you can do this in other paths, not managed by Syncthing.

I can not. I'll provide a screencast, maybe that helps with illustrating :)

…

-- Moritz Poldrack https://moritz.sh Official sponsor of the letter ＠

For office use only.

[mpldr]

Here's the promised screencast. Unfortunately too large for GitHub: https://0x0.st/HGpU.mp4

[Aga-C]

Thanks for sharing the screencast!

I have to admit, that's strange - I tested on two different phones (both with stock Android 13) and emulator (Android 14) and in this view I have this view, so I can select anything:

I suppose it may be related to GrapheneOS or custom ROMs in general. Can anybody else confirm this bug?

[mpldr]

This might be related to some hardening done by Graphene… I'll poke around in the settings a bit.

[mpldr]

Couldn't find anything I could toggle. Since one has to grant access manually anyways, why not just use the system prompt, though?

[naveensingh]

@mpldr
It does seem like a GrapheneOS security feature. Hopefully, other GrapheneOS users will confirm this. Normally, the app would be able to see the "Internal/Backups" directory but not its content.

Since one has to grant access manually anyways, why not just use the system prompt, though?

I agree. This needs to be reworked using SAF directly so the users can pick whatever directory they want.

In your particular case, as a workaround, I think you can tinker around with storage scopes to grant Fossify Calendar access to the Internal/Backups directory which was created by Syncthing. You can find more info at https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/1935-how-do-i-enable-storage-scopes and https://grapheneos.org/usage#storage-scopes. If that doesn't work, then consider using another directory like Internal/Calendar until this is fixed.

[min7-i]

I tested it on GrapheneOS and I could select the following directories as a location for automatic backups: Internal\Download and Internal\Android\media. It was also possible to create new folders in those directories and in Internal.

However, I couldn't select any other existing directory.

I think you can tinker around with storage scopes to grant Fossify Calendar access to the Internal/Backups directory...

Storage Scopes can only be used when an app requests file permissions. As this is not the case with Fossify Calendar storage scopes are not available for this app in GrapheneOS.

[genodeftest]

Since this issue seems to be specific to GrapheneOS, how about adapting the title to include that information?

[mpldr]

Since this issue seems to be specific to GrapheneOS, how about adapting the title to include that information?

While the specific issue that prompted the suggestion is specific to GrapheneOS, the suggestion itself very much isn't. I do think it would overall help very much with focussing development efforts to not maintain a file picker when one is already provided by the OS.

[mpldr]

It might be an idea to move this issue to common though, as it also happens with the other apps.

[serrq]

Your file picker doesn't see my other "volume" created with Anemo app.

Please turn to another file picker or repair this one.

[mpldr]

On Wed 29 May 2024 04:43:00, serrq wrote: Please turn to another file picker or repair this one.

Personally, I'd prefer using the one integrated into the system.

…

-- Moritz Poldrack https://moritz.sh

Keep out of the sunlight.

[serrq]

Personally, I'd prefer using the one integrated into the system.

Yes, it is called SAF if I don't wrong.

[jm355]

I'm also running into this, it definitely seems ideal to simply use the system file picker

[Aga-C]

Closing in favor of general bug report for all apps: FossifyOrg/General-Discussion#211.