Database Info

Android file management idea

I have noticed that android apps are horrible with file management. When you install an app on the phone it installs a whole new file hierarchy.
Example... when you install Meme Generator it creates a memegenerator folder within that folder it caches Favorites, Instances, Generators, and shares
when you delete the app it doesn't remove this folder or any of its contents​
My idea is an app that would scan folders and mark if the folder is useless or not. Especially the unknown data folders that say something like com.fatsecret.android and have nothing but random .dat files or a .nomedia folder/file. Almost like a registry checker for a PC.
Another idea is to have an app that scans the SD card and locates all media. It would tell you how many of what type of file you have on your phone, and allow you to mass move to selected folders (Not copy or transfer but actually move th file to its new location)
im no programer but these would be great apps if they were to be developed

It would be really great man, unfortunately, I'm not able to develop things like this, but let me know about if it's ready.
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Lmfao i neglected to mention I am only beginning to learn the android programming. So im in no position to even comprehend programming this ... but im researching the possibility.
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File management is very messy at the moment. Something needs to give!

I agree, I've been looking for a decent file manager, but haven't found anything yet!

theblacknight said:
I agree, I've been looking for a decent file manager, but haven't found anything yet!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are quite a few but 'Astro' seems to be the most popular. Give it a try!

I use Astro and i'm quite happy with it.

The question would be how to determine useless folders.

Dark3n said:
The question would be how to determine useless folders.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My initial idea was to use a system similar to a windows registry. Once the app starts for the first time it will create a database that stores folder data, which then it tries to match to an app that installed it. If the folder shows that the app that created it has been deleted it shows a red folder or has a negative mark next to it, if its still installed it shows a positive or green folder. This way you can get rid of the bad folders.
My second idea was to have an app create a drop folder for certain file types. For instance a folder like MY DOCUMENTS that has the folders MUSIC, PICTURES, AND VIDEOS. When the app starts it has you select a folder to drop a specific file type (example .MP3 files into MY DOCUMENTS/MUSIC). The all then media scans the phone and locate all matching file types and MOVES the file not COPYS.
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Something kinda similar to what you want was introduced in FroYo. It gives each app a directory (on the SD card I don't know about onboard memory) that is automatically deleted by the system when the app is installed. Currently it has a few fairly big bugs but hopefully they will get fixed and developers will start to use it.

coreyja said:
Something kinda similar to what you want was introduced in FroYo. It gives each app a directory (on the SD card I don't know about onboard memory) that is automatically deleted by the system when the app is installed. Currently it has a few fairly big bugs but hopefully they will get fixed and developers will start to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds liie it will be excellent once its implemented. I'm sure as most new things take time to catch on this will probably take a little while for it to happen. Maybe Google is going to make it mandatory for devs to do this.
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It wouldn't necessarily have to be an app but some process that would make create or add to (create a sub-directory) default folders. I'm not saying it has to be a window like system but as simple as it gets Music, Images, Documents, Downloads maybe a spare folder for necessary background files (Hidden) But accessible when needed. The biggest problem here is that I don't think too many people that want this solution are programmers. because if you know how to program then you spend all day sorting throu this stuff anyway.

Well i'm on 2.2.1 and the system still keeps the settings folders in /dbdata/databases/*packagename* after you uninstalled it.
I usually resort to deleting the folders in adb shell when programming and testing apps.
So it seems there is need for this and there is no such tool yet?
I might start on it then, do you think there is enough intrest in something like that?
Help me with the most difficult and important step, invent a name for such an app !

Sounds like a useful tool. Great idea.
I'm constantly searching through my sd card and trying to figure out what can be deleted.
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mobbeel said:
I use Astro and i'm quite happy with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried file expert? So much functionality for free.
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Dark3n said:
Well i'm on 2.2.1 and the system still keeps the settings folders in /dbdata/databases/*packagename* after you uninstalled it.
I usually resort to deleting the folders in adb shell when programming and testing apps.
So it seems there is need for this and there is no such tool yet?
I might start on it then, do you think there is enough intrest in something like that?
Help me with the most difficult and important step, invent a name for such an app !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Name ideas
-sd looter
-Datei Objekts (file objects in German)
-file euphoria
-Zen management
-SD filed or SDefiled
Just a few to spark interest.
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Allright, here we go:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1013063
First version is out, please help me test it.

This needs to be created. I'm just sorry I can't do any of the programming.
Just Incredible

Hiding Pics from the Gallery??

Hey guys:
I've got tons of comicbooks on my storage card that keeps showing up as individual folders in my picture gallery. I know I could drop a "no media" file in the main folder to stop it, but then my other apps wont read anything in that folder as well correct? Is their any way to exclude the comicbook folder from the gallery?
thanks

shaun0207 said:
Hey guys:
I've got tons of comicbooks on my storage card that keeps showing up as individual folders in my picture gallery. I know I could drop a "no media" file in the main folder to stop it, but then my other apps wont read anything in that folder as well correct? Is their any way to exclude the comicbook folder from the gallery?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 ................

call me crazy, but I have a feeling the easiest solution is to create a .nomedia file and put it in the folder you want to hide.... ooooor I could be 100% wrong.

MitchRapp said:
call me crazy, but I have a feeling the easiest solution is to create a .nomedia file and put it in the folder you want to hide.... ooooor I could be 100% wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are crazy ;-) does not work here.

This does not solve your problem, but may be an alternate solution. I use a gallery replacement called QuickPic. Inside of QuickPic you can choose which folders are hidden so you only see the ones you want.

HuckFinn said:
This does not solve your problem, but may be an alternate solution. I use a gallery replacement called QuickPic. Inside of QuickPic you can choose which folders are hidden so you only see the ones you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard of QuickPic. But I really like the stock Gallery. And if I put a no media file in that folder,, my comicbook reader apps wont see the files either right?

Actually, all you have to do is rename the folder or file and put a "." at the start of the name. So a folder called "my_pron" renamed ".my_pron" won't show up
It's probably worth noting that you should do the rename on your tab and not from your PC, I had problems with it not working when I did it via my PC, that's why I mention it. I used Astro File manager and it works just fine.

t.d.k said:
".my_pron"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Giggity...

Kii Safe!
It's a program designed to be more along the lines of hiding naughty things, but it would allow you to move all your comics into a side gallery type section, plus once their there you can subdivide them into their own folders AGAIN so that you have individual comics in mini-galleries, with sorting by name or date possible to make for easy ordering.
https://market.android.com/details?...esult#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5raWkuc2FmZSJd
Noteworthy item is that with the EI22 update yesterday, my app got wiped with the rest of my phone, but upon re-installing it and going through new-startup steps it found the SD card data from my previous installation - yay SD card!

tigerknight said:
It's a program designed to be more along the lines of hiding naughty things, but it would allow you to move all your comics into a side gallery type section, plus once their there you can subdivide them into their own folders AGAIN so that you have individual comics in mini-galleries, with sorting by name or date possible to make for easy ordering.
https://market.android.com/details?...esult#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5raWkuc2FmZSJd
Noteworthy item is that with the EI22 update yesterday, my app got wiped with the rest of my phone, but upon re-installing it and going through new-startup steps it found the SD card data from my previous installation - yay SD card!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a app similar to this called Hide & Sneek. But I have to unhide pics everytime I need to use it. Will Keep safe allow me to hide the comics just from the Gallery , but let them be used in the Combook reader?

Quit trying to hide the pron from her and you won't have issues! Or just if ya get caught freak out and claim you must have a virus!
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hammer4203 said:
Quit trying to hide the pron from her and you won't have issues! Or just if ya get caught freak out and claim you must have a virus!
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol. Not worried bout the porn pics. But when I have to scroll through the gallery to find the folders my real pics are in, its kinda annoying. See the attached.

App Developers Listen Up - Put your config and junk data in sdcard/apps!

Hi XDA!
I realise that I'm new here, so I may not get listened to, but I've been using smartphones for a while and this has always been an annoyance for me.
Currently, my internal storage (internal sd as some like to call it), is full of config, backup and other files placed there by app developers. I have a folder called AussieWeatherRadar, one called Cut the Rope, and one called rammanager, just to name a few.
As I have a bit of OCD, I like to keep my internal memory looking tidy, but how is this possible with so many folders, none of which conform to any particular standards?
I am suggesting the following: App developers should use the /apps/ folder, or a similar folder on the sd card to store their data. This way, the user's SD card does not look cluttered, but the data is all still there.
So please, app developers, here my plea! Please use the /app/ directory!
Do you have any comments or suggestions on this? Please comment!
Thanks,
John
TL;DR: App developers should use the sdcard/app/ folder for their junk/config/backup files so that sdcard/ looks tidy.

Second the sentiment.

Third.
10char

+1
10char

+ 1
10char
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Yes, please. My phones sdcard is the reason I take xanax anymore.. I can't handle it!
*signed

bump... Surely there's more than 5 people who want this!

+1
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Developers *HAVE* a default location to place their data if they need to store in external storage. Google dictates for it to be in /sdcard/Android/data
I have made an app that creates in terms an init.d script that auto removes these folders on boot, but that doesn't solve the problem.
Developers wanting to promote their apps create folders with, honestly nothing in them, to show off.
I have created a Google Docs document that I will share tomorrow with the apps I have installed on my phone that create an sdcard folder. Perhaps you could help improve that list.
One afternoon in last December I had emailed all those app developers about this. Do you know how many answers I received to about 10 emails? None..
We should all organize a massive email sendout to them again. After all its their own fault for not sticking to Android guidelines.
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petsasj said:
Developers *HAVE* a default location to place their data if they need to store in external storage. Google dictates for it to be in /sdcard/Android/data
I have made an app that creates in terms an init.d script that auto removes these folders on boot, but that doesn't solve the problem.
Developers wanting to promote their apps create folders with, honestly nothing in them, to show off.
I have created a Google Docs document that I will share tomorrow with the apps I have installed on my phone that create an sdcard folder. Perhaps you could help improve that list.
One afternoon in last December I had emailed all those app developers about this. Do you know how many answers I received to about 10 emails? None..
We should all organize a massive email sendout to them again. After all its their own fault for not sticking to Android guidelines.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well put mate!

Totally agree. They messed up my internal storage as well I wonder if I need to de-fragment it using my PC's windows defragment tools

Here is my list of apps that create a folder in the root of the sdcard without giving the option to reconfigure the folder location.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oC3G-MGKzvHW-0GXVaCm13GgGApcAnk4jA1PluRlhjY/edit
Please help improve this list further on so we can email the developers.

[Q] APK Multi-Tool Help

Hello,
Some of you may be familiar with a tool known as APK Multi-Tool. I sure am by now. I have recently used this program to edit an apk on my desktop, and when whatever it was doing finished, my entire desktop and it's various sub-folders were erased. I looked through my recycling bin to find nothing, and have done many searches of the exact file-names of a few of my lost files to find nothing. There was an unfathomable amount of important data there, which was deleted in one click. Help, naturally, would be appreciated.
I believe there is no possible way to cure this, seeing that my computer has been restarted various times over the past few days, (this happened about 10-20 days ago) and I would consider a system restore, where the computer restores itself to a point in time, but if the documents are not in the recycling bin, I don't believe they will come back. Is there any possible way to restore my data? Please help ASAP.

Okayyyyyy never used the tool (probably only would in a sandboxed VM after seeing this though)
Know any g forensix people?
Have you tried using a linux live stick to have a proper look at the hard drive?
Ouch, dude. Good luck.
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If you use a file recovery tool you should be able to restore some of them, but the more you use your harddrive the greater the chances of them being overwritten.
You'll definitely want to check ASAP though.
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Maybe your desktop files weren't actually deleted, just hidden? If you're using Windows 7, navigate to you desktop folder:
C:\Users\%username%\desktop
Right-click on the desktop folder and choose properties. Look at the Attributes section on the general tab and make sure that "hidden" is not checked. If it is, uncheck it.

Quickpic.

I'm having issues with quickpic and was wondering if anyone else had the problem or have a solution. The other day I spent a ton of time "excluding" all the files and folders oF my dropbox and other random files. I open up quickpic and bam! They are all showing again. I haven't flashed a new rom or done anything of the sorts. I just don't understand why it keeps doing it to me and its getting annoying :/ help anyone?
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Did you try to uninstall and install Quickpic back? I think that should help, however I`ve never had that problem.

Well it stayed the same after I deleted it so lets see in a few days if they stay excluded :/
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Just put a password on it so no one can accidentally see all you porn.
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toxicpaulution said:
The other day I spent a ton of time "excluding" all the files and folders oF my dropbox and other random files. I open up quickpic and bam! They are all showing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In stead of excluding folders (sounds very time consuming), just set it to scan certain folders only. It'll be faster, and you do not run by this risk of something showing up by accident. If excluding and you just change a folder name or if a mount point changes, they will show again.
Mine's just watching camera folder, pics, downloads, and movies. Simple, fast, and I'm in control.
An other advice:
In those few "watched" folders, add folders with a .nomedia file inside. Then stick all the sensitive stuff in there. It'll be hidden in your gallery every time you open quickpic, but you can get them to show up with a few buttons press (settings, show hidden)
They will be hidden automatically next time you open quickpic.
Nice if you got sensitive shots of your missus that you wanna keep for your eyes only, or if you got lots of system png's for customising gui, but you don't want them to clutter your gallery..
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Yeah I use hidden folders for a lot of my icons and such my phone card is unorganized and stuff so my folders are just confusing xD
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Somethings gone wrong on my quickpic and the way it handles dropbox photos.
I used to just have one dropbox folder showing, camera uploads, than last week or started showing loads of other folders from dropbox which I didn't want.
I deleted the cache on both apps and now it won't display anything at all from my dropbox account.
Does anyone know how to get quickpic to show dropbox files again?