Author Topic: Backup can't be written to ExternalSD ; lacks perms for new file/folder creation  (Read 7299 times)

pgnd

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I've AquaMail installed on LineageOS 14.1 (Android 7.2.1)

An external SD card is installed, configured as 'ExternalSD' for use with "Storage Access Framework".  It's used by numerous apps for app data, backup, etc.

In AquaMail's "Account backup and restore", attempting to select any location on external SD card (path == /storage/<UUID>/...), returns:

    "AquaMail
     This folder doesn't allow the creation of new files.
     Please pick another one."


EDIT:

It appears it's a wider issue ...

   Settings -> Data storage -> Folder for saving attachments

returns same error msg if any path on ExternalSD card is selected
« Last Edit: December 04, 2017, 06:43:05 pm by pgnd »

Kostya Vasilyev

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Re: returns same error msg if any path on ExternalSD card is selected

Yes. Please see the FAQ for details.

In short - a change made by Google.

There is a workaround but it's not easy for us or for users.

And since Aqua Mail is not a file manager, this is not a priority for us.

Creating debug logs for diagnostics: https://www.aqua-mail.com/troubleshooting/

The official FAQ: https://www.aqua-mail.com/faq/

Лог-файлы для диагностики: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/troubleshooting/

Вопросы и ответы: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/faq/

NetworkGuy

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Re: returns same error msg if any path on ExternalSD card is selected

Yes. Please see the FAQ for details.

In short - a change made by Google.

There is a workaround but it's not easy for us or for users.

And since Aqua Mail is not a file manager, this is not a priority for us.
I have this same issue! Saying it's not a priority is a disappointing response. Other applications do it, why not AquaMail?

Can you please link to the FAQ page discussing what a user can do to use the "workaround" mentioned?

Is there any way to backup applications settings/configuration? I recently lost my phone (stopped working). I have many applications settings backed up to External SD card, but nothing for AquaMail. It's impossible to remember every single settings I was using, so my mail looks drastically different.

It would be nice to backup my "application settings" so if this occurs again, I can copy a settings file back to a new phone and have the application use it.

Is this possible? I'm not seeing it anywhere within the application...

this_is_nascar

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While I also wish it could backup to the SD card, in the meantime, just do the backup and move the file to the SD card with whatever file manager you're using.


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NetworkGuy

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While I also wish it could backup to the SD card, in the meantime, just do the backup and move the file to the SD card with whatever file manager you're using.


Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
I hope this is NOT the work-around method mentioned above, but I suspect it's exactly it...

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this_is_nascar

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Having the backup on internal storage is somewhat stupid, in my opinion.  In the meantime, perform the configuration backup and move the file to the SD card.

Once you're all setup, I can't imagine your setup/config changing that often.


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Kostya Vasilyev

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Re: Saying it's not a priority is a disappointing response. Other applications do it, why not AquaMail?

There are some apps that can write to "real" microSd - mostly file managers.

Aqua Mail is not a file manager. In addition to saving files it also does a whole bunch of other things.

We prefer to focus on those other things. Therefore, making "save attachment" or "save backup file" to real microSD is lower priority (not a priority).

Re: Can you please link to the FAQ page discussing what a user can do to use the "workaround" mentioned?

The Official Google Workaround is:

- For us to make code changes - which is not a priority

- But if we did, we'd also have to walk the user through a fairly complicated procedure to actually enable the saving to work

This -- the fairly complicated procedure that the user would have to perform -- is the second reason why this whole thing is not a priority for us.

The procedure really is too complicated for the "casual" user. I've also seen device(s) where this "user procedure" simply doesn't work - and I was trying to do it from Google Photos, by the way.

---

Look, why not just accept that Google screwed up on this one? That Android has some very questionable things in it and this is one of them?
Creating debug logs for diagnostics: https://www.aqua-mail.com/troubleshooting/

The official FAQ: https://www.aqua-mail.com/faq/

Лог-файлы для диагностики: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/troubleshooting/

Вопросы и ответы: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/faq/

NetworkGuy

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Re: Saying it's not a priority is a disappointing response. Other applications do it, why not AquaMail?

There are some apps that can write to "real" microSd - mostly file managers.

Aqua Mail is not a file manager. In addition to saving files it also does a whole bunch of other things.

We prefer to focus on those other things. Therefore, making "save attachment" or "save backup file" to real microSD is lower priority (not a priority).

Re: Can you please link to the FAQ page discussing what a user can do to use the "workaround" mentioned?

The Official Google Workaround is:

- For us to make code changes - which is not a priority

- But if we did, we'd also have to walk the user through a fairly complicated procedure to actually enable the saving to work

This -- the fairly complicated procedure that the user would have to perform -- is the second reason why this whole thing is not a priority for us.

The procedure really is too complicated for the "casual" user. I've also seen device(s) where this "user procedure" simply doesn't work - and I was trying to do it from Google Photos, by the way.

---

Look, why not just accept that Google screwed up on this one? That Android has some very questionable things in it and this is one of them?
I can accept that Google made changes, but to say that AquaMail cannot adjust is what I find disheartening. I have a pod casting application (PodKicker) and I am able to easily select the external SD card (ExtSDCard) as the destination for saving, and listening to, my pod casts - no issue at all, so it seems it can be done.

A few weeks back my phone died (completely). I was able to take out the SD card, but had no access to the internal memory, so everything internal was just gone! So every application which must be configured to save or access files I point at my external SD card.

Though I'd like to see AquaMail make these adjustments, my biggest question right this minute is:

On my replacement phone, WHERE do I find the (internal) configuration file so that I can manually "SAVE" (copy) my configuration changes (which I completely lost with my phone loss) to my external SD card?

phred

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Though I'd like to see AquaMail make these adjustments, my biggest question right this minute is:

On my replacement phone, WHERE do I find the (internal) configuration file so that I can manually "SAVE" (copy) my configuration changes (which I completely lost with my phone loss) to my external SD card?
Press the 3 dots in the upper right corner > Backup & restore > Folder (defaults to /storage/emulated/0/backup/AquaMail.
I don't use an SD card in my Samsung S8, but the Android file system emulates one. Your mileage may vary.

NetworkGuy

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Though I'd like to see AquaMail make these adjustments, my biggest question right this minute is:

On my replacement phone, WHERE do I find the (internal) configuration file so that I can manually "SAVE" (copy) my configuration changes (which I completely lost with my phone loss) to my external SD card?
Press the 3 dots in the upper right corner > Backup & restore > Folder (defaults to /storage/emulated/0/backup/AquaMail.
I don't use an SD card in my Samsung S8, but the Android file system emulates one. Your mileage may vary.
Thanks phred...I hadn't noticed that option before. I was able to run a backup, but was unable to find the backup path shown - I got the same path as you showed.

Strangely I was able to select a different path on my external SD card and perform a backup.

/ Storage / ExtSDCard / Android / Data / Org.kman.AquaMail / Files

I may try to create a subfolder in the AquaMail folder or somewhere else within, but this works for me for now...
« Last Edit: December 30, 2017, 10:48:21 am by NetworkGuy »

okoetter

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BTW: Does AM use the Android Backup Service to backup its settings to Google Drive? They would then be restored on any device when AM is installed from Google Play Store.

phred

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Thanks phred...I hadn't noticed that option before. I was able to run a backup, but was unable to find the backup path shown - I got the same path as you showed.

Strangely I was able to select a different path on my external SD card and perform a backup.
All good news. But don't just create a backup. Also do a restore. A backup does you no good if you can't restore from it, or from the path on which it lives.

Kostya Vasilyev

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Re:  /storage/emulated/0/

Despite the name, on modern Android version this is the "large built-in memory" NOT the real microSd.

Re: Does AM use the Android Backup Service to backup its settings to Google Drive?

Android Backup Service and Google Drive are two separate unrelated things (at least what they "look like" to an app or a user).

And no, Aqua Mail does not use the Android Backup Service because the Google developer agreement for this service specifically prohibits storing user's account IDs or passwords.

Re: A backup does you no good if you can't restore from it, or from the path on which it lives.

And why is this?

The "large built-in storage" is perfectly accessible (readable and writable), is the default, no issues at all.

If you think you're going to reset you phone (including formatting this storage) - why not either make a copy of this file in a safe location and/or use Aqua Mail's built-in "upload backup to / download from" Google Drive / OneDrive / Box.com / Dropbox?

And btw, microSd cards sometimes go dead so that's not bulletproof either :)
Creating debug logs for diagnostics: https://www.aqua-mail.com/troubleshooting/

The official FAQ: https://www.aqua-mail.com/faq/

Лог-файлы для диагностики: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/troubleshooting/

Вопросы и ответы: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/faq/

phred

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Re: A backup does you no good if you can't restore from it, or from the path on which it lives.

And why is this?
That was my comment on backups in general. It was meant to be a 'standard operating procedure' for anyone who does backups. Doesn't matter if it's a desktop or a phone, to the internal memory or to external. A backup should be tested to make sure you can restore from it. I don't test every backup done, but one a week I do a test restore.

It's just good policy to periodically test that you can restore. Which I learned the hard way about 20 years ago. Needed to do a bare metal restore to a Windows PC. I had created a boot CD with the backup software I was using. Backups were being done every overnight. Came time to restore and the boot CD wouldn't boot. Not a major problem as I just created another one from another PC. Once booted, it couldn't connect to the network to retrieve the backups. I finally got that straightened out and the backups were not readable.

Kostya Vasilyev

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You're right, backups should be tested.

Easy to do - with the app's default settings (default path for backup file) - takes just a few taps to first make backup and then restore from it (without leaving the backup / restore screen).

Creating debug logs for diagnostics: https://www.aqua-mail.com/troubleshooting/

The official FAQ: https://www.aqua-mail.com/faq/

Лог-файлы для диагностики: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/troubleshooting/

Вопросы и ответы: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/faq/