IllegalArgumentException: column '_data' does not exist

Question

In Nougat, this function is not working.

String path = getRealPathFromURI(this, getIntent().getParcelableExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM));

public String getRealPathFromURI(Context context, Uri contentUri) {
    Cursor cursor = null;
    try {
        String[] proj = {MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA};
        cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(contentUri, proj, null, null, null);
        if (cursor == null) return contentUri.getPath();
        int column_index = cursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA);
        cursor.moveToFirst();
        return cursor.getString(column_index);
    } finally {
        if (cursor != null) {
            cursor.close();
        }
    }
}

Crash log:

java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{class path}: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: column '_data' does not exist
   at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2659)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2724)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap12(ActivityThread.java)
   at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1473)
   at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
   at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:154)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6123)
   at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
   at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:867)
   at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:757)
Caused by java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: column '_data' does not exist
   at android.database.AbstractCursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(AbstractCursor.java:333)
   at android.database.CursorWrapper.getColumnIndexOrThrow(CursorWrapper.java:87)
   at com.package.SaveImageActivity.getRealPathFromURI()
   at com.package.SaveImageActivity.onCreate()
   at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:6672)
   at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1140)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2612)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2724)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap12(ActivityThread.java)
   at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1473)
   at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
   at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:154)
   at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6123)
   at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java)
   at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:867)
   at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:757)

This function is working properly in devices before Android N. I read the article file:// scheme is now not allowed to be attached with Intent on targetSdkVersion 24 (Android Nougat). But couldn't find any solution. So please help.

Answer 1

This function is working properly in devices before Android N

It works for very few Uri values, may not have a result (e.g., for things that are indexed by MediaStore that are not local files), and may not have a usable result (e.g., for files on removable storage).

So please help.

Use a ContentResolver and openInputStream() to get an InputStream on the content identified by the Uri. Ideally, just use that stream directly, for whatever it is that you are trying to do. Or, use that InputStream and some FileOutputStream on a file that you control to make a copy of the content, then use that file.