How can I capture a new image using the camera and after that store it in the external storage?

Question

I'm trying to capture a new image using the camera and after that store it in the external storage.

I followed this tutorial Save the full-size photo and this Add the photo to a gallery but after running the app, The camera starts and captured the image successfully, But when I go to the gallery, Can't find the image who captured via camera!

//I changed this from com.example.android.fileprovider to com.test.app.fileprovider
android:authorities="com.test.app.fileprovider"

//I changed this line Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, "com.example.android.fileprovider", photoFile); to below code
Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, "com.test.app.fileprovider", photoFile);

//I added this permission
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />

//I enabled storage permission read and write
//I tested the codes on API 24
//minSdkVersion 21

Manifests

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.test.app">

    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera"
        android:required="true" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
    <uses-permission
        android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"
        android:maxSdkVersion="18" />

    <application>

        <provider
            android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="com.test.app.fileprovider"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
            <meta-data
                android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                android:resource="@xml/file_paths" />
        </provider>

    </application>

</manifest>

file_paths.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-files-path name="my_images" path="Pictures" />
</paths>

MainActivity

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    String currentPhotoPath;
    int REQUEST_IMAGE_CAPTURE = 100;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        SplashScreen.installSplashScreen(this);
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
        dispatchTakePictureIntent();
    }

    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, @Nullable @org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable Intent data) {
        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
        if (requestCode == REQUEST_IMAGE_CAPTURE) {
            Intent mediaScanIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE);
            File f = new File(currentPhotoPath);
            Uri contentUri = Uri.fromFile(f);
            mediaScanIntent.setData(contentUri);
            this.sendBroadcast(mediaScanIntent);
        }
    }

    private void dispatchTakePictureIntent() {
        Intent takePictureIntent = new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
        // Ensure that there's a camera activity to handle the intent
        if (takePictureIntent.resolveActivity(getPackageManager()) != null) {
            // Create the File where the photo should go
            File photoFile = null;
            try {
                photoFile = createImageFile();
            } catch (IOException ex) {
                // Error occurred while creating the File

            }
            // Continue only if the File was successfully created
            if (photoFile != null) {
                Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this,
                        "com.test.app.fileprovider",
                        photoFile);
                takePictureIntent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_OUTPUT, photoURI);
                startActivityForResult(takePictureIntent, REQUEST_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
            }
        }
    }

    private File createImageFile() throws IOException {
        // Create an image file name
        String timeStamp = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd_HHmmss").format(new Date());
        String imageFileName = "JPEG_" + timeStamp + "_";
        File storageDir = getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES);
        File image = File.createTempFile(
                imageFileName,  /* prefix */
                ".jpg",         /* suffix */
                storageDir      /* directory */
        );

        // Save a file: path for use with ACTION_VIEW intents
        currentPhotoPath = image.getAbsolutePath();
        return image;
    }

}

Additional Question: What is the difference between this tutorial Save the full-size photo and this tutorial Add the photo to a gallery?

The best answer will take +50 bounty from this account if I reached 50 points, Otherwise, I'll give him the bounty from my other account after 2 days.

Answer 1

Your file will not be scanned by the MediaStore and hence will not be visible in Gallery apps as Gallery apps mostly get their info from MediaStore.

getExternalFilesDir() is a location private for your app and the MediaStore respects that.

How can I capture a new image using the camera and after that store it in the external storage?

Wrong problem description.

Once the camera app took the picture the camera app will save the picture to the file indicated by the file provider. There is nothing to do more then.

So before starting the camera and even before using FileProvider you should have determined a suitable location for your file and builded a nice uri for that file.

You have at least two options.

Use MediaStore to get an uri for a file in public DCIM or Pictures directory.

Use getExternalStoragePublicDirectory() with FileProvider to get an uri for a file in the same public directories.