Apache Flex Actionscript 3 Air

How to `Open Local Files` in Your AIR/Flex Application

Developing applications using Apache AIR and Flex can be a rewarding experience, especially when you want to create features that enhance user interactivity. However, certain tasks, such as prompting users to open or save local files, might present challenges.

In this blog post, we will address a common problem faced by AIR application developers; specifically, how to enable users to open documents stored in your application’s storage in their native applications.

The Problem: Opening Local Files

You may have built an AIR application that successfully downloads and plays videos, but when it comes to handling documents, you’re faced with limitations. Users want to open documents directly in their native applications, but you’re encountering an error with the typical methods—specifically, using the FileReference and URLRequest classes, which can only process remote URLs.

Instead of moving the file to the desktop and asking the user to find it manually, there must be a more streamlined approach, right?

The Solution: Leveraging the Browser

The good news is that there is an effective way to handle this situation without executing a file move. By redirecting the user through their browser, we can bypass the restrictions imposed by AIR. This method allows the user to trigger their operating system’s file association, enabling them to open the document in the appropriate application seamlessly.

Implementation Steps

Here’s a breakdown of the steps you’ll take to implement this solution:

Build your file path: Construct the full path of the file you want to open.
Use the navigateToURL Method: This method will direct the user’s browser to the file path, prompting them to either download or open it.

Here’s a simple code snippet to demonstrate this approach:

navigateToURL(new URLRequest(File.applicationStorageDirectory.nativePath + "/courses/" + fileName));

Explanation of the Code

navigateToURL: This function is part of the air namespace and is used to navigate the user’s default web browser to a specified URL.
new URLRequest(...): This constructor creates a new URL request object, using the path of the file stored in the application’s storage directory.
File.applicationStorageDirectory.nativePath: This property provides the local storage directory path of the AIR application, ensuring your file path points to the correct location.

Conclusion

By using the above method, you enable users to open their documents in their preferred applications without needing to manually search for files on their desktops. This enhancement not only improves user experience but also showcases the flexibility of AIR applications.