Xojo Desktop FolderItem Not Working on Mac

Targets macOS
1

The following code works in Windows, but not on the Mac:

If lstFiles.SelectedRowIndex > -1 Then
  Var file As String
  file = txtImageFolderIn.Text + lstFiles.SelectedRowValue
  Var fileItem As New FolderItem(file)
  If fileItem <> Nil And fileItem.Exists Then
    Var pictPhoto As Picture = Picture.Open(fileItem)
	// More code here.
  End If
End If

txtImageFolderIn contains the folder path and lstFiles contains a list of .jpg image files.

For some reason, the fileItem is assigned, but the Exists property is false. I have no idea why. Obviously, the Picture.Open call will not work if the fileItem is considered non-existent.

Please note that I’m a Windows developer trying to become a Windows/Mac cross-platform developer, which means I’m new at both Xojo and Mac. If there is something obvious that Mac users know, please explain.

Any help would be appreciated.

1 Like
2

On Mac you can’t just assume you have access to any path. You have to be given a FolderItem by a user action like an Open/Save dialog or a drag & drop file action.

There are some locations you do have permission to access all the time, but constructing a FolderItem from a path doesn’t always work.

3

What locations have permission to access all the time? Is there a way to make selecting a file from a list work?

4
  1. You can assume permission to SpecialFolder.Temporary (usually through FolderItem.TemporaryFile and SpecialFolder.ApplicationData.Child("my.bundle.identifier")
  2. Store the actual FolderItem as the RowTag when you fill the Listbox, you’ll then be able to retrieve it later and you’ll still have permission to access it
5

Excellent! I’ll try this later and report back.

6

That worked perfectly! Thank you!!!