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Issue opening files in lockdown mode

V
Vitor
River Ridge Recycling

Weird one. Using Soti MobiControl 15.2.6.1006, Android Enterprise with agent 15.0.0.1110 in lockdown mode.

We use an app that downloads a PDF file but can't open it, we get "No application available to view this file type". The app has storage permissions and downloads the file and then tries to open it and fails. When it downloads the file, its name is a date/time and no file extension. There are apps installed to handle PDF files. When I looked into it I thought it could be because the file doesn't have an extension but when I reset this device and set it up again without mobicontrol the app works correctly and opens the very same PDF file with no extensions Any thoughts?

Don't know much about Android development, the key might be finding how does Android handle a request to open a file without an extension? Could it be through a system app that is not available under lockdown?

EDIT: the PDF apps are whitelisted under lockdown.

files-pdf-lockdown
Edited 4 years ago
Android
ANSWERS
RC
Raymond Chan Diamond Contributor
4 years ago

Have you contacted technical support of the app and queried why the file downloaded does not have any .pdf file extension? 

If it is a freely downloadable app from Google Play store, could you provide the name and/or bundle-ID of the app?

V
Vitor
4 years ago

Yes I did, but the relevant question is why is Android able to determine the MIME type of the file without an extension and launch the correct app on a device without MobiControl and it's not able to do the same with MobiControl even when out of lockdown in  admin mode?

The app is free and available on Google Play but connects to a backend service you'll not have access to. Bundle ID is com.reportonsite

RC
Raymond Chan Diamond Contributor
4 years ago

Have you tried open a pdf file with no extension by tapping on the file icon in any file-manager app on your device?   I failed to open any on a few devices I just tested, which is in line with the expected behaviour for many years.

If you can successfully open your file in the test, you have to check what extra service/software has been included and called on your device to support the operation.  Once found, add the bundle-ID('s) of such software module(s).

Actually, your postive test result may be misleading, as it is possible that the app "com.reportonsite" knows it has downloaded a pdf file and directly initiate the default viewer registered for handling pdf file on your test device.  In such case, you should ask the app support team what mechanism they use in their app, and you have to whitelist the related services/apps used in their adopted mechaism.

V
Vitor
4 years ago

Thanks for taking the time.

Have you tried open a pdf file with no extension by tapping on the file icon in any file-manager app on your device?   I failed to open any on a few devices I just tested, which is in line with the expected behaviour for many years.
I have and it worked, even though there's no extension Android is somehow able to perhaps detect the MIME type and launch the appropriate app but only when not under MobiControl.

If you can successfully open your file in the test, you have to check what extra service/software has been included and called on your device to support the operation.  Once found, add the bundle-ID('s) of such software module(s).
No extra service/software that I can see. As it only works without MobiControl I have no way of collecting debug logs. Any ideas?

Actually, your postive test result may be misleading, as it is possible that the app "com.reportonsite" knows it has downloaded a pdf file and directly initiate the default viewer registered for handling pdf file on your test device.  In such case, you should ask the app support team what mechanism they use in their app, and you have to whitelist the related services/apps used in their adopted mechaism. If something needed whitelisted would I not see this in the debug log collected through MobiControl?

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