Uploading Files via Android Share button

[BaccanoMob]

Important

This only works for a single FILE not folders. If you really need to upload a folder or a number of files, you will need to zip them first. While you can choose multiple files and share, this configuration will only accept the first file in the list.

Note

This will work with any share button that opens a popup (in technical terms, Share Intent) as long as its a file.

Uploading files from Android is a real pain. You have to use the android file picker to navigate even if you want share a photo (for example, a photo from a few years back that is deep buried down, etc) that you opened and its in front of you. If you follow the below steps you can now just use the share button to upload to filebrowser instead.

To share files from Android's share button, you need to download another app called HTTP Shortcuts. The download links are in that link. Well it will look really intimidating but thats only if you do it from scratch (if its not let me know Ill update this so its easier to follow).

Steps to follow

1. Once you install and open it, click the three dots in top right corner then choose Import/Export.
2. Click Import from URL. Paste in this url. Leads to my gist (https://gist.github.com/BaccanoMob/83f083b5a021d5c71aa19fbb09b9fc12), which you can technically download the file and use the Import from File option.
3. Go back to App's home screen (not your phone's), click the three dots again but this time choose Global variables and update the variables' value according to your instance (leave the other checkboxes as is, I have already configured to be working properly AFAIK, but let me know if there are any issues).
   • filebrowser_instance => https://quantum.domain.tld/ (can be http/https based on how you setup but MUST end with a /)
   • filebrowser_api => JWT token from WebUI. Settings > API Keys > New > Choose the dates. I think only the API needs to be checked.
4. Other variables do not need to be set now. But for information,
   • filebrowser_source => Name of the source you want to upload
   • filebrowser_path => The path in source where you want to upload (MUST start with / excluding the source name)
   • upload_file_name => Name of the file (do not worry, I made it work so it auto retrieves from share intent)
5. Go to your Web browser, login to filebrowser. I recommend you to select a source where you want the files to land and create /Uploads folder at the root of the source since you will not have a UI to navigate through the folder. So you can move the uploaded files later.
6. Now to your messaging app or gallery or filebrowser. Share a file, you may see Upload to Filebrowser (name of the shortcut btw) or find HTTP Shortcuts the app itself. Now you will be prompted for the remaining variables. Type in the source and path. After a couple of seconds you should see a notification that its successful.
7. Optional, if you do not want the prompts for typing in source and path, you will need to hard code them in the URL. For that, open the App > Hold on the shortcut > Edit > Basic Request Settings > Replace {filebrowser_source} and {filebrowser_path} (including {}) with your info.
8. Optional, you can set filebrowser logo to your shortcut. First, you need to download the logo. Then, open the App > Hold on the shortcut > Edit > Click the icon > Custom Icon > Round > Find the icon you download in the file picker.

Current drawbacks

1. Can only upload only 1 file. (blocked by Bulk upload via API #1983)
2. Doesnt resolve conflict. Just throws a 409 status code. AKA, you cant upload a file with a same name multiple times.(Resolve conflict as a Query for Resources #1865)
3. If you upload a zip, you cant unzip it in the WebUI. You will need to unzip in the terminal/GUI in the system. (archiving and unarchiving in the UI #335 and On multi select, option to archive to zip/tar.gz #1252)

[gtsteffaniak]

Awesome walkthrough.

Will be adding native share functionality fairly soon to share from filebrowser quantum to other apps. Would be nice to have both directions documented on the official docs