[Android] Cloud feature, USB flash drive access

[jbsavitz]

I own two Android tablets. A Samsung Note Pro 12.2 with Android 5.02 and a Nexus 7 (2014) with Android 6.01. I use the cloud feature of CC to load books onto the tablets for reading.

This feature works great on the Samsung with Android 5.02 and I can find the USB flash drive listed under storage and find the Calibre library.

However, with the Nexus 7 and Android 6.01 I can't locate the USB Flash Drive in the storage folder.

Does anyone else have this problem with Android 6.01? Is there a workaround or fix that anyone knows about?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Regards,

Jim Savitz

[chaley]

Originally Posted by jbsavitz

I own two Android tablets. A Samsung Note Pro 12.2 with Android 5.02 and a Nexus 7 (2014) with Android 6.01. I use the cloud feature of CC to load books onto the tablets for reading.

This feature works great on the Samsung with Android 5.02 and I can find the USB flash drive listed under storage and find the Calibre library.

However, with the Nexus 7 and Android 6.01 I can't locate the USB Flash Drive in the storage folder.

Does anyone else have this problem with Android 6.01? Is there a workaround or fix that anyone knows about?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Regards,

Jim Savitz

I assume you are connecting the flash drive using an OTG (On The Go) cable.

Yet again, Google is being your friend. On Samsung devices, OTG devices are (AFAIK) automatically "mounted" when connected, meaning that they become part of the file system. Programs like CC can see and use the files.

Google didn't do this with Nexus devices. Instead they make OTG devices available as part of the never-to-be-damned-enough Android Storage Access Framework. The result: programs can see and use the files only if they use the SAF, which does not present storage as a file system. CC's local storage cloud connection doesn't (can't) use the SAF, so it can't see the flash drive.

I have been looking at how to make the cloud connection support the SAF. Unfortunately (again) it is complicated, requiring significant redesign of the relevant parts of CC. Sigh ...

If your N7 is rooted then you can solve this problem with the StickMount app (or others like it). I can't help with rooting, but I can say that I have used this toolkit on my own devices: http://www.wugfresh.com/nrt/.

[jbsavitz]

Hi Chaley,

I understand the software architecture issue. I'm glad I don't have to root my Samsung products. I guess I can root the Nexus 7 (2013-2). I've never done this and find the prospects a little taunting, but the app you've suggested may be the way to go. I'm familiar with StickMount and I'll let you know how things turn out.

Regards,

Jim

[jbsavitz]

Hi Chaley,

I took your advice and took wugfresh for a spin and rooted the tablet. Not the best directions, but I was able to get through it without bricking the tablet.

I StickMounted a USB drive containing a 5600 e-book Calibre library and I was able to access the library just fine. The cloud access on Calibre Companion works great. It's just what I wanted. Great app!

One final piece of advice, do I leave the tablet rooted with the USB debugging turned on or do I close this stuff? Will it interfere with the apps if I lock things back up?

Regards,

Jim Savitz

[chaley]

Originally Posted by jbsavitz

Hi Chaley,

I took your advice and took wugfresh for a spin and rooted the tablet. Not the best directions, but I was able to get through it without bricking the tablet.

I agree about the directions. He is trying so hard, perhaps too hard. However, if one is willing to wipe the device and rebuild it, ignoring the backup stuff, things are fairly straightforward.

I StickMounted a USB drive containing a 5600 e-book Calibre library and I was able to access the library just fine. The cloud access on Calibre Companion works great. It's just what I wanted. Great app!

Glad it is working for you. And thanks for the compliment.

One final piece of advice, do I leave the tablet rooted with the USB debugging turned on or do I close this stuff? Will it interfere with the apps if I lock things back up?

Regards,

Jim Savitz

You must leave the tablet rooted. If you unroot it then StickMount will stop working. You do not need to leave "Allow USB debugging" or "allow apps from other sources" enabled.

From time to time SuperSU will update and then tell you that it needs to update its binary. It manages the process itself via a reboot or two.

FWIW: When I rooted my N7 (2012) I didn't install BusyBox mostly to see what would happen. I haven't missed it yet, with the exception that NANDroid backups complain (mildly) about missing the BusyBox MD5 function.