Develop Bugs

How do you hide folders from HTC Album?

I tried making the folders hidden by adding a period, but it's still read by HTC Album. How do I get around this? Is there any tweak to change the read permission on folders?
Luckily I discovered this problem myself.

create a file named ".nomedia" and put it in the folders you don't want the media player to show.
Windows will not let you create such a file, so create an empty text file named "a.nomedia", copy in the folders, then using Astro rename it deleting the "a" and you're good to go

JapanLover said:
create a file named ".nomedia" and put it in the folders you don't want the media player to show.
Windows will not let you create such a file, so create an empty text file named "a.nomedia", copy in the folders, then using Astro rename it deleting the "a" and you're good to go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have read elsewere that this method can erase the files in that particular folder. I'm not sure when or why it does it but watch out!!

Dodgy pics of the missus eh? Say no more.
I just moved a picture into a folder starting with a fullstop and it's not showing up in the gallery anymore. Are you running the HTC photo gallery or the Cooliris Gallery app?
[EDIT] I also just added a fullstop to the front of a folder on my SD card (/media/wallpapers became /media/.wallpapers) and it's no longer showing in the gallery.

Seems to work. Thanks!

I have read elsewere that this method can erase the files in that particular folder. I'm not sure when or why it does it but watch out!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not using it for sensitive documents
Are you running the HTC photo gallery or the Cooliris Gallery app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the HTC one. The widget doesn't display hidden folders, but when you list all media (where the app searches for pics and vids), it shows.

my (well, it's not mine of course ) method doesn't delete anything. Or at least I'm doing so in almost three cells and since... hmmmm let's say 6 months.
as for putting a dot in front of the folders... keep in mind that it can cause probs to the apps using that folder.
I.E. a GPS app will not find its icons and so on.
Just use the file methid, I'm pretty sure it's safe

JapanLover said:
my (well, it's not mine of course ) method doesn't delete anything. Or at least I'm doing so in almost three cells and since... hmmmm let's say 6 months.
as for putting a dot in front of the folders... keep in mind that it can cause probs to the apps using that folder.
I.E. a GPS app will not find its icons and so on.
Just use the file methid, I'm pretty sure it's safe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I created the wallpapers folder so no apps should be using it.

Adding a .nomedia file worked for me, but only after a reboot. No more album art showing up.

samsanchez88 said:
I have read elsewere that this method can erase the files in that particular folder. I'm not sure when or why it does it but watch out!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are right:
h_t_t_p://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3692

Forget what I said. It doesn't work. I rebooted the phone, effectively refreshing the album cache, and .nomedia is listed when it searches for photos and videos.

Aitese said:
Dodgy pics of the missus eh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At first i read this as doggy pics, which sounded gnarly.
I also just added a fullstop to the front of a folder on my SD card (/media/wallpapers became /media/.wallpapers) and it's no longer showing in the gallery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What does "adding a full stop" mean?
And why is windows referenced above, vs android OS?

I just downloaded Pandora which essentially does the job.

Android is a Linux based OS. A folder with a period in front of it means its hidden to any app that doesn't directly know its there

biemsy said:
Adding a .nomedia file worked for me, but only after a reboot. No more album art showing up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And then I realised the .nomedia meant music players ignore the folder too. Doh!

I just do the full stop method and use astro file manager to view the items.

[Q] Is there a way to get Music to NOT scan directories?

I'm using the default music app. I just want to stop it from scanning and
adding directories from the microSD card that contain audio files that are
not music. (the system noises, content of phone calls, other data
that isn't intended for it to read). These are all in their own directories,
so filtering based on source of content should be fine.
If that's not possibly could someone suggest a music app that does support
where to read from?

fuzzynco said:
I'm using the default music app. I just want to stop it from scanning and
adding directories from the microSD card that contain audio files that are
not music. (the system noises, content of phone calls, other data
that isn't intended for it to read). These are all in their own directories,
so filtering based on source of content should be fine.
If that's not possibly could someone suggest a music app that does support
where to read from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can make a new text file with nothing in it, but without the .txt (or watever) tag, rename it to .nomedia (AND NOTHING ELSE), and place it in the directories you do not want found. i am pretty sure this is the method as i dont have my phone with me
EDIT: confirmed this also works with images that you do not want to show up in your gallery... comes in handy ;D

ahh -- the .filename (so its invisable) and its a flag to the app to ignore that directory.
I follow.
Thanks

fuzzynco said:
ahh -- the .filename (so its invisable) and its a flag to the app to ignore that directory.
I follow.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excactly

worked as expected

Thanks a million!
TheWizKid95 said:
you can make a new text file with nothing in it, but without the .txt (or watever) tag, rename it to .nomedia (AND NOTHING ELSE), and place it in the directories you do not want found. i am pretty sure this is the method as i dont have my phone with me
EDIT: confirmed this also works with images that you do not want to show up in your gallery... comes in handy ;D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always get folders of images that show up in the gallery app, full of cached map tiles. This should be helpful. Do you know if this works recursively? That is, if I put it in /system, would the app search deeper into /system/app or skip all directories below?
Either way, I really appreciate you mentioning this, I was curious about how the scanning was controlled.

pyroboy1080 said:
I always get folders of images that show up in the gallery app, full of cached map tiles. This should be helpful. Do you know if this works recursively? That is, if I put it in /system, would the app search deeper into /system/app or skip all directories below?
Either way, I really appreciate you mentioning this, I was curious about how the scanning was controlled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry about the late post. i wouldve replied sooner, but my laptop broke down.
(using my schools internet xD)
but yes, the .nomedia file hides the main and sub directories
maybe clearing the gallary's cache from settings>applications>manage applications>gallery

Amazing, thank you!

This is how I hide naked pics of the gf.
Sent from my ADR6300

PhillyCheez said:
This is how I hide naked pics of the gf.
Sent from my ADR6300
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use this to hide the naked videos of the gf xDDD

Thumbdata

Does anyone know how to stop this file, located in dcim/thumbnails, from existing? Just keeps getting bigger and eating up my SD card!!!
LT15i ICS with root

Those are the thumbnails from the gallery, and for every picture or video you take or add to your phone, a thumbnail will be generated.
I don't think there's a way to disable them, if you could you wouldn't see any thumbnails in your gallery. Doesn't seem handy to me
Edit:
Sorry, misunderstood you..
I guess the thumbdata is still a part of the gallery, seems like a database to me, so the gallery knows where it can find its thumbnails

Thing is, I transfer my photos off regularly and then delete them off phone yet when I delete thumb data, it comes back at me! Currently stands at around 500mb....
LT15i ICS with root

500 mb is alot
I have two thumbdata files, both 55 mb and i have alot of photos on the device.
Do you have pictures elsewhere on your sd card, like album pictures, or pictures from a game, that might be the culprit?

Will check it out....
LT15i ICS with root

Have the same problem. It just doesn't make sense, the .thumbdata file sizes are lot bigger than the media themselves.
I've tried to disable write permissions with root browser (I've read that trick herehttp://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1318827), it does stop the two thumbdata files for getting bigger. Their sizes actually never changed. But unfortunately, it messed up my gallery preview.
Sent from my WT19i using xda app-developers app

it's a common issue with ICS, i have S2 and my thumbdata is over 1GB

yes, we know
boyob32 said:
Does anyone know how to stop this file, located in DCIM/thumbnails/, from existing? Just keeps getting bigger and eating up my SD card!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just copy that file's name, delete that file (thumbdata--), then create folder named the same as deleted file. Reboot device. No annoying thumbdata3 anymore! And look in folders named LOST.DIR (you can find it in the root directory of your internal memory and your SDcard) - huge temporary files may be left in these folders, so delete these files.
Tested on Toshiba Thrive Tablet (ICS).

Can't access photos using laptop!

Hello, I have a Samsung Galaxy Note II. I just tried going into my gallery while mounting my phone to save pictures on my laptop. I go into the phone (not SD Card), then "DCIM", and finally "Camera" folder. Now I have two "Camera" folders in my gallery on my phone, one with about 48 images in it and the other with over 1000 photos which is where all my photos are automatically saved to when I take new photos. The folder labeled "Camera" only shows me the 48 photos I don't need, but the one with over 1000 photos is nowhere to be found! All other folders there don't show the photos I'm looking for. What should I do?
I also cannot find the folder called "downloads" that contains all images I saved from text messages people sent me. If you need any other info, please let me know.
Additional information is that in my gallery, there is an icon showing that the photos are being saved to the SD card (the Camera folder) but when I look in the folder in my SD card, it shows the photos I took with my old phone, not the ones I am taking now. The "downloads" folder I'm talking about isn't in the DCIM folder at all, and it doesn't have an SD Card icon on it so it should be in the phone. But the "downloads" folder doesn't show me the images I saved from text messages I received from friends it only shows the images and other things I've downloaded on my browser.
Thanks in advance!

I've resolved the problem, thank you! I was wondering if someone could delete this thread? I am unable to do it myself. Thank you!

Pm moderator.
Or maybe share your solutions for others
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

Pics in "Download" folder magically disappear?

Only happens on my wife's phone and not mine. She can download the pics from an email or text and after about 24 hours "poof" She just sees a black template for each one. Can't bring them up on PC and or QuikPic- You can see the templates in the Download Folder but no where else nor can you do anything with them other than delete. She is stock and its done this out of the box-
Thanks in advance for any help!

Anyone... thanks = )

Do the file sizes change?

Murasaki no Kaze said:
Do the file sizes change?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jut looked at her phone to verify and now the thumbnails are gone... I saved some more photos and will verify for you-
Also path is the typical... /storage/sdcard0/Download/NAME OF FILE.JPG
Thanks!

If she's plugging it into a mac (or any computer) it's probably set to auto copy then remove from phone.
Also check any apps that "sync" or auto-upload pics.

Just verified, she does not hook it up to any PC even the one at work... only charges off the wall.
Thanks

See if she's using any apps with her pics. Other than that just check to see if the file size is changing. It mostly sounds like something is moving/deleting the pics.

She was completely stock before last night putting the Quikpic on there to see if that program could still see them. Other than stock gallery and stock settings- I haven't found any setting within Gmail or Messaging or within Gallery or Settings that does anything weird to pictures unless I have missed something.
Thanks again for all of your help so far...

It won't be the gallery, you'd look to that for thumbnail problems.
Check if she uploads to facebook/instagram/etc.
If she does, HOW is she uploading? Web? App?

No uploading... she just keeps them in her Download Folder and eventually they turn into a black thumbnail template.
Whats funny is the ones that she moves to a folder (With a Category Name) no issue and they never dissapear... Only that folder...
I have removed everything and cleared up the directory and let the stock android file structure- re-create everything. its very weird...

Saving to a sdcard or internal?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

Is the by chance a file in the directory called .nomedia I believe is what it's called? I get weird issues with pictures downloaded from time to time .I had the nomedia file deleted that and haven't had any issues with images since
Making the iPhone jealous one user at a time.

blaker13 said:
Saving to a sdcard or internal?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
internal. Default download directory.
mkfryan said:
Is the by chance a file in the directory called .nomedia I believe is what it's called? I get weird issues with pictures downloaded from time to time .I had the nomedia file deleted that and haven't had any issues with images since
Making the iPhone jealous one user at a time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.nomedia doesn't directly affect files. It's used to tell galleries/music players/etc not to bother reading the current folder. It will make stuff not appear in apps, but it doesn't touch files. There's no reason for that to be in a stock download folder, but never hurts to check.
Love the signature btw

Is she going into her "downloads" app in her app drawer and clearing that list out? I know I accidentally do that from time to time.
Try using File Manager to move them to external storage. Does she maybe have a cleaning app that clears out her downloads?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

Alright so a little more info-
When she downloaded Quikpic to try and view the thumbnails the program actually removed them. So thats why the templates were deleted this time.
However, one thing is certain- The download is set to internal storage and the category folders are on the Micro SD.
So if she moves them to a category on the Micro SD they are fine and never turn into a black template/thumbnail. If she keeps them in the Download Folder however, they eventually turn to a black thumbnail ans stay there until maually deleted... its like the picture disapears and the thumbnail looses contact with the original file.
-Thanks again for everyones help so far... :good:

Will check this tonight... .nomedia thing-

Be sure to ask what thenewguy1 asked.
If all else fails, she can just install a download manager and have it intercept and save the pictures to a different folder.
Also, does this ONLY happen to pics? No other file types are affected?

Alright so some wild updates... may be onto something (She doesn't clear downloads and she doesn't have the no image file)
However... it happened again yesterday- Here is the scenario on how it occurs.
She has an email with a image in Gmail-
Saves the picture-
File is saved in Download Folder and visible within Gallery Download Folder-
She then takes the email within Gmail and moves it to a folder-
Several minutes later this happens to the image-
Blacked out thumbnail and the size and data or there but no image-
Unable to see it at all or explore for it-
It gets better, if she moves it back to the Inbox or where it was saved orig the image will reappear-
So in theory its like it saves the shortcut to the image and when the image is moved the shortcut defaults to blank template.
What causes this??? LOL Thanks = )

So she's saving from the gmail app? Or from gmail web?
She clicks on pic -> menu -> save ?
Is that how she's saving them?
In trying to simulate your problem, somehow my thumbnail cache got screwed lol, cleared through quickpic and it seems to be working fine, haven't seen it black out yet... for me it doesn't give me the save option, it shows me the picture, and if I check the folder or gallery, it's already been saved to disk.
Now gmails tripping lol
Try clearing data and see if this problem persists.

senfinger said:
Alright so some wild updates... may be onto something (She doesn't clear downloads and she doesn't have the no image file)
However... it happened again yesterday- Here is the scenario on how it occurs.
She has an email with a image in Gmail-
Saves the picture-
File is saved in Download Folder and visible within Gallery Download Folder-
She then takes the email within Gmail and moves it to a folder-
Several minutes later this happens to the image-
Blacked out thumbnail and the size and data or there but no image-
Unable to see it at all or explore for it-
It gets better, if she moves it back to the Inbox or where it was saved orig the image will reappear-
So in theory its like it saves the shortcut to the image and when the image is moved the shortcut defaults to blank template.
What causes this??? LOL Thanks = )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is she saving it? I am also trying to replicate the issue. I am opening the attachment, hitting menu and save. I have moved the email but the image is still working fine. If she uses file manager to move them to another folder does it also corrupt the file? Is she somehow saving a link or shortcut? I am about lost
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app