New Android Security changes ?

[Oyle]

Hello,
since today, DJO cannot find the dbase anymore, and I keep getting the message: "Due to Android security changes Backups require a Public Folder for Storage."
I tried to choose the "clusb" folder, where the backups are normally stored, but the folder was not visible. So I followed the instructions I once got from you to uncheck "use local storage for db" so that "clusb" becomes visible.
I then chose one of the options to store the backups, (there are 3 options) but now DJO cannot find the database anymore, it only either lets me create a new one or restore a backup from 12 September, which I don't want to do because I will miss a lot of data I have added since then.
I did make 2 manual backups (to zip) which I can see on my phone, but DJO apparently cannot find these. I don't have an ext. sd card on the phone.

Is this a glitch or a bug or is there any solution ?

I am on version 4.4.57 Build 1518 - updated manually on 14 Sep, and on Android 12 with the latest security patch 1 Sep 2022 - on a Samsung 21 Ultra 5G).

I am also running DJO on a Samsung Tab 6 - on which I have not encounterd the same problems, except that I cannot see the clusb folder there either.

On the tab I was able to choose :
- Local Storage (new)
- Backup choice : Persistent Storage
- create a folder on the ext. sd card <clusb || DJO Backups 2022> and save 4 manuaa backups dated today 17 Sep 2022,

I am also on DCRM on my Windows compter, and all 3 devices are syncing to the cloud (and the cloud to the devices)

Thanks for your help.

[Thomas]

Oyle,

Android changed where they allowed us to store our data files a while back, this moved them to their new Android\Data folder. The issue here is this is a sandboxed location so if you uninstall the app, it also removed the data folder, which would remove the backups. Before we were able to keep the data folder through a reinstall of the mobile app. This is a new backup system that requires you to backup to a persistent folder (default of My Documents), but due to the Android requirements, you have to manually grant permission to this folder. We will be making a guide for this as at the moment this is an internal beta feature. So when you see this prompt (it will re-prompt in 30 days or if you choose Persistent in the backup location option when you backup), tap Ok, then Allow at the bottom. This will make sure if they app gets uninstalled the backups are still on the device.

[Oyle]

Thanks Thomas for the explanation.
Ever since my phone updated to Android 11 then 12 it's been difficult to get access to the various folders in the phone, with permission being demanded and then not given.
Now I cannot get access to the Android/Data folder, in which the Companionlink folder is lodged, and where the automatic backups are stored. Or at least, it shows as being empty...I have tried with various different file managing apps, but none will show the content of the Android/Data folder
But I did finally manage to create a DJO backup folder in the documents folder in main internal storage, and it looks like I do get a daily backup in there, as a zip file.
Of course, from time to time I remember to make a manual backup, which I email myself and store elsewhere.

What I don't quite understand are the various option of where to save backups to (in the Database Storage Location option. For now I have chosen "Local Storage (New)".

I was able to extricate myself from the "loop" I described in my previous email - I simply let DJO create a new database and then imported one of the most recent manual backups I had made the same day - worked perfectly!

Thanks again, and until next time!

[Thomas]

Oyle,

Just to note, due to those same changes a while back we had to move the DejaOffice data folder to this location in the Phone:\Android\data\com.companionlink.clusbsync\fi les\

This folder is not viewable by any on phone file explorer app, this was part of Android's Privacy change. You can see these folder\the data in it if you plug the phone into a PC via a USB cable and browse to that folder in the Windows File explorer.

This is the meaning of the "New Storage Location", the Old Location Phone\CLUSB android no longer gives us permission to Write to. If you upgraded from an older DejaOffice, we can "maintain" that permission, but if you install a new DejaOffice or Uninstall\reinstall we have to use that new folder I mentioned above. The result of this is also the data folder in the new location being removed on an uninstall of the DejaOffice app (which didn't use to happen when we were in Phone\CLUSB). This is the reason for the new prompt and allowing access to My Documents, so if you uninstall DejaOffice now, the backup folder would remain on the phone.

[Oyle]

Thanks for the further explanations. How to make life more difficult than necessary...
For my Tab I have created a folder on the SD card for backups (manual and I guess also the daily automatic ones).
It is annoying that in the folder I created, once you choose it (as the "Local Storage (New)" the manual backup then creates another folder called "DejaOffice" in it - lots of nesting !
But at least the files are visible.

On my phone I have to check what happens, I don't have an ext. SD card on it.

I suppose that the Cloud data is an additional safety, unless it got wiped out in a major hack or other disaster...

Thanks again and thanks mainly for all your good and unwavering work and advice!