[SOLVED] Preparing files in linux for android

littlejoe5 · 04-13-2015, 06:18 PM

I have public domain files on a wifi hot-spot (BibleBox) to be downloaded to android phones or tablets. But it seems that most or all require downloading only one file at a time. That can be burdensome if one wants to download (for example) the book of John from the New Testament.

Is there a way to prepare an compressed archive in Linux and have it extract after download in Android? Either a self extracting program, or an OPEN SOURCE extractor that will work in Android?

If it's an extractor for Android it needs to be an open source one that I can give away.

frankbell · 04-13-2015, 08:38 PM

There are compression/decompression apps for Android available in the Play Store. I've not used any of them, so I can't make a recommendation.

http://www.androidauthority.com/the-...ndroid-258692/

replica9000 · 04-14-2015, 07:57 AM

I used AndFTP to transfer files and directories to/from Android. It supports SCP, FTP, SFTP and FTPS. It's also pretty quick compared to similar apps. It would be faster than compressing/decompressing.

schneidz · 04-14-2015, 09:01 AM

^ +1 andftp (also sshdroid/airdroid).

i can use connectbot on my fone to run gzip/bzip2 from the android commandline.

littlejoe5 · 04-14-2015, 07:51 PM

[QUOTE=frankbell;5347000]There are compression/decompression apps for Android available in the Play Store. I've not used any of them, so I can't make a recommendation.

I'm aware of that, but since my question refers to the interaction between files produced under Linux, anad the Android system, I don't know which of the various options to try.

littlejoe5 · 04-14-2015, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by replica9000

I used AndFTP to transfer files and directories to/from Android. It supports SCP, FTP, SFTP and FTPS. It's also pretty quick compared to similar apps. It would be faster than compressing/decompressing.

That sounds like a suggestion that might be helpful. I'll have to esplore that. Thanks.

littlejoe5 · 04-14-2015, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schneidz

^ +1 andftp (also sshdroid/airdroid).

i can use connectbot on my fone to run gzip/bzip2 from the android commandline.

I went to download the apk for connectbot, and couldn't see that it gave me that option. It wants to install it directly on my phone. But I would need to have the apk to pass on to people through my wifi (It is a strictly local wifi, with no connection to the internet.)

Sounds good though, if it's use is already almost universal. Do you know?

frankbell · 04-14-2015, 08:18 PM

Quote:

I'm aware of that, but since my question refers to the interaction between files produced under Linux, anad the Android system, I don't know which of the various options to try.

I don't want to sound like a smart-aleck, but why not pick a representative file of the type you wish to transfer and test it back and forth between the two platforms with the various compression and decompression systems?

schneidz · 04-14-2015, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlejoe5

I went to download the apk for connectbot, and couldn't see that it gave me that option. It wants to install it directly on my phone. But I would need to have the apk to pass on to people through my wifi (It is a strictly local wifi, with no connection to the internet.)

Sounds good though, if it's use is already almost universal. Do you know?

i am not quite certain what you are trying to acheive based on your original post. my response were just general suggestions based on (wrong ?) assumptions.

connectbot is just an android program that enables the user to run linux based commandline programs (since android is just linux with a limiting java ui). heck, you can even just run scp from the commandline if you wanted.

how are you downloading the files to the android fones (ftp, scp, http, email, sms attachments, usb, bluetooth, nfs, ...) ?

edit: i just duckduckgo'd biblebox. i dont want to sound blasphemous but the software doesnt seem very extensible and/or the website isnt well documented. i would just create an ssh server on the network and tell everyone to install an scp client on their fone.

littlejoe5 · 04-16-2015, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schneidz

i am not quite certain what you are trying to acheive based on your original post...

My purpose is to provide Bible passages, and Biblical and musical audio material to as many people as possible and the BibleBox is one of many tools to do that.

connectbot is just an android program that enables the user to run linux based commandline programs (since android is just linux with a limiting java ui). heck, you can even just run scp from the commandline if you wanted.

I did find a site from which to download connectbot, and it sounds interesting, but at the moment, I don't understand how to use it for the purposes. I need to make a group of logicaly connected files (mostly '.mp3') available as downloads for lot's of people with different sorts of smart phones from different suppliers. Mine (for instance) will download and process a '.zip' file, and allow me to find a play the files in it without going through an 'unzip' process. My neighbors phone won't even download it.

how are you downloading the files to the android fones (ftp, scp, http, email, sms attachments, usb, bluetooth, nfs, ...) ?

The downloads to phonees are virtually all by http thrugh wifi.

edit: i just duckduckgo'd biblebox. i dont want to sound blasphemous but the software doesnt seem very extensible and/or the website isnt well documented. i would just create an ssh server on the network and tell everyone to install an scp client on their fone.

You are quite right about the website and it's documentation. get the compression that it's only a few people who are doing all of the site maintenance, development, etc. That's why I'm over here at LQ asking about this. I've also gotten some very important help from PirateBox forum. As for ssh, and scp, I'll have to study that. I won't have much opportunity to instruct people how to use their phones, so it's best if whatever I provide fits well into their own understanding of how to download anything to their phones. Even so, some do need pointers.

littlejoe5 · 04-16-2015, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

I don't want to sound like a smart-aleck, but why not pick a representative file of the type you wish to transfer and test it back and forth between the two platforms with the various compression and decompression systems?

That's what I've started doing, and I feel like I'm making some headway. Problem still: That what works with my phone may or may not work with those of other people.

replica9000 · 04-16-2015, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schneidz

^ +1 andftp (also sshdroid/airdroid).

i can use connectbot on my fone to run gzip/bzip2 from the android commandline.

I used ConnectBot for years, but I would recommend JuiceSSH over ConnectBot.

schneidz · 04-16-2015, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlejoe5

You are quite right about the website and it's documentation. get the compression that it's only a few people who are doing all of the site maintenance, development, etc. That's why I'm over here at LQ asking about this. I've also gotten some very important help from PirateBox forum. As for ssh, and scp, I'll have to study that. I won't have much opportunity to instruct people how to use their phones, so it's best if whatever I provide fits well into their own understanding of how to download anything to their phones. Even so, some do need pointers.

maybe also look into xbmc (now called kodi) and its dlna function.