Add the necessary permissions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 79 views

Introduction

In today's digital age, sharing files and documents has become an essential part of our daily lives. With the rise of mobile devices, sharing files has become more convenient than ever. However, when it comes to sharing PDFs, there are limitations to how we can share them. In this feature request, we will explore the possibility of receiving PDF shares in the Expo app, making it easier for users to share and receive PDFs.

Problem Statement

Currently, when a user wants to share a PDF from another app, such as Files or another document viewer, they can only share it as an image. This is because the Expo app does not support receiving PDF shares. This limitation can be frustrating for users who need to share PDFs frequently.

Use Case

Let's consider a scenario where a user wants to share a PDF from the Files app to the Expo app. The user opens the PDF in the Files app and clicks on the share button. However, instead of seeing the Expo app as an option to share the PDF, the user is only given the option to share it as an image. This is because the Expo app does not support receiving PDF shares.

Platform Support

To make this feature request a reality, we need to ensure that it is supported on both Android and iOS platforms. Currently, the Expo app supports both platforms, but we need to make sure that the PDF share feature is implemented correctly on both platforms.

Alternatives Considered

Before implementing this feature, we need to consider alternative solutions that can achieve the same result. One such alternative is to use a third-party library or service that can handle PDF sharing. For example, we can use a library like react-native-android-receive-sharing-intent to receive PDF shares on Android, and a service like ios-share-extension to receive PDF shares on iOS.

Implementation

To implement this feature, we need to follow these steps:

Add the necessary permissions: We need to add the necessary permissions to the Expo app to allow it to receive PDF shares. This includes adding the android.permission.RECEIVE_FILE permission on Android and the NSFileProviderExtension permission on iOS.
Implement the PDF share receiver: We need to implement a receiver that can handle PDF shares on both Android and iOS. This involves creating a new activity on Android and a new extension on iOS that can receive the PDF share intent.
Display the received PDF: Once the PDF share receiver has received the PDF, we need to display it to the user. This involves creating a new screen in the Expo app that can display the received PDF.

Code Implementation

Here is an example of how we can implement the PDF share receiver on Android:

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.Log;

public class PdfShareReceiver extends Activity {
  @Override
  protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    Intent intent = getIntent();
    if (intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_SEND)) {
      String type = intent.getType();
      if (type.startsWith("application/pdf")) {
        // Handle the PDF share intent
        Log.d("PdfShareReceiver", "Received PDF share intent");
        // Display the received PDF
        Intent displayIntent = new Intent(this, DisplayPdfActivity.class);
        displayIntent.putExtra("pdf", intent.getByteArrayExtra("pdf"));
        startActivity(displayIntent);
      }
    }
  }
}

And here is an example of how we can implement the PDF share receiver on iOS:

import UIKit

class PdfShareReceiver: NSObject, NSFileProviderExtension {
  override func start(_ context: NSExtensionContext) {
    if let item = context.inputItems.first as? NSFileProviderItem {
      if item.type == "application/pdf" {
        // Handle the PDF share intent
        Log.d("PdfShareReceiver", "Received PDF share intent")
        // Display the received PDF
        let displayViewController = DisplayPdfViewController()
        displayViewController.pdf = item.data
        context.completeRequest(returningItems: [displayViewController])
      }
    }
  }
}

Conclusion

In conclusion, receiving PDF shares in the Expo app is a feature that can greatly enhance the user experience. By implementing the PDF share receiver on both Android and iOS, we can make it easier for users to share and receive PDFs. We have explored the problem statement, use case, platform support, and implementation of this feature, and have provided code examples for both Android and iOS. We hope that this feature request will be implemented in the Expo app soon.

Future Work

There are several areas where we can improve this feature in the future. For example, we can add support for other file types, such as images and videos. We can also improve the user interface of the PDF share receiver to make it more intuitive and user-friendly. Additionally, we can add more features to the PDF share receiver, such as the ability to edit and annotate the received PDF.

References

React Native Android Receive Sharing Intent
iOS Share Extension
Android File Provider
Q&A: Receiving PDF Shares in Expo App =====================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the possibility of receiving PDF shares in the Expo app. We discussed the problem statement, use case, platform support, and implementation of this feature. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to receiving PDF shares in Expo app.

Q: Why is receiving PDF shares important?

A: Receiving PDF shares is important because it allows users to easily share and receive PDFs from other apps. This feature can greatly enhance the user experience and make it easier for users to collaborate and share documents.

Q: What are the benefits of receiving PDF shares in Expo app?

A: The benefits of receiving PDF shares in Expo app include:

Improved user experience: Receiving PDF shares makes it easier for users to share and receive PDFs.
Increased collaboration: Receiving PDF shares allows users to easily share and receive documents with others.
Enhanced productivity: Receiving PDF shares can save users time and effort by allowing them to quickly and easily share and receive documents.

Q: How do I implement receiving PDF shares in Expo app?

A: To implement receiving PDF shares in Expo app, you need to follow these steps:

Add the necessary permissions to the Expo app to allow it to receive PDF shares.
Implement the PDF share receiver on both Android and iOS.
Display the received PDF to the user.

Q: What are the technical requirements for receiving PDF shares in Expo app?

A: The technical requirements for receiving PDF shares in Expo app include:

Android: You need to add the android.permission.RECEIVE_FILE permission to the Expo app's AndroidManifest.xml file.
iOS: You need to add the NSFileProviderExtension permission to the Expo app's Info.plist file.
Expo SDK: You need to use the Expo SDK to implement the PDF share receiver.

Q: Can I customize the PDF share receiver in Expo app?

A: Yes, you can customize the PDF share receiver in Expo app. You can modify the code to display the received PDF in a custom way or add additional features to the PDF share receiver.

Q: Are there any limitations to receiving PDF shares in Expo app?

A: Yes, there are some limitations to receiving PDF shares in Expo app. For example:

The Expo app only supports receiving PDF shares on Android and iOS.
The Expo app only supports receiving PDF shares from other apps that support the Intent.ACTION_SEND action.
The Expo app only supports displaying the received PDF in a default viewer.

Q: Can I use a third-party library to receive PDF shares in Expo app?

A: Yes, you can use a third-party library to receive PDF shares in Expo app. For example, you can use the react-native-android-receive-sharing-intent library on Android and the ios-share-extension library on iOS.

Conclusion

In conclusion, receiving PDF shares in Expo app is a feature that can greatly enhance the user experience. By answering some frequently asked questions related to this feature, we hope to provide more information and clarity to developers who are interested in implementing this feature in their Expo app.