LG G Pad External microSD Card Chart Storage

[Robert Hughes]

I just bought an LG G Pad 8.3 tablet (my first android device) and I am very happy with it.  I downloaded Avare to use in my Skyote biplane, and ran into a common difficulty, namely getting the data files and Charts to load into the 64 GB external microSD card (which was one of the main reasons I bought the LG instead of a Nexus 7).  Luckily, a new browser function for selecting Preferences has been added to the Avare program that seems to make this process easier.

 

I understand why Google does not want its sponsored Apps to be loaded to external SD cards (copyright, security, etc) but the decision of some of the hardware manufacturers (LG included) to put a partition in their internal memory, and name it "SD Card", seemed to be a singularly dumb move.  Many Apps will now load to internal memory even though the "SD Card" selection is made in the App's settings.

 

Here is what I did:   Create a new folder in the External SD Card with a program like ESFile Manager...I named it 'ChartStorage'.  On the Avare screen, go to 'Options',  'Preferences', and select the 'Charts Storage Folder'.  This will bring up the Browser function.  Initially it will be set for the default loading path.

 

Tap the Up Arrow at the top left of the displayed column of files and folders, and carefully scroll down the list that will be displayed.  On my tablet, after the second or third press of the Up Arrow, I came to a Red-Padlocked list of folders, and close to the bottom of this stack was a Blue Tile with the label "External SD Card".  Pressing this tile will bring up a list of the folders on the External SD Card, and you can select the folder "ChartStorage" and hit OK.

 

When you go back to the Avare program, it will be as if you were just starting the program from scratch, and on my tablet the database files started to load automatically.  When that was complete, the Sectional that I had originally downloaded began to reload automatically.   It all seems to be working great, and I have been able to select and download another Sectional in the usual fashion, and it deposited itself into the external SD Card. 

 

Avare is an amazing program, and I am looking forward to exploring all of its capabilities.  Thank you Zubair Khan.

 

Regards, Bob Hughes   

 

[FightClub MeetsHere]

thanks for posting this - I was having a real job of it looking for a way to access the SD card on my Toshiba Thrive AT-100 because of the same problem. Why they won't let you install what you want on the SD card is beyond me.

Anyway - the path to the folder for chart storage in my ACTUAL as opposed to the cheesy VIRTUAL sd card in my Thrive is /mnt/sdcard2/[folder name on SD card that I created in File Manager].

Bruce

[FightClub MeetsHere]

Ahhh... I spoke too soon. I created the folder on the sd card and went to download the files again and got error message: "unable to  write to folder  /mnt/sdcard2/"  [folder name on SD card that I created in File Manager].

I don't know if it's an error message from Android or from Avare. 

Bruce

[Zubair Khan]

I am surprised that you were able to create a folder /mnt/sdcard2. If you cannot write to it then its not the sdcard.
If you can install a shell app and then type command "mount" on it then I will be able to tell you where your sdcard is.

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[FightClub MeetsHere]

On Wednesday, February 5, 2014 5:02:10 AM UTC-7, Zubair Khan wrote:

 
If you can install a shell app and then type command "mount" on it then I will be able to tell you where your sdcard is.

 Ok, ZK, I used

Android Terminal Emulator

  by Jack Palevich  from Google Play Store.

 

here goes:

 

 app_113@android:/ $ mount
rootfs / rootfs ro,relatime 0 0
tmpfs /dev tmpfs rw,nosuid,relatime,mode=755 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts rw,relatime,mode=600 0 0
proc /proc proc rw,relatime 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs rw,relatime 0 0
tmpfs /mnt tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=775,gid=1000 0 0
debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs rw,relatime 0 0
none /acct cgroup rw,relatime,cpuacct 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/asec tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=755,gid=1000 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/obb tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=755,gid=1000 0 0
none /dev/cpuctl cgroup rw,relatime,cpu 0 0
/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-num/p3 /system ext4 ro,relatime,user_xattr,acl,barrier=1,data=ordered 0 0
/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-num/p7 /data ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,errors=panic,user_xattr,acl,barrier=1,journal_async_commit,nodelalloc,data=ordered 0 0
/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-num/p4 /cache ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,errors=panic,user_xattr,acl,barrier=1,journal_async_commit,nodelalloc,data=ordered 0 0
/dev/block/vold/179:8 /mnt/sdcard vfat rw,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,gid=1015,fmask=0002,dmask=0002,allow_utime=0020,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/block/vold/179:8 /mnt/secure/asec vfat rw,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,gid=1015,fmask=0002,dmask=0002,allow_utime=0020,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/sdcard/.android_secure tmpfs ro,relatime,size=0k,mode=000 0 0
/dev/block/vold/179:17 /mnt/sdcard2 vfat rw,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,uid=1000,gid=1023,fmask=0702,dmask=0702,allow_utime=0020,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/block/dm-1 /mnt/asec/com.asa2fly.prepware.privatepilot-2 vfat ro,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,relatime,uid=1000,fmask=0222,dmask=0222,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/block/dm-2 /mnt/asec/com.babbel.mobile.android.fr-1 vfat ro,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,relatime,uid=1000,fmask=0222,dmask=0222,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/block/dm-3 /mnt/asec/com.sportys.android.studybuddy.pvt-1 vfat ro,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,relatime,uid=1000,fmask=0222,dmask=0222,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/block/dm-0 /mnt/asec/com.laminarresearch.xplane_default-1 vfat ro,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,relatime,uid=1000,fmask=0222,dmask=0222,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
app_113@android:/ $

[John Wiley]

> If you can install a shell app and then type command "mount"

The way File Manager apps function on un-rooted devices seems to vary a
lot among the three different Android devices I've had. On my Samsung S4
for example, the File Manager uses several different ways of referencing
the SD card. That has made it quite difficult and annoying to find files
on many occasions.

Something I have found helpful (though adding even more confusion) is to
also use the free open source OI File Manager app. It allows much
greater access to the filing system, at least for displaying the names
and locations of hidden and system files. It's easier to learn and use
(and certainly far less dangerous) than a shell app.

[Zubair Khan]

Hard to find which is the real external SD card.

Now could you do this command again after removing the SD card?

In both situations, the phone should not be connected to the PC.

Z

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Zubair Khan
apps4av.com
zk4u.blogspot.com
Sudbury, MA 01776

[FightClub MeetsHere]

 

thanks for the quick reply, ZK.

I was able to view the folder 'avare chart storage ' (which I created using the file manager app that came bundled on the tablet) when I mounted the SD card on my laptop, so I know it's there.

Here are the results of running 'mount' with the sd card (16 gb class 10 sdhc, brand 'maxflash action') removed from the tablet:

Today at 12:31 PM

app_113@android:/ $ mount
rootfs / rootfs ro,relatime 0 0
tmpfs /dev tmpfs rw,nosuid,relatime,mode=755 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts rw,relatime,mode=600 0 0
proc /proc proc rw,relatime 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs rw,relatime 0 0
tmpfs /mnt tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=775,gid=1000 0 0
debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs rw,relatime 0 0
none /acct cgroup rw,relatime,cpuacct 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/asec tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=755,gid=1000 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/obb tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=755,gid=1000 0 0
none /dev/cpuctl cgroup rw,relatime,cpu 0 0
/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-num/p3 /system ext4 ro,relatime,user_xattr,acl,barrier=1,data=ordered 0 0
/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-num/p7 /data ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,errors=panic,user_xattr,acl,barrier=1,journal_async_commit,nodelalloc,data=ordered 0 0
/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-num/p4 /cache ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,errors=panic,user_xattr,acl,barrier=1,journal_async_commit,nodelalloc,data=ordered 0 0
/dev/block/vold/179:8 /mnt/sdcard vfat rw,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,gid=1015,fmask=0002,dmask=0002,allow_utime=0020,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/block/vold/179:8 /mnt/secure/asec vfat rw,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,gid=1015,fmask=0002,dmask=0002,allow_utime=0020,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/sdcard/.android_secure tmpfs ro,relatime,size=0k,mode=000 0 0

app_113@android:/ $

[Zubair Khan]

The external SD card is /mnt/sdcard2 on this device. This is what you found.

I would suggest renaming the folder for avare to simply "avare" like /mnt/sdcard2/avare.

Dont know what to say other than that maybe your SD card's mechanical lock is set on the card itself, and that the folder name should not have spaces in it.
Z
 

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[FightClub MeetsHere]

this is a Toshiba Thrive AT100, Android version 4.0.4

[fly...@yahoo.com]

Hi FlightClub.
Did you try to Copy / Paste a file from your Memory to the Ext SD. this may show you if you are able to write to it?
What utility did you use to create the Subdirectory in "/mnt/sdcard2" or did you just try to store them in the root "/mnt/sdcard2"?   TV

[FightClub MeetsHere]

 

Hi TV:

thanks for helping out. Answers inline:

 

 try to Copy / Paste a file from your Memory to the Ext SD. this may show you if you are able to write to it

Yep. that works just fine in Toshiba File Manager; I just tested that with a page from the A/FD. I can then view the file from the SD card.

 

What utility did you use to create the Subdirectory in "/mnt/sdcard2"

Toshiba File Manager.

 

or did you just try to store them in the root "/mnt/sdcard2"?  

I tried that, too.  Same error message:  "unable to write to folder /mnt/sdcard2"  

[fly...@yahoo.com]

Hi FlightClub.

thanks for helping out...

I hope we can make sense of it / get it to work. I have Avare working on a couple of devices, both Samsung, 10 and 7in 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 and they both work with Avare in the Ext SDcard. The only difference that I can see from your post, listed below is that you may be trying to store it in the root "/mnt/sdcard2". Can you try to create a Subdirectory maybe AvareCharts in your root "/mnt/sdcard2" ?
If that is  / was done, I do not see it in your message, it should have read "/mnt/sdcard2/xxxxx" I hope it makes sense? TV

[FightClub MeetsHere]

Yes, thanks TV,  that makes perfect sense; that's what I did. In Toshiba File manager, I created a subdirectory called simply "avare" with no spaces in the format you (and Zubair) suggested:

 

  "/mnt/sdcard2/xxxxx".

 

When I removed the SD card from the tablet and accessed it through an SD card reader on a USB port on my laptop, I could see the empty directory, so I have no trouble writing to the card (which I also proved by copying and pasting a page from the A/FD from the internal memory to the SD card). I get the same error message whether I try to set up 'Preferences' to send charts to this new subdirectory "/mnt/sdcard2/avare"

or to the root directory of the sd card: "/mnt/sdcard2/" :  "unable to write to folder /mnt/sdcard2"  

I think I am going to let this rest; I would like to save room on my internal storage for other apps but I will just wait and see if anyone more clever than I figures this out.

[fly...@yahoo.com]

Hi FlightClub.

I did some research and found some info on the WEB. I am not sure if this applies to you but it sounds like it may be the same problem?

 http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/THRiVE-Tablets/Apps-unable-to-save-to-SD-card/m-p/497417#M11054

Apps unable to save to SD card

 

‎04-11-2013 06:41 AM

I am using a Thrive at100.

I have an SD card, and I am able to copy files to it manually.  The card mounts properly and everything works fine except:

 

I have tried to use several apps that are supposed to be able to save images directly to the SD card, and so far none of them are actually able to do so.

 

Most notably, I have been trying to use both Camera ICS, and Skitch to save photos to the SD card.

 

- I can manually copy the files over to the SD card through the file manager, but this is not what I need.

- The apps are listed as having permission to access and modify storage settings.

- I have tried with mutliple SD cards

I am having the same problem. Same SD cards I have been using since last December with never a problem. I had not updated the operating system since I purchased my Excite AT300 (305)/64G till recently. After I did that I have the same problem not being able to write to the external card with the same programs that were working prior to the update. Now my tablet freezes with my 128G card which never happened before till the update. My 32G card does not freeze the system but the only thing that can write to it is the built in file manager, not really a convenient way to do business. I have looked at everything and a couple of the programs tell me I do not have permisson to write to the external card. I have looked at everything and even went as far as re-formatting the cards to exFat and Fat32, but still can't write to them with add-on programs. The system seems to have slowed considerably also. Any ideas?

Android Version: 4.1.1.001082314.01 is the update that has caused all the issues

11-04-2013 09:26 AM

 

The site / tool below may help. TV

 

http://www.thriveforums.org/forum/amev-development/19472-root-tool-toshiba-thrive-ics-4-0-4-root-tool.html

 

Root tool on GitHub direct download

Wanna view source before downloading? Click here

https://github.com/thrive-hackers/thrive-10-inch-ics-root

Last edited by AmEv; 07-14-2013 at 08:40 PM.

 

 

[Zubair Khan]

Thanks TV.
Regarding rooting the device, it may void the warranty, and updates if available later may not install. I think its a steep price to pay for a minor inconvenience of storing charts in the internal memory. But if thats the only option then go for it but little help here if the device bricks.

--

[John Wiley]

> "unable to write to folder /mnt/sdcard2"

In an earlier post, I suggested trying the "OI File Manager" (OIFM) app.
This came from my frustrating experience getting Avare to work with
external SD on my Samsung S4 phone, and on my Nexus 7 tablet.

I didn't provide more details due to being busy and because it's been
long enough that I didn't clearly recall the process. Not having seen
anyone else post about this problem, I didn't bother to take notes on my
various attempts or the final solution.

I do recall finding that Android seems to use a *very* confusing
assortment of "alias" names for the external SD card, and it varies by
device AND by implementation in 3rd party apps apparently using the
"standard" system calls specified by Android. This is compounded by how
the various "File Manager" (FM) apps display the "path" for the SD card,
and they differ from how the apparently more robust OIFM app displays them.

My impression is that the OIFM app displays *all* of the aliases, while
the other apps hide most of them in attempting to simplify things for
the user. If so, the result may be that the path you typed into Avare
above, apparently based on what your File Manager app was displaying,
isn't what's actually available to Avare. I've also experienced this
hassle trying to find photos from my built-in camera using the Samsung
S4's built-in File Manager (MF) app. Some photos were invisible to MF
but I was able (after lots of hassle) to find and display them with OIFM.

On my S4 the MF app shows the external SD card as:
/storage/extSdCard

On my S4 the OIFM app shows:
/storage/emulated/0
/storage/emulated/legacy
/storage/sdcard0
(All apparently aliases for the internal SD card)
/storage/extSdCard
/mnt/extSdCard
/mnt/sdcard
/mnt_1/extSdCard
(All apparently aliases for the external SD card)

There are more aliases I haven't taken the time to type in, but
hopefully you get the idea. It seems to me possible (likely) that the
alias displayed by your app differs from what's actually available to
Avare. I suggest you try some of the aliases you might discover with
the free open source OIFM app:
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.openintents.filemanager>

The external storage address in Avare Prefs that I finally got to work
for charts:
/storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.ds.avare/files
So another thing you might try is adding /Android to the path you
specified above, presuming Avare will add the rest of the path so it
looks like mine. If it doesn't work, you could append /data after
/Android and try again. Zubair can tell us how much of my specified
path was created by Avare.

[fly...@yahoo.com]

Hi Zubair and everyone.

Regarding rooting the device, it may void the warranty, and updates if available later may not install. I think its a steep price to pay for a minor inconvenience of storing charts in the internal memory. But if thats the only option then go for it but little help here if the device bricks.

I agree, it may not be worth taking a chance, and if someone does, it must be understood that they are  doing it at their own risk.
Avare has a fairly small footprint, and it does look like you are doing some clean up on Exit, and I think everyone should be able to run in the Memory / No Need for External SD. TV