Is iOS developer able to view file system?

Question

I wonder if developer has some sort of ways to be able to view file system on iOS device like iFile but without jailbreak the device? Need it for devlopement purpose.

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Answer 1

One can view files in an iOS device but only in that your App's sandbox. Every App has got a Documents, Cache and temp folders. I think the first two are automatically backed up by iTunes when you connect your device, the latter is not backed up.

Example, to get Cache directory path -

- (NSString *)getCacheDirPath
{
    NSString *path = nil;
    NSArray *myPathList = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSCachesDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
    if([myPathList count])
    {
        NSString *bundleName = [[[NSBundle mainBundle] infoDictionary] objectForKey:@"CFBundleIdentifier"];
        path = [[myPathList objectAtIndex:0] stringByAppendingPathComponent:bundleName];
    }
    return path;
}

To see all files in caches directory -

- (NSMutableArray *)showFiles
{
    NSError *err        = nil;
    NSArray *myPathList = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSCachesDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
    NSString *myPath    = [myPathList  objectAtIndex:0];
    NSArray *dirContent = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] contentsOfDirectoryAtPath:myPath error:&err];
    if(err) NSLog(@"showFiles() - ERROR: %@",[err localizedDescription]);
    NSMutableArray *filePaths  = nil;

    int count = (int)[dirContent count];
    for(int i=0; i<count; i++)
    {
        [filePaths addObject:[dirContent objectAtIndex:i]];
    }
    return filePaths;
}

Answer 2

Can, there have a sample. you can have a look.

Answer 3

While the file system on the iDevice is sandboxed, the one in iPhone Simulator is not. You can run your app with the simulator and check the content via:

~/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/5.0/Applications

It should work for your needs.