Sharing an image with Google+ app using Intent.ACTION_SEND and Intent.EXTRA_STREAM

My app generates images that a user can save or share with others. The code below works for most apps: Messenger, Facebook, Dropbox, email, etc. Meaning, the image is loaded by the chosen app, and a user can share the image successfully with that app.

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
intent.setType("image/png");
File o = new File(dir, "file.png");
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, Uri.fromFile(o));
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent , "Send options"));

However, when I choose Google+ in the list of apps, google+ starts, but the image is not included in the post window. Instead, google+ displays a Toast message with:

"You can only post photos stored on your device."

This is a little confusing, because the image is on the external SD card, i.e. /mnt/sdcard/AppDir/file.png. I am using the latest update of Google+ app (2.3.1.242969).

Is there another trick to sharing an image with google+?

Thank you.

UPDATE:

My app generates the images that are shared, so the sample below from @chirag-shah wasn't directly applicable. But, using the MediaStore looks like the right idea. I've settled on the basic code below:

void shareImage(int position) {
    File f = getFileFor(position);
    ContentValues values = new ContentValues(2);
    values.put(MediaStore.Images.Media.MIME_TYPE, "image/png");
    values.put(MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA, f.getAbsolutePath());
    Uri uri = getContentResolver().insert(MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI, values);
    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
    intent.setType("image/png");
    intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uri);
    startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent , "Send options")); 
}

This works with Google+ and all other apps I've tested with. I'm leaving the question open in case this is not best practice. Can anyone confirm that this is the rig

android android-intent google-plus

Edit Report

Great catch! You can specify the MediaStore Uri (which looks like content://media/external/images/media/42) instead of the absolute path on the file system.

Example:

public class MyActivity extends Activity {
  ...
  static final int IMAGE_REQUEST = 0;

  protected void pickImage() {
    Intent intent = new Intent(android.provider.MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
    startActivityForResult(intent, IMAGE_REQUEST);
  }

  protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
    if (requestCode == IMAGE_REQUEST) {
      Uri uri = data.getData();

      Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
      intent.setType("image/png");
      // uri looks like content://media/external/images/media/42
      intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uri);
      startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent , "Share"));
    }
  }
}

answered 2012-02-20T07:02:05.750

Sharing an image with Google+ app using Intent.ACTION_SEND and Intent.EXTRA_STREAM

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