MiXplorer: Q&A and FAQ (User Manual)

[marciozomb13]

Thanks! I've figured out that my confusion was because I was working with TerrorFlatRider's AMOLED Green 1.5 theme and when you load a skin over that, it causes gray generic icon issues (that I was reporting in the main MiX thread) for some reason (maybe because it was designed for a prior MiX version).

That's because there's a color assigned for the icon, you must disable that color on the theme or use default color on skin.

 

[hudson4351]

When MiX hosts FTP at root "/" then the raw folder/link structure will be show rather than drives and to get to drive one must navigate, usually though the mnt folder.

Far better for security and practicality is MiX hosting FTP at /storage/ which will typical show internal and external as well as 1 or 2 unused drives.

I think @J.Michael may have diagnosed this correctly as a settings (or other usage habit) change.

[...and some of this depend on root status etc]

I figured out what's going on. If FileZilla is left open, it "remembers" the directory structure, or at least the starting directory, from the last time I connected to the FTP server. If the FTP server is started from the same directory the next time, this is fine. If the FTP server is started from a different directory, then the error message in my previous post is generated. If FileZilla is completely closed and reopened, then it doesn't seem to remember the starting directory and in that case there is no issue if the FTP server is started from a directory that is different from the last directory used.

Using /storage/ as the default FTP server directory is better in any case as it filters the visible directories down to only the ones I use.

 

[IronTechmonkey]

Noted regarding Android 11, /data/data, and SU mount namespace https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...y-featured-file-manager.1523691/post-84755579

Thanks @DiamondJohn for the tip...and for linking back to it again in the main thread.

 

[DiamondJohn]

Noted regarding Android 11, /data/data, and SU mount namespace https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...y-featured-file-manager.1523691/post-84755579

I want to ask the question, but your reference has already answered it. I will assume that it is the correct method. I did it just because I knew it had worked previously (and @Spannaa found the same also), not because of any specific extraordinary knowledge/understanding.

 

[IronTechmonkey]

I want to ask the question, but your reference has already answered it. I will assume that it is the correct method. I did it just because I kiew it had worked previously (and @Spannaa found the same also), not because of any specific extraordinary knowledge/understanding.

Yeah, no extraordinary knowledge here so don't take my note for confirmation. I recalled you mentioning that it helped. As it was one of the only suggestions for that scenario I intended to flag it but missed... until it came up again.

 

[IronTechmonkey]

That is a very good question! I always thought that a factory reset would reset a phone to the same state as purchased new and someone in another thread on XDA recommended that I reset my phone to downgrade from Android 11 to 10, but your question just provoked me to look into it a bit more and it seems that a factory reset will wipe your data, but will not downgrade the software version. Apparently, I am stuck on Android 11, unless anyone knows differently.

I did not want to reply in the main thread and go off topic. As mentioned previoulsy a factory reset done by any means will be within the operating system that exists on the device, so that particular operating system would be put into the new condition but not restored to previous version. The only way to go back to an older version of android would be to flash a stock firmware package on it (if it's Motorola I know where you can find those) which can be a tricky process or require specific hardware. Alternately you could install a custom ROM. If you are following a stock operating system path and want to keep it updated then you are kind of stuck but in the long run that may not be all bad. During the Android Oreo and Pie peak news of some of the restrictions we experience today being added to android Q had many people thinking that would be the end and we would just call it android IQ)uit. Then many developers found ways to get things done in spite of the new restrictions. With any luck and some good coding same will happen for android 11.

 

[Keror0]

FAQ Features



Hi, thank you for your answer, well I think if there's a feature available it should be documented, there's a bunch of advanced settings but no documentation about them, so what's the purpose? Trial and error is not the best user experience, developer or not, everything should have some logic, and it also would benefit the programmer, I just configured the Public/Private Keypair so it would not have password (Password to unencrypt the keypair) and it works that way, I did it because there's no mention on how Mixplorer settings to take care of the password, and certainly, it did not ask for it before, something to be implemented in the future I hope, never the less, thank you all who contribute for this project , and thank you again for your ready answer!

Best greetings,

Much appreciated if you could show me how exactly you configure below parameters:
private_key_path=
private_key_base64=

How can I obtain the local path name, it seems include a very long hex number in which I found no means to copy.

 

[IronTechmonkey]

Much appreciated if you could show me how exactly you configure below parameters:
private_key_path=
private_key_base64=

How can I obtain the local path name, it seems include a very long hex number in which I found no means to copy.

Good question. I don't have experience with this but a search of the main thread for private_key_path=
does yield some possible answers as well as a relatively recent issue report. Examples

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...y-featured-file-manager.1523691/post-74323368
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...y-featured-file-manager.1523691/post-79001960

I couldn't say if these examples correlate to your circumstances but if you search yourself you will be able to make that determination. If you don't find anything and don't get an answer in this thread soon consider posting the question in the main thread as well

 

[J.Michael]

Much appreciated if you could show me how exactly you configure below parameters:
private_key_path=
private_key_base64=

How can I obtain the local path name, it seems include a very long hex number in which I found no means to copy.

If you use Mixplorer to navigate to a file, long press the file to select it, tap the (i) (info) button, then *tap* the link-looking display of the pathname, you will get that pathname copied to the clipboard.

(Resist the urge to long press the "link".)

 

[Keror0]

Good question. I don't have experience with this but a search of the main thread for private_key_path=
does yield some possible answers as well as a relatively recent issue report. Examples

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...y-featured-file-manager.1523691/post-74323368
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...y-featured-file-manager.1523691/post-79001960

I couldn't say if these examples correlate to your circumstances but if you search yourself you will be able to make that determination. If you don't find anything and don't get an answer in this thread soon consider posting the question in the main thread as well

End up I figured out it was problems with the old Public/Private key pair that I use, they works for others apps.

Have to regenerated a set of new key pair in the host side, copy over the private key (in my case, to Chromebook) then tap the (i) (info) button of the private key file (thanks, J.Michael), append the file path to "private_key_path=" and Bingo!

 

[IronTechmonkey]

USB OTG Android 11, possible solution to drive that are no longer visible or are visible but not writeable in Android 11.

As described by HootanParsa here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...y-featured-file-manager.1523691/post-84829265

This:
"Disable the custom driver. Tap on ADD > Document provider > Find and select the USB drive."

 

[IronTechmonkey]

What is the quickest protocol/setup if I have a file on device 1 and I want to transfer to it device 2, both with Mixplorer and on the same wifi network?

(Quick, both in terms of number of clicks to make it happen and in terms of transfer speed.)

I had pondered relative rankings of different network file transfer methods while describing the servers in the FAQ but that did not really fit into the technical descriptions however this awakes that previous curiosity. Opinions here may vary depending on individual preferences and capabilities of various devices but as I see it:

- Bluetooth: For a one time or infrequent action on individual small files Bluetooth might be the simplest but offers limited file management options and slow transfer speed.

- TCP server: Simple although it will include a brief bit of MiX TCP server config. Limited file management options but at least using Wifi for better (than bluetooth) speeds.

- HTTP: requires some server configuration and offers more file management capability than previously mentioned items but if you're going to bother configuring this you might as well go to FTP.

- FTP: by your described criteria FTP may require more configuration than you want to play with but once you've got the servers and bookmarks configured it is fairly quick and easy to use and offers a wide range of file management options, as if the directories are on the same device. Start server on host device > open bookmark from guest device = might even be quicker than TCP.

An additional consideration is that if you do this repeatedly with the same devices the initial configuration of the FTP server is probably worth the effort but if you do it repeatedly with new or temporary devices you may gain less in that regard.

 

[rsngfrce]

(Wrong MiX thread)

 

[IronTechmonkey]

Yes, that was exactly the answer I needed! I remember reading that recently, I but that was before I needed it and I didn't really understand it at the time. It's simple once you know it, but I wonder why MiX requires this step when some other, less advanced file explorers don't. Definitely something that should be in the FAQ.

Well, it is in the FAQ now and you've witnessed that live in real time.

When the new document provider was recently introduced I knew it would be significant but to your point I did not need it in MiX and did not understand the context, so I bookmarked it to be added to the FAQ later (possibly much later). Then today upon seeing how it applied to USB drives I created the post that you quoted, which would be called a MiX Nugget if XDA still had post titles. That post should eventually be linked to the "Nuggets" section of the original posts (once the context of the document provider itself can be fleshed out into a "Nugget").

As to the USB OTG Document Provider tip itself: 1 day after being described by dev (in a post appearing 3rd in a thread search for [usb otg]) is a short turnaround IMO.

 

[rsngfrce]

Well, it is in the FAQ now and you've witnessed that live in real time.

When the new document provider was recently introduced I knew it would be significant but to your point I did not need it in MiX and did not understand the context, so I bookmarked it to be added to the FAQ later (possibly much later). Then today upon seeing how it applied to USB drives I created the post that you quoted, which would be called a MiX Nugget if XDA still had post titles. That post should eventually be linked to the "Nuggets" section of the original posts (once the context of the document provider itself can be fleshed out into a "Nugget").

As to the USB OTG Document Provider tip itself: 1 day after being described by dev (in a post appearing 3rd in a thread search for [usb otg]) is a short turnaround IMO.

As I mentioned, I hadn't tried attaching a USB drive to my phone before, so I actually thought there was something wrong with it, because it was not recognized by MiX unless I enabled the Custom OTG driver option, in which case I was getting an error saying to reboot my phone because the USB drive was ejected.

It has since occured to me that the Custom OTG driver is probably meant for phones that don't have native OTG support. Also, this issue with MiX recognizing the USB drive is caused by Android 11, so it wasn't a common issue in the MiX threads.

Only the fact that My Files, File Commander, SanDisk Memory Zone and Solid Explorer were all able to access the USB drive with little to no issue convinced me it must be a MiX issue rather than a defective drive and I couldn't find anything in the FAQ explaining what I was doing wrong.

 

[IronTechmonkey]

As I mentioned, I hadn't tried attaching a USB drive to my phone before, so I actually thought there was something wrong with it, because it was not recognized by MiX unless I enabled the Custom OTG driver option, in which case I was getting an error saying to reboot my phone because the USB drive was ejected.

It has since occured to me that the Custom OTG driver is probably meant for phones that don't have native OTG support. Also, this issue with MiX recognizing the USB drive is caused by Android 11, so it wasn't a common issue in the MiX threads.

Only the fact that My Files, File Commander, SanDisk Memory Zone and Solid Explorer were all able to access the USB drive with little to no issue convinced me it must be a MiX issue rather than a defective drive and I couldn't find anything in the FAQ explaining what I was doing wrong.

No worries. Thanks for being a test pilot for the app and the FAQ. .

 

[westenlive]

Hello good morning thanks for the support
I write to you because I have a problem and I didn't understand what application generates it.

When I send an email and try to attach a file by drawing it from Mixplorer present to a cloud connected to it, the Aquamail application goes into loop and cannot load the requested file.

To be clearer than the file I want to attach is not present in the internal memory of the phone but is present in an external cloud or that is a remote server or that is the Google Drive.

I can't understand which application generates the problem.

Can any of you try?

Thanks so much

 

[Wolfcity]

Hello good morning thanks for the support
I write to you because I have a problem and I didn't understand what application generates it.

When I send an email and try to attach a file by drawing it from Mixplorer present to a cloud connected to it, the Aquamail application goes into loop and cannot load the requested file.

To be clearer than the file I want to attach is not present in the internal memory of the phone but is present in an external cloud or that is a remote server or that is the Google Drive.

I can't understand which application generates the problem.

Can any of you try?

Thanks so much

If I understand you correctly you want to attach a file that resides on a cloud server to an email via Mixplorer.
I'm not using Aquamail but with Gmail I can attach files from Yandex/Dropbox/Drive through Mixplorer to emails.
So the problem is probably your mail app.

 

[westenlive]

If I understand you correctly you want to attach a file that resides on a cloud server to an email via Mixplorer.
I'm not using Aquamail but with Gmail I can attach files from Yandex/Dropbox/Drive through Mixplorer to emails.
So the problem is probably your mail app.

Exactly just what I meant.

I thought it was a problem related to mixplorer, but if you tell me this it means that the problem is related to water mail.



Another thing that often happens is to open email attachments with mixplorer.

Practically pressing the attachment button, without downloading, it sends the mixplorer loop and therefore does not open.

While it works well with other applications, for example if I use WPS office.



How can you explain this problem to me? Do you think it is the acquamail application that does not digest mixplorer well?



thanks for the technical support.

 

[Wolfcity]

Exactly just what I meant.

I thought it was a problem related to mixplorer, but if you tell me this it means that the problem is related to water mail.



Another thing that often happens is to open email attachments with mixplorer.

Practically pressing the attachment button, without downloading, it sends the mixplorer loop and therefore does not open.

While it works well with other applications, for example if I use WPS office.



How can you explain this problem to me? Do you think it is the acquamail application that does not digest mixplorer well?



thanks for the technical support.

Sorry, I don't think I can help you regarding that issue. Seems to be something between your mailing app and mixplorer but I don't know Aquamail or the things it does to attach files.
Maybe @HootanParsa , the developer of mixplorer is able to give you a hint, in that case post your problem in the mixplorer main thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...d-fully-featured-file-manager.1523691//unread
Including a log by Mix itself (settings - send log) or by a log app like Matlog.