Receive Sharing Intent Plus

A Flutter plugin to Unlock seamless content sharing in your apps with text, photos, and URLs.

This plugin provides functionality to receive images, videos, files, text and urls from other apps.

Android	iOS

Features

• Open app when any data shared from other apps
• Listen to shared data when app is opened as a stream

Supported Platforms

Getting Started

Setup (Android)

1. Get External Storage Permission

Add the following to your AndroidManifest.xml inside <manifest> if you wish to access shared files:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

2. Add data specific intent filters

Add the following to your AndroidManifest.xml inside main <activity>.

Each intent filter mentioned below allows your app to receive data of a specific type.

<!-- TODO:  Add this filter, if you want support opening urls into your app -->
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
    <data
        android:scheme="https"
        android:host="example.com"
        android:pathPrefix="/invite"/>
</intent-filter>

<!-- TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing text into your app -->
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <data android:mimeType="text/*" />
</intent-filter>

<!-- TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing single image at once -->
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <data android:mimeType="image/*" />
</intent-filter>

<!-- TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing multiple images at once -->
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND_MULTIPLE" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <data android:mimeType="image/*" />
</intent-filter>

<!-- TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing single video at once -->
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <data android:mimeType="video/*" />
</intent-filter>

<!-- TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing multiple videos at once -->
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND_MULTIPLE" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <data android:mimeType="video/*" />
</intent-filter>

<!-- TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing any single file at once -->
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <data android:mimeType="*/*" />
</intent-filter>

<!-- TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing multiple files at once -->
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND_MULTIPLE" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <data android:mimeType="*/*" />
</intent-filter>

If you wish to open urls into your app, see Android App Links to know more about opening urls/deep-links into your android app.

3. Optional Activity Configuration

Update the android:launchMode attribute of the main <activity> inside AndroidManifest.xml to singleTask if you want to prevent creating new activity instance everytime there is a new data shared.

Setup (iOS)

This is long and complicated process. Please follow the steps carefully.

1. Update Info.plist

Add following inside ios/Runner/info.plist

<key>AppGroupId</key>
<string>$(CUSTOM_GROUP_ID)</string>
<key>CFBundleURLTypes</key>
<array>
  <dict>
    <key>CFBundleTypeRole</key>
    <string>Editor</string>
    <key>CFBundleURLSchemes</key>
    <array>
      <string>ShareMedia-$(PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER)</string>
    </array>
  </dict>
</array>
<key>NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription</key>
<string>To upload photos, please allow permission to access your photo library.</string>

2. Create Share Extension Target

1. Using XCode, go to File -> New -> Target and Choose Share Extension
2. Give it a name i.e. "Share Extension"
3. Choose language as Swift

Note: Make sure the iOS Deployment Target is SAME for both the Runner and Share Extension targets.

3. Add Runner and Share Extension in the same group

1. Select the Runner target and go to the Signing & Capabilities tab.

2. Click on the + Capability button and add the App Groups capability.

3. Add a new group and name it as you want. For example group.YOUR_HOST_APP_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER in my case group.rocks.outdatedguy.receiveSharingIntentPlusExample.

4. Do the same for the Share Extension target.

This will allow both the targets to share data with each other.

4. Add User-Defined Settings

1. Select the Runner target and go to the Build Settings tab.

2. Click on the + button and add a new User-Defined Setting.

3. Name it as CUSTOM_GROUP_ID and set the value defined in Step 3 (Above Step).

4. Do the same for the Share Extension target.

5. Configure Share Extension Target Info.plist

Update the ios/Share Extension/info.plist with the code below.

Read the comments to understand what each key does and what you need to change.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>AppGroupId</key>
  <string>$(CUSTOM_GROUP_ID)</string>
  <key>NSExtension</key>
  <dict>
    <key>NSExtensionAttributes</key>
    <dict>
      <key>PHSupportedMediaTypes</key>
      <array>
        <!-- TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing video into your app -->
        <string>Video</string>
        <!-- TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing images into your app -->
        <string>Image</string>
      </array>
      <key>NSExtensionActivationRule</key>
      <dict>
        <!-- TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing text into your app -->
        <key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsText</key>
        <true/>
        <!-- TODO: Add this tag, if you want to support sharing urls into your app -->
        <key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsWebURLWithMaxCount</key>
        <integer>1</integer>
        <!-- TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing images into your app -->
        <key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsImageWithMaxCount</key>
        <integer>100</integer>
        <!-- TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing video into your app -->
        <key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsMovieWithMaxCount</key>
        <integer>100</integer>
        <!-- TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing other files into your app -->
        <!-- TODO: Change the integer to however many files you want to be able to share at a time -->
        <key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsFileWithMaxCount</key>
        <integer>1</integer>
      </dict>
    </dict>
    <key>NSExtensionMainStoryboard</key>
    <string>MainInterface</string>
    <key>NSExtensionPointIdentifier</key>
    <string>com.apple.share-services</string>
  </dict>
</dict>
</plist>

If you wish to support opening urls into your app, add the following to the ios/Runner/Runner.entitlements file.

See iOS Universal Links to know more about opening urls/deep-links into your ios app.

<!--TODO:  Add this tag, if you want support opening urls into your app-->
<key>com.apple.developer.associated-domains</key>
<array>
  <string>applinks:example.com</string>
</array>

6. Configure Share Extension Target Working

Update the whole ios/Share Extension/ShareViewController.swift file with the code below.

import UIKit
import Social
import MobileCoreServices
import Photos

class ShareViewController: SLComposeServiceViewController {
    var hostAppBundleIdentifier = ""
    var appGroupId = ""
    let sharedKey = "ShareKey"
    var sharedMedia: [SharedMediaFile] = []
    var sharedText: [String] = []
    let imageContentType = kUTTypeImage as String
    let videoContentType = kUTTypeMovie as String
    let textContentType = kUTTypeText as String
    let urlContentType = kUTTypeURL as String
    let fileURLType = kUTTypeFileURL as String

    override func isContentValid() -> Bool {
        return true
    }

    private func loadIds() {
        // loading Share extension App Id
        let shareExtensionAppBundleIdentifier = Bundle.main.bundleIdentifier!

        // convert ShareExtension id to host app id
        // By default it is removed the last part of id after the last point
        // For example: com.test.ShareExtension -> com.test
        if let lastIndexOfPoint = shareExtensionAppBundleIdentifier.lastIndex(of: ".") {
            hostAppBundleIdentifier = String(shareExtensionAppBundleIdentifier[..<lastIndexOfPoint])
        }

        // loading custom AppGroupId from Build Settings or use group.<hostAppBundleIdentifier>
        appGroupId = (Bundle.main.object(forInfoDictionaryKey: "AppGroupId") as? String) ?? "group.\(hostAppBundleIdentifier)"
    }

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        // load group and app id from build info
        loadIds()
    }

    override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
        super.viewDidAppear(animated)

        // This is called after the user selects Post. Do the upload of contentText and/or NSExtensionContext attachments.
        if let content = extensionContext?.inputItems[0] as? NSExtensionItem {
            if let contents = content.attachments {
                for (index, attachment) in contents.enumerated() {
                    if attachment.hasItemConformingToTypeIdentifier(imageContentType) {
                        handleImages(content: content, attachment: attachment, index: index)
                    } else if attachment.hasItemConformingToTypeIdentifier(textContentType) {
                        handleText(content: content, attachment: attachment, index: index)
                    } else if attachment.hasItemConformingToTypeIdentifier(fileURLType) {
                        handleFiles(content: content, attachment: attachment, index: index)
                    } else if attachment.hasItemConformingToTypeIdentifier(urlContentType) {
                        handleUrl(content: content, attachment: attachment, index: index)
                    } else if attachment.hasItemConformingToTypeIdentifier(videoContentType) {
                        handleVideos(content: content, attachment: attachment, index: index)
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }

    override func didSelectPost() {
        print("didSelectPost")
    }

    override func configurationItems() -> [Any]! {
        // To add configuration options via table cells at the bottom of the sheet, return an array of SLComposeSheetConfigurationItem here.
        return []
    }

    private func handleText(content: NSExtensionItem, attachment: NSItemProvider, index: Int) {
        attachment.loadItem(forTypeIdentifier: textContentType, options: nil) { [weak self] data, error in

            if error == nil, let item = data as? String, let this = self {

                this.sharedText.append(item)

                // If this is the last item, save imagesData in userDefaults and redirect to the host app
                if index == (content.attachments?.count)! - 1 {
                    let userDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: this.appGroupId)
                    userDefaults?.set(this.sharedText, forKey: this.sharedKey)
                    userDefaults?.synchronize()
                    this.redirectToHostApp(type: .text)
                }

            } else {
                self?.dismissWithError()
            }
        }
    }

    private func handleUrl(content: NSExtensionItem, attachment: NSItemProvider, index: Int) {
        attachment.loadItem(forTypeIdentifier: urlContentType, options: nil) { [weak self] data, error in

            if error == nil, let item = data as? URL, let this = self {

                this.sharedText.append(item.absoluteString)

                // If this is the last item, save imagesData in userDefaults and redirect to the host app
                if index == (content.attachments?.count)! - 1 {
                    let userDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: this.appGroupId)
                    userDefaults?.set(this.sharedText, forKey: this.sharedKey)
                    userDefaults?.synchronize()
                    this.redirectToHostApp(type: .text)
                }

            } else {
                self?.dismissWithError()
            }
        }
    }

    private func handleImages(content: NSExtensionItem, attachment: NSItemProvider, index: Int) {
        attachment.loadItem(forTypeIdentifier: imageContentType, options: nil) { [weak self] data, error in

            if error == nil, let url = data as? URL, let this = self {

                // Always copy
                let fileName = this.getFileName(from: url, type: .image)
                let newPath = FileManager.default
                    .containerURL(forSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier: this.appGroupId)!
                    .appendingPathComponent(fileName)
                let copied = this.copyFile(at: url, to: newPath)
                if copied {
                    this.sharedMedia.append(SharedMediaFile(path: newPath.absoluteString, thumbnail: nil, duration: nil, type: .image))
                }

                // If this is the last item, save imagesData in userDefaults and redirect to the host app
                if index == (content.attachments?.count)! - 1 {
                    let userDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: this.appGroupId)
                    userDefaults?.set(this.toData(data: this.sharedMedia), forKey: this.sharedKey)
                    userDefaults?.synchronize()
                    this.redirectToHostApp(type: .media)
                }

            } else {
                self?.dismissWithError()
            }
        }
    }

    private func handleVideos(content: NSExtensionItem, attachment: NSItemProvider, index: Int) {
        attachment.loadItem(forTypeIdentifier: videoContentType, options: nil) { [weak self] data, error in

            if error == nil, let url = data as? URL, let this = self {

                // Always copy
                let fileName = this.getFileName(from: url, type: .video)
                let newPath = FileManager.default
                    .containerURL(forSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier: this.appGroupId)!
                    .appendingPathComponent(fileName)
                let copied = this.copyFile(at: url, to: newPath)
                if copied {
                    guard let sharedFile = this.getSharedMediaFile(forVideo: newPath) else {
                        return
                    }
                    this.sharedMedia.append(sharedFile)
                }

                // If this is the last item, save imagesData in userDefaults and redirect to the host app
                if index == (content.attachments?.count)! - 1 {
                    let userDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: this.appGroupId)
                    userDefaults?.set(this.toData(data: this.sharedMedia), forKey: this.sharedKey)
                    userDefaults?.synchronize()
                    this.redirectToHostApp(type: .media)
                }

            } else {
                self?.dismissWithError()
            }
        }
    }

    private func handleFiles(content: NSExtensionItem, attachment: NSItemProvider, index: Int) {
        attachment.loadItem(forTypeIdentifier: fileURLType, options: nil) { [weak self] data, error in

            if error == nil, let url = data as? URL, let this = self {

                // Always copy
                let fileName = this.getFileName(from: url, type: .file)
                let newPath = FileManager.default
                    .containerURL(forSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier: this.appGroupId)!
                    .appendingPathComponent(fileName)
                let copied = this.copyFile(at: url, to: newPath)
                if copied {
                    this.sharedMedia.append(SharedMediaFile(path: newPath.absoluteString, thumbnail: nil, duration: nil, type: .file))
                }

                if index == (content.attachments?.count)! - 1 {
                    let userDefaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: this.appGroupId)
                    userDefaults?.set(this.toData(data: this.sharedMedia), forKey: this.sharedKey)
                    userDefaults?.synchronize()
                    this.redirectToHostApp(type: .file)
                }

            } else {
                self?.dismissWithError()
            }
        }
    }

    private func dismissWithError() {
        print("[ERROR] Error loading data!")
        let alert = UIAlertController(title: "Error", message: "Error loading data", preferredStyle: .alert)

        let action = UIAlertAction(title: "Error", style: .cancel) { _ in
            self.dismiss(animated: true, completion: nil)
        }

        alert.addAction(action)
        present(alert, animated: true, completion: nil)
        extensionContext?.completeRequest(returningItems: [], completionHandler: nil)
    }

    private func redirectToHostApp(type: RedirectType) {
        // ids may not be loaded yet so we need loadIds here too
        loadIds()
        let url = URL(string: "ShareMedia-\(hostAppBundleIdentifier)://dataUrl=\(sharedKey)#\(type)")
        var responder = self as UIResponder?
        let selectorOpenURL = sel_registerName("openURL:")

        while (responder != nil) {
            if (responder?.responds(to: selectorOpenURL))! {
                let _ = responder?.perform(selectorOpenURL, with: url)
            }
            responder = responder?.next
        }
        extensionContext?.completeRequest(returningItems: [], completionHandler: nil)
    }

    enum RedirectType {
        case media
        case text
        case file
    }

    func getExtension(from url: URL, type: SharedMediaType) -> String {
        let parts = url.lastPathComponent.components(separatedBy: ".")
        var ex: String? = nil
        if (parts.count > 1) {
            ex = parts.last
        }

        if (ex == nil) {
            switch type {
            case .image:
                ex = "PNG"
            case .video:
                ex = "MP4"
            case .file:
                ex = "TXT"
            }
        }
        return ex ?? "Unknown"
    }

    func getFileName(from url: URL, type: SharedMediaType) -> String {
        var name = url.lastPathComponent

        if (name.isEmpty) {
            name = UUID().uuidString + "." + getExtension(from: url, type: type)
        }

        return name
    }

    func copyFile(at srcURL: URL, to dstURL: URL) -> Bool {
        do {
            if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: dstURL.path) {
                try FileManager.default.removeItem(at: dstURL)
            }
            try FileManager.default.copyItem(at: srcURL, to: dstURL)
        } catch (let error) {
            print("Cannot copy item at \(srcURL) to \(dstURL): \(error)")
            return false
        }
        return true
    }

    private func getSharedMediaFile(forVideo: URL) -> SharedMediaFile? {
        let asset = AVAsset(url: forVideo)
        let duration = (CMTimeGetSeconds(asset.duration) * 1000).rounded()
        let thumbnailPath = getThumbnailPath(for: forVideo)

        if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: thumbnailPath.path) {
            return SharedMediaFile(path: forVideo.absoluteString, thumbnail: thumbnailPath.absoluteString, duration: duration, type: .video)
        }

        var saved = false
        let assetImgGenerate = AVAssetImageGenerator(asset: asset)
        assetImgGenerate.appliesPreferredTrackTransform = true
        assetImgGenerate.maximumSize =  CGSize(width: 360, height: 360)
        do {
            let img = try assetImgGenerate.copyCGImage(at: CMTimeMakeWithSeconds(600, preferredTimescale: Int32(1.0)), actualTime: nil)
            try UIImage.pngData(UIImage(cgImage: img))()?.write(to: thumbnailPath)
            saved = true
        } catch {
            saved = false
        }

        return saved ? SharedMediaFile(path: forVideo.absoluteString, thumbnail: thumbnailPath.absoluteString, duration: duration, type: .video) : nil
    }

    private func getThumbnailPath(for url: URL) -> URL {
        let fileName = Data(url.lastPathComponent.utf8).base64EncodedString().replacingOccurrences(of: "==", with: "")
        let path = FileManager.default
            .containerURL(forSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier: appGroupId)!
            .appendingPathComponent("\(fileName).jpg")
        return path
    }

    class SharedMediaFile: Codable {
        var path: String
        var thumbnail: String?
        var duration: Double?
        var type: SharedMediaType

        init(path: String, thumbnail: String?, duration: Double?, type: SharedMediaType) {
            self.path = path
            self.thumbnail = thumbnail
            self.duration = duration
            self.type = type
        }

        func toString() {
            print("[SharedMediaFile] \n\tpath: \(self.path)\n\tthumbnail: \(self.thumbnail)\n\tduration: \(self.duration)\n\ttype: \(self.type)")
        }
    }

    enum SharedMediaType: Int, Codable {
        case image
        case video
        case file
    }

    func toData(data: [SharedMediaFile]) -> Data {
        let encodedData = try? JSONEncoder().encode(data)
        return encodedData ?? Data()
    }
}

extension Array {
    subscript (safe index: UInt) -> Element? {
        return Int(index) < count ? self[Int(index)] : nil
    }
}

7. Update Build Phases

To avoid below error, select the Runner target and go to the Build Phases tab. Then drag and move the Embed Foundation Extensions phase above the Thin Binary phase.

Error:

Error (Xcode): Cycle inside Runner; building could produce unreliable results.
Cycle details:
→ Target 'Runner': ExtractAppIntentsMetadata
○ Target 'Runner' has copy command from 'receive_sharing_intent_plus/example/build/ios/Debug-iphonesimulator/Share Extension.appex' to 'receive_sharing_intent_plus/example/build/ios/Debug-iphonesimulator/Runner.app/PlugIns/Share Extension.appex'
○ That command depends on command in Target 'Runner': script phase “Thin Binary”
○ Target 'Runner' has process command with output 'receive_sharing_intent_plus/example/build/ios/Debug-iphonesimulator/Runner.app/Info.plist'
○ Target 'Runner' has copy command from 'receive_sharing_intent_plus/example/build/ios/Debug-iphonesimulator/Share Extension.appex' to 'receive_sharing_intent_plus/example/build/ios/Debug-iphonesimulator/Runner.app/PlugIns/Share Extension.appex'

Usage

1. Add dependency

Add the receive_sharing_intent_plus package to your pubspec.yaml file:

dependencies:
  receive_sharing_intent_plus: ^1.0.1

2. Import the package

Import the receive_sharing_intent_plus package into your Dart file:

import 'package:receive_sharing_intent_plus/receive_sharing_intent_plus.dart';

3. Checking if the app was opened from a shared content

// For sharing images coming from outside the app while the app is closed
ReceiveSharingIntentPlus.getInitialMedia().then(
  (List<SharedMediaFile> value) {
    setState(() {
      _sharedFiles = value;
      debugPrint(
        'Shared:${_sharedFiles?.map((f) => f.path).join(',') ?? ''}',
      );
    });
  },
);

OR

// For sharing or opening urls/text coming from outside the app while the app is closed
ReceiveSharingIntentPlus.getInitialText().then((String? value) {
  setState(() {
    _sharedText = value;
    debugPrint('Shared: $_sharedText');
  });
});

4. Listening for shared content while the app is opened

// For shared images coming from outside the app while the app is in the memory
_intentMediaStreamSubscription = ReceiveSharingIntentPlus.getMediaStream().listen(
  (List<SharedMediaFile> value) {
    setState(() {
      _sharedFiles = value;
      debugPrint(
        'Shared:${_sharedFiles?.map((f) => f.path).join(',') ?? ''}',
      );
    });
  },
  onError: (err) {
    debugPrint('getIntentDataStream error: $err');
  },
);

OR

// For shared text or opening urls coming from outside the app while the app is
// in the memory
_intentTextStreamSubscription = ReceiveSharingIntentPlus.getTextStream().listen(
  (String value) {
    setState(() {
      _sharedText = value;
      debugPrint('Shared: $_sharedText');
    });
  },
  onError: (err) {
    debugPrint('getLinkStream error: $err');
  },
);

Don't forget to cancel the subscription when it is no longer needed. This will prevent memory leaks and free up resources:

_intentMediaStreamSubscription.cancel();
_intentTextStreamSubscription.cancel();

Credits

This package is a cloned and modified version of the receive_sharing_intent package which is no longer maintained.

The aim of this package is to support the latest version of Flutter and fix iOS sharing issues with the original package.