About
Reading and writing to the SD card is a great way for your application to save progress or reference data that might be to too large to fit in the firmware. Below are examples on how to interface with the SD card using the Mayhem code base.
File Class
Most of the heavy lifting for working with files on the SD Card is done by the File class. This helper class which simplifies the FatFs - Generic FAT file system module which can found at firmware/chibios-portapack/ext/fatfs/src/ff.c. This wiki will go over some examples on how to read and write files to the SD card.
Continuing with the Create a Simple App the code bellow will outline what is required to manipulate the file system. The first thing you'll need to do is include the File class and SD Card helper functions to your application's hpp file.
ui_newapp.hpp
// Add these to include File Class and SD Card helper functions.
#include "file.hpp"
#include "sd_card.hpp"
Check SD Card
Before reading and writing from the SD Card it's ideal to do a quick check to see if the SD card is mounted. There is error handing working in the background that keeps things from crashing however this will give people a better idea if there's a problem or not. The function below dose a quick check to see if the SD Card is showing a status of "Mounted". This will return true if sd_card::status() returns "Mounted" or false if sd_card::status() returns any other status. SD Card statuses are defined in firmware/application/sd_card.hpp.
ui_newapp.cpp
// Checks SD Card, returns true if Mounted, false if otherwise
bool NewAppView::check_sd_card() {
return (sd_card::status() == sd_card::Status::Mounted) ? true : false;
}
Below is a quick example on how this error check could be used.
ui_newapp.cpp
// Check SD Card
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
// Logic if SD Card is mounted
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
// Logic if SD Card is NOT mounted
}
List Directory Contents
To make things easier to use we're going to use a method from firmware/application/apps/ui_fileman.cpp to list the contents of the SD Card. First thing we'll need to do is create a Struct that outlines the pertinent information of files and directories. Each struct will include the file path, size, and if the item is a directory or not.
ui_newapp.hpp
// Struct that outlines file information
struct file_entry {
std::filesystem::path entry_path { };
uint32_t size { };
bool is_directory { };
};
Below is an function that will return a Vector (simmer to a list) of file_entry Struts. The input for this function needs a std::filesystem::path which can be UTF-16 string literal. The root of the SD Card is u"" and any directory beyond that is u"DIRECTORY/SUB_DIRECTORY".
This function will also place any directories at the front of the Vector and files in the back. This will also skip any files that are hidden as in anything with a . in front of the file name.
ui_newapp.cpp
// Lists all files and directories in path
std::vector<file_entry> NewAppView::list_dir(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
// Files and directories list
std::vector<file_entry> entry_list { };
// For each entry in the file system's directory
// Adds files in directories into entry_list{}
// Directories are inserted in front of files
for (const auto& entry : std::filesystem::directory_iterator(path, u"*")) {
// Dose not add directorys or files starting with '.' (hidden / tmp)
if (entry.path().string().length() && entry.path().filename().string()[0] != '.') {
// If file
if (std::filesystem::is_regular_file(entry.status())) {
entry_list.push_back({ entry.path(), (uint32_t)entry.size(), false });
// Else If directory
} else if (std::filesystem::is_directory(entry.status())) {
entry_list.insert(entry_list.begin(), { entry.path(), 0, true });
// Other
} else {
continue;
}
}
}
return entry_list;
}
Create Directory
To create a directory we can use the make_new_directory() function from File. The helper function below will return true if make_new_directory() succeeds (Success from make_new_directory() returns a 0, other values means failure) and takes two variable inputs for file path and directory name. Again the input for the file path is a std::filesystem::path which can be UTF-16 string literal. The root of the SD Card is u"" and any directory beyond that is u"DIRECTORY/SUB_DIRECTORY".
ui_newapp.cpp
// Creates dir, returns true if successful
bool NewAppView::create_dir(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name) { // make_new_directory() returns 0 for success
return !(make_new_directory(path.string() + "/" + name)); // and other values means failure. Not operation
} // will return true only when 0 is returned.
Below is an example on how the create_dir() function can be used with basic error handling.
ui_newapp.cpp
// New directory
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(create_dir(u"", "NEW_DIR")) { // New dir in root of SD Card, returns true if successful
// Logic if new dir succeeded
} else {
// Logic else new dir failed
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
// Logic else SD Card is NOT mounted
}
Create File
To create a file we can use the create() function from File class. The helper function below will return true if create() succeeds (Success from create() returns a 0, other values means failure) and takes two variable inputs for file path and directory name. Again the input for the file path is a std::filesystem::path which can be UTF-16 string literal. The root of the SD Card is u"" and any directory beyond that is u"DIRECTORY/SUB_DIRECTORY".
ui_newapp.cpp
bool NewAppView::create_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name) {
File file = { }; // Create File object
Optional<File::Error> sucess = file.create(path.string() + "/" + name); // Create File
return !(sucess.is_valid()); // 0 is success
}
Below is an example on how the create_file() function can be used with basic error handling.
ui_newapp.cpp
// New file
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(create_file(u"", "NEW_FILE.txt")) { // New file in root of SD Card, returns true if successful
// Logic if new file succeeded
} else {
// Logic else new file failed
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
// Logic else SD Card is NOT mounted
}
A word about reading and writing
In both mode a hardware limit is preventing any buffered read higher than blocks of 512 to be read or write
!! While you can and will do buffered read/write, the size of the buffer must not be higher than 512 !!
See the related issue discussion
Read File
To read to a file the read_file() function from the File class can be used. The helper function below will return true if the class object File opens the file successfully. Success from this open function will have a is_valid() function which will return a 0, other values means failure. Inputs for file path and directory name. Again the input for the file path is a std::filesystem::path which can be UTF-16 string literal. The root of the SD Card is u"" and any directory beyond that is u"DIRECTORY/SUB_DIRECTORY"
Note: The below sample code dose not handle large files, memory management needs to be implemented.
ui_newapp.cpp
std::string NewAppView::read_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name) { // Read file
std::string return_string = ""; // String to be returned
File file; // Create File object
auto success = file.open(path.string() + "/" + name); // Open file to write
if(!success.is_valid()) { // 0 is success
char one_char[1]; // Read file char by char
for(size_t pointer = 0; pointer < file.size() ; pointer++) { // Example won't work for large files
file.seek(pointer); // Sets file to next pointer
file.read(one_char, 1); // sets char to one_char[]
return_string += one_char[0]; // Add it to the return_string
}
} else {
return "0"; // Basic error handling
}
return return_string;
}
ui_newapp.cpp
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
std::string data = ""; // Create output string
data = read_file(u"", "NEWER_FILE.TXT"); // read_file()
if(data != "0") { // Success is anything but 0
// Logic if data is present
} else {
// Logic if there's no data
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
// Logic else SD Card is NOT mounted
}
Write File
To write to a file the write_line() or write() function from the File class can be used. The helper function below will return true if the class object File appends to the target file successfully. Success from this append function will have a is_valid() function which will return a 0, other values means failure. Inputs for file path and directory name. Again the input for the file path is a std::filesystem::path which can be UTF-16 string literal. The root of the SD Card is u"" and any directory beyond that is u"DIRECTORY/SUB_DIRECTORY"
ui_newapp.cpp
bool NewAppView::write_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name, std::string data) {
File file; // Create File object
auto sucess = file.append(path.string() + "/" + name); // Open file
if(!sucess.is_valid()) { // 0 is success
file.write_line(data);
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}
ui_newapp.cpp
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
std::string data = "Your mother was a hamster!";
if(write_file(u"", "NEWER_FILE.TXT", data)) { // Success is anything but 0
// Logic if write was successful
} else {
// Logic if write failed
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
// Logic else SD Card is NOT mounted
}
Rename File or Directory
To rename a file or directory the rename_file() function from File can be used. The helper function below will return true if rename_file() succeeds (Success from rename_file() returns a 0, other values means failure) and takes two variable inputs for file path and directory name. Again the input for the file path is a std::filesystem::path which can be UTF-16 string literal. The root of the SD Card is u"" and any directory beyond that is u"DIRECTORY/SUB_DIRECTORY"
ui_newapp.cpp
bool NewAppView::rename_dir_or_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string old_name, std::string new_name) {
return !(rename_file(path.string() + "/" + old_name, new_name)); // 0 is success
}
ui_newapp.cpp
// Rename directory or file
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(rename_dir_or_file(u"", "NEW_DIR", "NEWER_DIR")) { // Renames dir or file in root of SD Card, returns true if successful
// Logic if rename is successful
} else { // Else new dir or file renamed failed
// Logic if rename failed
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
// Logic else SD Card is NOT mounted
}
Delete File or Directory
To delete a file or directory the delete_file() function from File can be used. The helper function below will return true if delete_file() succeeds (Success from make_new_directory() returns a 0, other values means failure) and takes two variable inputs for file path and directory name. Again the input for the file path is a std::filesystem::path which can be UTF-16 string literal. The root of the SD Card is u"" and any directory beyond that is u"DIRECTORY/SUB_DIRECTORY"
ui_newapp.cpp
bool NewAppView::delete_dir_or_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name) {
return !(delete_file(path.string() + "/" + name));
}
Below is an example on how the delete_dir_or_file() function can be used with basic error handling.
ui_newapp.cpp
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(delete_dir_or_file(u"", "NEW_DIR")) { // New dir in root of SD Card
// Logic if file/dir delete was successful
} else {
// Logic if file/dir delete was NOT successful
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
// Logic else SD Card is NOT mounted
}
Wrap Up
Below is example demo of all basic CRUD functions for files and directories.
ui_newapp.hpp
#include "ui.hpp"
#include "ui_widget.hpp"
#include "ui_navigation.hpp"
#include "string_format.hpp"
// Add these to include File Class and SD Card helper functions.
#include "file.hpp"
#include "sd_card.hpp"
namespace ui
{
// Struct that outlines file information
struct file_entry {
std::filesystem::path entry_path { };
uint32_t size { };
bool is_directory { };
};
class NewAppView : public View // App class declaration
{
public:
// Public declarations
void focus() override; // ui::View function override
NewAppView(NavigationView &nav); // App class init function declaration
std::string title() const override { return "New App"; }; // App title
private:
// Function declarations
// Error check
bool check_sd_card();
// DIR CRUD
bool create_dir(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name);
std::vector<file_entry> list_dir(const std::filesystem::path& path);
// File CRUD
bool create_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name);
bool rename_dir_or_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string old_name, std::string new_name);
std::string read_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name);
bool write_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name, std::string data);
bool delete_dir_or_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name);
// Widgets
Console my_console {
{ 1*8, 1*8, 224, 296 }, // Coordinates are: int:x (px), int:y (px), int:width (px), int:height (px)
};
};
}
ui_newapp.cpp
#include "ui_newapp.hpp"
#include "portapack.hpp"
#include <cstring>
using namespace portapack;
namespace ui
{
void NewAppView::focus() { // Default selection to my_console when app starts
my_console.focus();
}
// Checks SD Card, returns true if Mounted, false if otherwise
bool NewAppView::check_sd_card() {
return (sd_card::status() == sd_card::Status::Mounted) ? true : false;
}
// Lists all files and directories in path
std::vector<file_entry> NewAppView::list_dir(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
// Files and directories list
std::vector<file_entry> entry_list { };
// For each entry in the file system's directory
// Adds files in directorys into entry_list{}
// Directorys are inserted infront of files
for (const auto& entry : std::filesystem::directory_iterator(path, u"*")) {
// Dose not add directorys or files starting with '.' (hidden / tmp)
if (entry.path().string().length() && entry.path().filename().string()[0] != '.') {
// If file
if (std::filesystem::is_regular_file(entry.status())) {
entry_list.push_back({ entry.path(), (uint32_t)entry.size(), false });
// Else If directory
} else if (std::filesystem::is_directory(entry.status())) {
entry_list.insert(entry_list.begin(), { entry.path(), 0, true });
// Other
} else {
continue;
}
}
}
return entry_list;
}
// Creates dir, returns true if successful
bool NewAppView::create_dir(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name) { // make_new_directory() returns 0 for success
return !(make_new_directory(path.string() + "/" + name)); // and other values means failure. Not operation
} // will return true only when 0 is returned.
bool NewAppView::delete_dir_or_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name) { // Deletes file or dir.
return !(delete_file(path.string() + "/" + name)); // 0 is success.
}
bool NewAppView::create_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name) {
File file = { }; // Create File object
Optional<File::Error> sucess = file.create(path.string() + "/" + name); // Create File
return !(sucess.is_valid()); // 0 is success
}
bool NewAppView::rename_dir_or_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string old_name, std::string new_name) {
return !(rename_file(path.string() + "/" + old_name, new_name)); // 0 is success
}
std::string NewAppView::read_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name) { // Read file
std::string return_string = ""; // String to be returned
File file; // Create File object
auto sucess = file.open(path.string() + "/" + name); // Open file to write
if(!sucess.is_valid()) { // 0 is success
char one_char[1]; // Read file char by char
for(size_t pointer = 0; pointer < file.size() ; pointer++) { // Example won't work for large files
file.seek(pointer); // Sets file to next pointer
file.read(one_char, 1); // sets char to one_char[]
return_string += one_char[0]; // Add it to the return_string
}
} else {
return "0"; // Basic error handling
}
return return_string;
}
bool NewAppView::write_file(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string name, std::string data) {
File file; // Create File object
auto success = file.append(path.string() + "/" + name); // Open file
if(!success.is_valid()) { // 0 is success
file.write_line(data);
return true;
} else {
return false;
}
}
NewAppView::NewAppView(NavigationView &nav) // Application Main
{
add_children({
&my_console, // Add pointers for widgets
});
// Enable scrolling
my_console.enable_scrolling(true);
// Check SD Card
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
my_console.writeln("+ SD Card is Mounted");
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- SD Card is NOT Mounted");
}
// New directory
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(create_dir(u"", "NEW_DIR")) { // New dir in root of SD Card, returns true if successful
my_console.writeln("+ New directory created"); // If new dir succeeded
} else {
my_console.writeln("- New directory FAILED"); // Else new dir failed
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- New directory FAILED");
}
// List Directory
std::string dir_contents = ""; // String var that displays the dir contents
std::vector<file_entry> files = { }; // file_entry Vector
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
files = list_dir(u""); // dir of SD Card, u"" is root, u"DIRECTORY_NAME" for other directories
// Vector has a capacity of 64 objects
if(files.size()) { // If files are not empty
dir_contents += "+ dir SD Card: ";
for (const auto& f : files) { // For each f of files
dir_contents += f.entry_path.string() + ", "; // Copy name to dir_contents
}
} else { // Else, files are empty
my_console.writeln("- dir SD Card FAILED");
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- dir SD Card FAILED");
}
//my_console.writeln(dir_contents); // Write results to my_console
// Write total count to my_console
my_console.writeln("+ dir SD Card: " + std::to_string(files.size()) + " items");
// Rename directory
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(rename_dir_or_file(u"", "NEW_DIR", "NEWER_DIR")) { // Renames dir in root of SD Card, returns true if successful
my_console.writeln("+ Directory renamed"); // If dir renamed succeeded
} else {
my_console.writeln("- Directory renamed FAILED"); // Else new dir renamed failed
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- Directory renamed FAILED");
}
// Delete file or directory
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(delete_dir_or_file(u"", "NEWER_DIR")) { // New dir in root of SD Card
my_console.writeln("+ New directory deleted");
} else {
my_console.writeln("- New directory deleted FAILED");
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- New directory deleted FAILED");
}
// New file
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(create_file(u"", "NEW_FILE.txt")) { // New dir in root of SD Card, returns true if successful
my_console.writeln("+ New file created"); // If new file succeeded
} else {
my_console.writeln("- New file FAILED"); // Else new file failed
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- New file FAILED");
}
// Rename file
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(rename_dir_or_file(u"", "NEW_FILE.txt", "NEWER_FILE.TXT")) { // Renames file, returns true if successful
my_console.writeln("+ File renamed"); // If file renamed succeeded
} else {
my_console.writeln("- File renamed FAILED"); // Else new file renamed failed
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- File renamed FAILED");
}
// Write file
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
std::string data = "Your mother was a hamster!";
if(write_file(u"", "NEWER_FILE.TXT", data)) { // Success is anything but 0
my_console.writeln("+ Write File"); // Write data to my_console
} else {
my_console.writeln("- Write file FAILED");
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- Write file FAILED");
}
// Read file
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
std::string data = ""; // Create output string
data = read_file(u"", "NEWER_FILE.TXT"); // read_file()
if(data != "0") { // Success is anything but 0
my_console.writeln("+ Read file: " + data); // Write data to my_console
} else {
my_console.writeln("- Read file FAILED");
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- Read file FAILED");
}
// Delete file or directory
if(check_sd_card()) { // Check to see if SD Card is mounted
if(delete_dir_or_file(u"", "NEWER_FILE.TXT")) { // New dir in root of SD Card
my_console.writeln("+ New file deleted");
} else {
my_console.writeln("- New file deleted FAILED");
}
} else { // Else, check_sd_card() returned false
my_console.writeln("- New file deleted FAILED");
}
// Done
my_console.writeln("+ Demo Complete");
}
}
This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
How to collaborate
How to ask questions correctly
User manual
- First steps
- Usage cautions
- Intended use and Legality
- Features
- PortaPack Versions (which one to buy)
- HackRF Versions
- Firmware update procedure
- Description of the hardware
- User interface
- Powering the PortaPack
- Troubleshooting
- Won't boot
- Config Menu
- Firmware upgrade
- Diagnose firmware update in Windows
- Receive Quality Issues
- No TX/RX
- TX Carrier Only
- H2+ speaker modifications
- Dead Coin Cell Battery
- Factory Defaults
- SD card not recognized by PC with the SD-card over USB selected
- DFU overlay
- Full reset
- SolveBoard
- How to Format SDCard
- Applications
Developer Manual
- Compilation of the firmware
- Compile on WSL with ninja
- How to compile on Windows faster with WSL 2
- Using Docker and Kitematic
- Docker command-line reference
- Using Buddyworks and other CI platforms
- Notes for Buddy.Works (and other CI platforms)
- Using ARM on Debian host
- All in one script for ARM on Debian host
- Compile on Arch based distro (exclude Asahi)
- Dev build versions
- Notes About ccache
- Create a custom map
- Code formatting
- PR process
- Description of the Structure
- Software Dev Guides
- Tools
- Research
- UI Screenshots
- Maintaining
- Creating a prod/stable release (Maintainers only)
- Maintaining rules
- Development States Notes
Hardware Hacks
Note
The wiki is incomplete. Please add content and collaborate.
Important
- This is a public wiki. Everything is visible to everyone. Don't use it for personal notes.
- Avoid linking to external tutorials/articles; they may become outdated or contain false information.