File exchange
File-Exchange on MacOS has limited the access towards files for services. This means for MacOS packages the File-Exchange does not have access to the following folders and it's subfolders:
Documents
Downloads
Pictures
Movies
Music
Folders such as the following still have access:
Applications
User's Home folder (self created folders) with exclusion of the first list
The reason of this restriction from Apple can be found in there release notes here under the section Launch Daemons and Agents
Sample code uses ES6 language features such as arrow functions and promises. For compatibility with IE11, code written with these features must be either transpiled using tools like Babel or refactored accordingly using callbacks.
Introduction
The File Exchange container allows Trust1Connector to upload or download files from the filesystem to the requesting party.
The File Exchange container provides the following functionalities:
selecting a folder based on application type
listing files in selected application type
downloading one or more files into selected application type
uploading one or more files from the selected application type
An application type resolves locally to an absolute file system path.
An application can create additional folders for a given application type, those folders are relative to the absolute path which has been locally mapped on the application type.
The File Exchange container provides additionally:
optional user notification for file transfer completion
copy and move files between application types
Configuration file
The configuration file can be found in
Notifications
The File Exchange container allows the application to choose whether to notify the users in the application context, or to delegate notification to the T1C. The T1C uses the underlying operating system to notify users
Context and scope
The context of a type mapping is defined by the following concepts:
applicationid (property of Type class): a string value denoting the application identifier. This is the root context for entity mapping. The application id is dervied from the Origin domain.
entity: a string value denoting the root entity for types mapping
type: a string value denoting a file typing, related to the absolute path mapped by an user, this value abstracts absolute paths from an application perspective
The following image depicts the file exchange object model:

Type Mapping
A 'Type' in the context of the File Exchange container, is a label, used by an application, to abstract the absolute path reference of the local file system. A 'Type' allows the application to perform file transfers, without the notion of the local file system organization. The File Exchange container maps the absolute path, chose by a user, on the application scoped label. We call this action a 'type mapping', this is, an absolute path, in the context of an application, is references by a label.
Type subfolders
Subfolders can be managed by the application. All subfolder are relative paths and when requested can be created, optionally recursively, by the File Exchange API. It's important to understand:
Type mapping : correlates to absolute paths on a local file system
Type subfolders: correlates to relative paths on a local file system
The File Exchange container maintains the mapping for absolute paths. Relative paths will be created when used in the specified use case. Neither absolute paths or relative paths will result in deletion on the local file system! When deleting a 'type' (aka absolute path), the type will be removed from the File Exchange container, but the references directory will still exist on the user's file system.
In the File Exchange API, the parameter relpath refers to an array of strings denoting a directory path.
Responses
The File Exchange API can be integrated using Promises or callbacks. Both are returning the same result.
Interface
Objects
Enums
The following enumerators have been exported by the File Exchange container:
Enum
Values
Description
FileSort
ASC, DESC
Used for sorting files. ASC = ascending, DESC = descending
TypeStatus
MAPPED, UNMAPPED
Use to inform the application if a Type has been mapped to an absolute path by the user.
Classes
Function Descriptions
The following functions are available in the T1C-JS library:
JavaScript API
Function
Input
Output
Description
download
entity, type, file, filename, relpath, implicitCreationType, notifyOnCompletion
success value
Creates a file named filename at the type location, optionally in relative folder denoted by relpath, with file contents file. Optionally notifies user upon completion.
upload
entity, type, filename, relpath, notifyOnCompletion
array buffer
Uploads a file named filename, from the type location, optionally in relative folder denoted with relpath. Optionally notifies user upon completion.
listTypes
entity, page
list of type objects
Returns a list of existing types. The type object contains information about the mapping of absolute paths. Paging can be used optionally by using the page parameter.
listType
entity, type
type object
Returns the targeted type object.
listTypeContent
entity, type, relpath, page
list of file objects
Returns a list of file objects for the targeted type. A file can be a directory or a binary file. The relpath refers to the directory path where files should be searched for.
listContent
entity, page
list of file objects
Returns a list of file objects for all known types. The list will contain all files that are present in defined types.
existsType
entity, type
boolean
Verifies if type exists. Be aware that a type can exist, but no mapping has been persisted by the user.
existsFile
entity, type, relpath
boolean
Verifies if a file exists on the local file system.
getAccessMode
entity, type, relpath, filename
access mode
Returns the access mode for a file or directory. The param relpath can be used to target a nested file or directory.
createDir
entity, type, relpath, recursive
file object
Returns the created file object (which in this use case is always a directory). When recursive is set to true, the all subfolders will be created.
copyFile
entity, fromType, toType, filename, newfilename, fromrelpath, torelpath
file object
Copy a file or directory on the local file system.
moveFile
entity, fromType, toType, filename, fromrelpath, torelpath
file object
Move a file or directory on the local file system.
renameFile
entity, type, filename, newfilename, relpath
file object
Rename a file or directory
getFileInfo
entity, type, filename, relpath
file object
Returns the targeted file information
createType
entity, type, timeoutInSeconds, initabspath
type object
Creates a new type mapping, with optional initial path (migration support). When the path is not found on the local system, the user will be prompted with a file chooser.
createTypeDirs
entity, type, relpath, showModal, timeoutInSeconds
type object
Creates new subfolders for a type mapping. If the type mapping is not existing, the user will be prompted with a file chooser.
updateType
entity, type, timeoutInSeconds
type object
Prompt the user to force renewal of type mapping. The user will be presented with file chooser, even when the mapping exists already.
deleteType
entity, type
boolean
Removes the type mapping, but does not delete
directories or files from the local system.
Detailed Function Overview
Paging (Page interface)
The File Exchange container uses paging for the endpoints:
listTypes
listContent
The page-parameter can be optionally provided and contains the following properties:
start: start index
size: number of items on a page
sort: ordering of file and directory names ascending or descending
When used, the resulting response returns an 'total' property with the total item count for the requested resource.
download
Creates a file named filename at the type location in the context of entity, optionally in relative folder denoted by relpath, with file content file. Optionally notifies user upon completion.. When notifications are disabled, the application is assumed to handle user notifications.
The optional relpath provided, will be created when not existing, this in a recursive manner.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted
type: location for the newly created file
file: Blob containing binary data to be put in the file
filename: name to be given to the file
relpath: optional relative path (array of strings), when provided will implicitly create the missing directories.
implicitCreationType: In case the type mapping doesn’t exist, a prompt will be shown to the user for creating the Type before performing the download.
notifyOnCompletion: show modal info form operating system to user upon completion
Output
Use Cases
The use cases are the followings with the concerned parameters :
Use Case 1
download with existing Type (whatever the value true or false of the flag ‘implicitCreationType’)
The user launches the download process with a relpath.
The application uses the T1C function download with as parameter a relpath.
The file is downloaded to the directory of the path + relpath (recursive creation).
Use Case 2 – download with non existing Type and parameter ‘implicitCreationType’ = false
The user launches the download process.
The application uses the T1C function download with as parameter a relpath.
The exception 356 is raised due the fact the Type doesn’t exist.
End
Use Case 3 – download with non existing Type and parameter ‘implicitCreationType’ = true
The user launches the download process.
The application uses the T1C function download with as parameter a relpath.
The user will see the prompt for the Type creation with a default path.
The user selects the directory and cancels or validates the creation:
Cancellation of the creation.
Validation of the creation.
The Type is created.
The file is downloaded to the directory of the path + relpath (recursive creation).
upload
Uploads a file named filename, from the type location, optionally in relative folder denoted with relpath. Optionally notifies the user upon completion.. When the notifications are disabled, the application is assumed to handle user notifications.
The optional relpath provided, will be created when not existing, this in a recursive manner.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted
type: location for the file to upload
filename: name of the file to be uploaded
relpath: optional relative path (array of strings)
notifyOnCompletion: show modal info form operating system to user upon completion
Output
Returns a Blob object
listTypes
Retrieve a list of current persisted mappings given an optional entity.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted. Optional.
page: apply a paging to the result. Optional.
Output
listType
Retrieve a list of current mappings given an entity type context.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
Output
listTypeContent
List all the content for a mapping.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
relpath: specify a relative path to retrieve the files
page: apply a paging to the result. Optional.
Output
listContent
List all the content for a mapping given an entity context..
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
page: apply a paging to the result. Optional.
Output
existsType
Verify if a context mapping exists.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
Output
existsFile
Verify if a file exists in a context mapping.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
relpath: a relative path based on the context root folder
Output
getAccessMode
Get the access mode of a folder or file in a context mapping.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
filename: an optional filename, if not specified the folder access mode will be returned
relpath: an optional relative path based on the context root folder
Output
createDir
Create a directory in a context mapping.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
relpath: a relative path based on the context root folder
recursive: indicate whether the directory should be created recursively. If not and the parent directories do not exist, an error will be thrown.
Output
copyFile
Copy a file from one context mapping to another.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
fromType: the originating entity type mapping context
toType: the destination entity type mapping context
filename: the name the of the to copy
newfilename: the new destination file name
fromrelpath: an optional originating relative path based on the context root folder
torelpath: an optional destination relative path based on the context root folder
Output
moveFile
Move a file from one context mapping to another.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
fromType: the originating entity type mapping context
toType: the destination entity type mapping context
filename: the name the of the to copy
fromrelpath: an optional originating relative path based on the context root folder
torelpath: an optional destination relative path based on the context root folder
Output
renameFile
Rename a file in a context mapping.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
fromType: the originating entity type mapping context
toType: the destination entity type mapping context
filename: the name the of the to copy
relpath: an optional relative path based on the context root folder
Output
getFileInfo
Get file information of a file in a context mapping.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the originating entity type mapping context
filename: the name the of the to copy
relpath: an optional relative path based on the context root folder
Output
createType
The initPath parameter denotes an initial path proposal from the application. Example values:
Windows
macOS
Linux
The optional parameter modal is by default set to true.
When createType is called upon an existing type mapping, the file-chooser shown to the user is defaults to the existing absolute path provided for the type.
The showModal flag is used to propose (or not) the prompt to the end user even if the initPath exists or not. This parameter forces the prompt of the file chooser:
when the
initPathis provided andshowModalis set to true: theinitPathis pre-selected in the file-chooser shown to the user if existing, or the file-chooser is shown with a default path.when the
initPathis provided andmodalis set to false: theinitabspathis used when mapping exists, otherwise the file-chooser is shown to the user in order to select a valid absolute path.when the
initPathis not provided andmodalis set to true: the file-chooser is shown when the mapping doesn't exist.when the
initPathis not provided andmodalis set to false: a type exception is thrown when the type mapping doesn't exist
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
modal: indicate if the folder dialog must be shown
timeout: optional timeout in seconds before the folder dialog is discarded)
initPath: the optional initial root context path for the new type
Output
Use Cases
The use cases are the followings with the concerned parameters:
Use Case 1
createType with an existing
initPathand parametershowModal= trueThe user will create a type mapping.
The application uses the T1C function createType with as parameter an existing
initabspathand themodalset to true.A prompt must appear with the value set to
initPath.The user selects (or not) a directory and cancels or validates the creation:
Cancellation of the creation.
The exception is raised due the fact it has been aborted.
Validation of the creation.
The Type is created.
End
Use Case 2
createType with an existing
initabspathand parametermodal= falseThe user will create a Type
The application uses the T1C function createType using as parameter an existing
initPathand themodalset to false.No prompt will be proposed to the end user but the Type is created.
End
Use Case 3
createType with a non existing
initPath(whatever the value true or false of the flagmodal)The user will create a Type.
The application uses the T1C function createType with as parameter a non existing
initPath.A prompt must appear with default value.
The user selects (or not) a directory and cancels or validates the creation:
Cancellation of the creation.
The exception is raised due the fact it has been aborted.
Validation of the creation.
The Type is created.
End
createTypeDirs
Create directories for a context mapping.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
relpath: a relative path based on the context root folder
modal: indicate if the folder dialog must be shown
timeout: optional timeout in seconds before the folder dialog is discarded)
Output
updateType
Update a context mapping. A folder dialog will be opened and a new root context path can be choosen.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
timeout: timeout in seconds before the folder dialog is discarded)
Output
deleteType
Delete a context mapping.
Interface
Parameters
entity: the entity context where the type mapping is persisted.
type: the entity type mapping context
Output
Error Responses
The error codes mentioned are added to the File Exchange container. The exception handling follows the framework exception handling and are extensions of status codes mentioned on:
Status codes / error handelingLast updated
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