# nearby_connections
An **android** flutter plugin for the [Nearby Connections API](https://developers.google.com/nearby/connections/overview)
Currently supports Bytes and Files.
**Transfer Data between multiple connected devices using fully offline peer to peer networking**
[](https://pub.dartlang.org/packages/nearby_connections)
[](https://github.com/mannprerak2/nearby_connections)
[](https://github.com/mannprerak2/nearby_connections)
## Table of Content
* [Setup](#setup)
* [Work Flow](#work-flow)
* [Advertise For connections](#advertise-for-connection)
* [Discover Advertisers](#discover-advertisers)
* [Request Connection](#request-connection)
* [Accept Connection](#accept-connection)
* [Sending Data](#sending-data)
* [Sending Bytes Payload](#sending-bytes-payload)
* [Sending Files](#sending-file-payload)
## Setup
### Note regarding Location(GPS)
While using this,
**Location/GPS service must be turned on** or devices may disconnect
more often, some devices may disconnect immediately.
### Set Permissions
Add these to AndroidManifest.xml
```xml
```
Since ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION and READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE is considered to be dangerous system permissions, in addition to adding them to your manifest, you must request these permissions at runtime.
#### As a **convenience** this library provides methods to check and request location and external read/write permissions
```dart
// returns true/false asynchronously
bool a = await Nearby().checkLocationPermissions();
// asks for permission only if its not given
// returns true/false if the location permission is granted on/off resp.
bool b = Nearby().askLocationPermission();
// OPTIONAL: if you need to transfer files and rename it on device
bool b = Nearby().checkExternalStoragePermission();
// asks for READ + WRTIE EXTERNAL STORAGE permission only if its not given
Nearby().askExternalStoragePermission() ;
Nearby().askLocationAndExternalStoragePermission(); // for all permissions in one go..
```
## Work Flow
The work flow is similar to the [Android Nearby Connections library](https://developers.google.com/nearby/connections/overview)
## NOTE
**Location/GPS service must be turned on** or devices may disconnect
more often, some devices may disconnect immediately.
For convenience this library provides methods to check and enable location
```dart
bool b = await Nearby().checkLocationEnabled();
// opens dialogue to enable location service
// returns true/false if the location service is turned on/off resp.
bool b = await Nearby().enableLocationServices();
```
### Advertise for connection
```dart
try {
bool a = await Nearby().startAdvertising(
userName,
strategy,
onConnectionInitiated: (String id,ConnectionInfo info) {
// Called whenever a discoverer requests connection
},
onConnectionResult: (String id,Status status) {
// Called when connection is accepted/rejected
},
onDisconnected: (String id) {
// Callled whenever a discoverer disconnects from advertiser
},
serviceId: "com.yourdomain.appname", // uniquely identifies your app
);
} catch (exception) {
// platform exceptions like unable to start bluetooth or insufficient permissions
}
```
### Discover Advertisers
```dart
try {
bool a = await Nearby().startDiscovery(
userName,
strategy,
onEndpointFound: (String id,String userName, String serviceId) {
// called when an advertiser is found
},
onEndpointLost: (String id) {
//called when an advertiser is lost (only if we weren't connected to it )
},
serviceId: "com.yourdomain.appname", // uniquely identifies your app
);
} catch (e) {
// platform exceptions like unable to start bluetooth or insufficient permissions
}
```
### Stopping Advertising and Discovery
```dart
Nearby().stopAdvertising();
Nearby().stopDiscovery();
// endpoints already discovered will still be available to connect
// even after stopping discovery
// You should stop discovery once you have found the intended advertiser
// this will reduce chances for disconnection
```
### Request Connection
```dart
// to be called by discover whenever an endpoint is found
// callbacks are similar to those in startAdvertising method
try{
Nearby().requestConnection(
userName,
id,
onConnectionInitiated: (id, info) {
},
onConnectionResult: (id, status) {
},
onDisconnected: (id) {
},
);
}catch(exception){
// called if request was invalid
}
```
### Accept Connection
```dart
Nearby().acceptConnection(
id,
onPayLoadRecieved: (endpointId, payload) {
// called whenever a payload is recieved.
},
onPayloadTransferUpdate: (endpointId, payloadTransferUpdate) {
// gives status of a payload
// e.g success/failure/in_progress
// bytes transferred and total bytes etc
}
);
```
## Sending Data
### Sending Bytes Payload
```dart
Nearby().sendBytesPayload(endpointId, bytes_array);
// payloads are recieved by callback given to acceptConnection method.
```
### Sending File Payload
You need to send the File Payload and File Name seperately.
File is stored in DOWNLOAD_DIRECTORY and given a generic name
So you would need to rename the file on receivers end.
```dart
//creates file with generic name (without extension) in Downloads Directory
//its your responsibility to rename the file properly
Nearby().sendFilePayload(endpointId, filePath);
//Send filename as well so that receiver can rename the file
Nearby().sendBytesPayload(endpointId,fileNameEncodedWithPayloadId);
//e.g send a string like "payloadId:FileExtensionOrFullName" as bytes
//payloads are recieved by callback given to acceptConnection method.
```
Every payload has an **ID** which is same for sender and receiver.
You can get the absolute FilePath from Payload in *onPayloadReceived* function
Checkout the [**Example**](https://github.com/mannprerak2/nearby_connections/tree/master/example) in Repository for more details