Copying files on network to ext SD card

[wrj54]

Okay I just picked up my Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and am really enjoying it. But here's my issue. I want to be able to routinely copy files (Word docx, PDF, etc) from my desktop which is on my home network to the ext MicroSD card. I use to be able to do this is my Nexus 7 using ES File Explorer (lollipop rooted version). The Samsung My Files app doesn't appear to be able to see a home network unless I'm missing something like ES can. I tried the scan on My Files and it didn't see my network.

So I thought I would forget My Files and just use ES File Explorer to copy files to the external SD card. No luck there. ES gets blocked (I think that may be a Android 4.4.2 issue but not sure).

Am I missing s setting which would allow My Files to see other shared computers on my network? Or other apps (like ES File Explorer) that would work?

 

[SpookDroid]

Nope, the My Files doesn't have a network drive feature. You could upload to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox from your PC and then transfer to your tablet.

ES File Explorer DOES have the network feature, but since KitKat blocks full SD Card access, it cannot copy anything to a folder it didn't create. So you could transfer the files to your tablet's internal memory, and then move it from there to the SD card using My Files (the only app that DOES have full SD Card access in your tablet). Your Nexus allowed this either because Lollipop changed this SD Card restriction or because it was rooted. You can root your Tab S and apply a hack to allow full SD card access to third party apps, allowing you to use ES like you did on the Nexus.

 

[wrj54]

Nope, the My Files doesn't have a network drive feature. You could upload to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox from your PC and then transfer to your tablet.

ES File Explorer DOES have the network feature, but since KitKat blocks full SD Card access, it cannot copy anything to a folder it didn't create. So you could transfer the files to your tablet's internal memory, and then move it from there to the SD card using My Files (the only app that DOES have full SD Card access in your tablet). Your Nexus allowed this either because Lollipop changed this SD Card restriction or because it was rooted. You can root your Tab S and apply a hack to allow full SD card access to third party apps, allowing you to use ES like you did on the Nexus.

Thank you. You mentioned Google Drive where I do have an account but I do not see how to access GD from My Files. I see Dropbox but not GD. Is there a setting for that?

 

[SpookDroid]

Nope, the only service that integrates with the My Files app is Dropbox (they have a deal with Samsung). If you want to go through Google Drive you'd have to download Google Drive to your device or add the account to a file explorer that supports it, like ES. But the fact remains that for anything that needs to be moved to the SD card, you'd have to go through My Files to make it work without restrictions.

 

[FF22]

Nope, the My Files doesn't have a network drive feature. You could upload to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox from your PC and then transfer to your tablet.

ES File Explorer DOES have the network feature, but since KitKat blocks full SD Card access, it cannot copy anything to a folder it didn't create. So you could transfer the files to your tablet's internal memory, and then move it from there to the SD card using My Files (the only app that DOES have full SD Card access in your tablet). Your Nexus allowed this either because Lollipop changed this SD Card restriction or because it was rooted. You can root your Tab S and apply a hack to allow full SD card access to third party apps, allowing you to use ES like you did on the Nexus.

I thought maybe since you mentioned it could not write to any Folder it did not create, that if I used ES Explorer to create a Folder on the External sd card, it might work - NOPE!!!! Darn!

 

[SpookDroid]

3rd party access is limited to folders AND files they created. It's weird, but copying/pasting doesn't 'count' as files it created, they're from someone else.