Android MMEX v2023.12.01.1002 release

[luisdev]

v18 for desktop mmex v1.6.x with schema v18 while the other is for the latest destkop mmex v1.7.0/schema v19.

Thanks. So, if I am running the latest versions on MMX Windows:

• Version: 1.7.0-Beta.1 64-bit
• Built on: Dec 1 2023 08:36:46
• Database version: 19 (aes128cbc)

And MMX Android:
• Version 2023.12.01 (1002)

Should I be using ammx-2023.12.01-release.apk?

[guanlisheng]

exactly.
And thank you for trying both desktop v1.7 and android v2023.12.01

[Bingbong26]

Hello so I'm trying to use this and I have a couple of questions:

1) I saw an earlier comment that said upon opening the android app you have to select synchronize to pull the latest file from your cloud server. What happens if this is forgotten and I begin making edits, then synchronize? Will that create a conflict? If this is all true then it seems like a major problem and something that should automated (sync upon opening app and/or switching back to the app)

2) I also saw several posts stating that access owncloud/nextcloud, you click open database, then "other", then "navigate to the one drive". When I select open, on Android mmex, it just opens to my file explorer. There is nothing that says other. I could from my file explorer, navigate to nextcloud (see picture attached) and my database, and I've done this and it brings me back to the main select a database screen with no changes and no error message.

Would appreciate some guidance or answers to the above two questions points of discussion. Thank you!

Android 13
Pixel 4a
Calyxos 4.15.0
Microg disabled
Apk installed via github "ammx-2023.12.01-release.apk"

[Renato]

Perhaps this will answer your questions: viewtopic.php?p=24420#p24420

[Bingbong26]

Yes that confirms everything that I said regarding having to synchronize it whenever you open it and before you close it. Which is a showstopper for me as that is just begging for conflicts or lost data. Its.amatter of when not if.

It's instructions for how to open it are the same that I described and was unable to figure out. Mainly selection "other". My screenshot shows there is no "other" to choose.

This latest release says it supports nextcloud but I don't see how that's the case. I appreciate the efforts nonetheless. If this would have fit what I was looking for, I would have surely donated as I've been waiting for an open source budget tool that can host the database on a self hosted solution like nextcloud, that both my spouse and I can access and modify.

[guanlisheng]

May I have your owncloud/nextcloud app version in your android phone? Just wanted to understand whether they support android’s SAF

[Bingbong26]

Nextcloud 3.26.0 from fdroid.

[Renato]

https://help.nextcloud.com/t/nextcloud- ... ict/170342
https://github.com/nextcloud/android/issues/11974

[Bingbong26]

So I just realized that I CAN open it now. I don't know why it was failing before but it works now.

But is it still true that whenever you reopen the app you have to:

Reopen the database even if it's already open
Manually Synchronize before editing
Manually synchronizing when done editing

?

[guanlisheng]

in terms of synchronization, your description is true.
As the app is mainly working on local copy to avoid conflicts, we are leveraging cloud storage for basic data synchronization across different devices and platforms. it just works but not perfect due to cloud storage limation.

viewtopic.php?p=24427#p24427

[Bingbong26]

I see. Unfortunately I'll have to not use this app for now. Between my wife and I sharing the same database in nextcloud, it's bound to result in a conflict when one of use forgets to synchronize after adding a transaction. It's just too risky.

Thank you and I'll keep my eye on the project for future updates should this be improved.

[guanlisheng]

that's ok.

just a reminder that multi-modifiers to database files in cloud storage (e.g. NextCloud) might result in data loss (implicitly) and/or conflicts (explicitly) as these vendors sync underlying data via its binary-diff.

The typical and classic way is to set up a C/S architecture, saying running a real database service on somewhere.

[KenK]

I will try to obfuscate details in my database

I have now done this, sort of. I have tried it with the 2023-12-01 build of the app, and it is still crashing as before, when trying to add or view a tx. I tried both v18 and v19 versions. ("Check db schema" for v19 says there's a table missing: SETTINGS_V1_USAGE_V1.)

Having read the descriptions of the synchronisation processes needed, there's too much scope for me to mess it up, and I won't be using the Android port. So, I will leave this thread now.

[guanlisheng]

Thanks for following up, both SETTINGS_V1 and USAGE_V1 are not used in Android mmex.

In terms of synchronization, understand both your and @Bingbong26 's thought.
there is still some room to improve the UX, e.g.auto-sync periodically. we'll see

[user0000]

Maybe auto-sync on app open and close?

On the old 2019 version I was syncing the db directly which eliminated this.

Where is the cached db stored in the 2023 version?

[guanlisheng]

you can see both local and remote database paths via the main menu -> Settings -> Database

[Bingbong26]

I didn't mean for my post to sound ungrateful. I truly appreciate what you guys are doing. I'm just excited to see activity on a cool project like this. I'll keep watching and perhaps throw a donation at it to keep it moving. Thank you all for your efforts, I don't take for granted your volunteer time on this project that we enjoy for free.

[guanlisheng]

never mind. @Bingbong26

The main gap is the different expectation.
The flawless synchronization among different platforms and devices might need a centralized database service. it’s a typical option of commercial products and the end user might lost some control on data.
Just a trade-off. Please ping us once you find some product has good synchronization in cloud storage. Then we can have a reference.

[mmguy]

Don't know about a product but I know about an alternative to cloud synchronization services. I use something which is not a classic cloud option, it is Syncthing. Used to sync files and also mmex db between devices. Works great and it's open source.

Note for moderator: no idea why my previous post was disapproved as I was just suggesting checking out Syncthing. Moreover that service has already been discussed positively on this forum so really I don't understand the disapproval. Nevermind I will try one last time.

[Renato]

Note for moderator: no idea why my previous post was disapproved as I was just suggesting checking out Syncthing. Moreover that service has already been discussed positively on this forum so really I don't understand the disapproval. Nevermind I will try one last time.

Sorry, that wasn't me, another moderator deleted the post because he took it as product advertising (did it have a link ??)
From my point of view, you had received an appropriate response.

By the way: Every day I have to delete various users, including product advertisements, who place their advertisements despite being notified when they register. We eliminate the (professional) spammers who try to place such advertising via script with the non-standard registration procedure.
Every new user e-mail address is checked by me on the Stop Forum Spam homepage to see if there is already a spam entry.
But unlike in the past, we now have a spam-free forum.

[Bingbong26]

I've had got it miss luck with sync thing. 5 years ago it completely deleted my data somehow. I had the rules setup correctly. Ever since then, since I couldn't identify what I had done wrong, I lost trust in it.

But perhaps I'll give that a whirl. Still doesn't solve the manual sync requirement to save the database file. Unless the sync is just to push it to the cloud option. I thought even the local copy was only updated when you select sync in the app.

[guanlisheng]

I just updated Syncthing to the vote thread (it seems it reset the historical data...)

Unless the sync is just to push it to the cloud option.

this is exactly today's sync behavior. if we compare it with git, sort of `git push --force`

btw, I will take a look at the android mmex to work on the remote database directly, then each change will be reflected in cloud storage immediately.
as
1. the SQLite3 database file is small, (e.g. less than 2MB)
2. the modification frequency should be pretty low (e.g. less than 10 times per day),
3. especially when there are only a couple of devices and platforms that share the same database file.

I think it would work most of the time as physical conflicts would be rare.

[guanlisheng]

all

just rolled another beta release https://github.com/moneymanagerex/andro ... 12.06.1003
enabling auto-sync of the last opened database on app open if there is no conflict.
to mitigate current issue by an extra app open
@Bingbong26 , @user0000 , and @KenK , appreciated if you can have a try.

[luisdev]

Thank you!

I'm not sure what to test with regards to this change:
"enabling auto-sync of the last opened database on app open if there is no conflict"

What auto-sync are you referring to? Is it to sync the MMX Android database to a cloud provider (like DropBox, OneDrive, etc.)?

[guanlisheng]

Is it to sync the MMX Android database to a cloud provider (like DropBox, OneDrive, etc.)?

yup. just like click `menu->synchronize` on app start.