From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

I'm traveling using someone else's laptop so please don't whine that you
know who I am 'cuz if you don't, you're a moron so don't claim you're a
genius for figuring out who I am (as that just proves you're an idiot).

I saw the message by "T" asking about plain text editors, where my need is
that I often copy text files over from Windows to accessible Android
folders on the sdcard0 and sdcard1 partitions, and then I want to edit them (and save them) using that Android text editor.

In the past, I've been able to edit them but not save them given some apps
will only save to their own private space, which isn't what I want as I
want the closest thing to a normal PC text editor as Android can give me.

For example, often unless you open the file through the Android Storage
Access Framework (the system file picker), edits may not be written back to
the original file but only to the editor's own private sandboxed space. And even then, may text editors onlyl have a single data file, where they make multiple text files "tabs" inside a single binary file. I don't want that.

I don't want single binary file with tabs nonsense.
Each text file stays a separate file and gets saved where it was found.

Looking up the requirements (it also has to be free, registration free and
ad free of course, and hopefully gsf free also), these may fit the bill.

Xed-Editor
<https://f-droid.org/packages/com.rk.xededitor/>
<https://github.com/Xed-Editor/Xed-Editor/releases>

Markor
<https://f-droid.org/packages/net.gsantner.markor/>
<https://github.com/gsantner/markor/releases>

Simple Text Editor (by Bill Farmer)
<https://f-droid.org/packages/org.billthefarmer.editor/
<https://github.com/billthefarmer/editor> (src only?)

Ted (Text Editor) (src only?)
<https://github.com/xgouchet/Ted>

QuickEdit (Community Edition)
<https://github.com/SomiSrbija/QuickEdit/releases>

Simple Mobile Tools Editor (community fork on F-Droid)
<https://f-droid.org/packages/com.simplemobiletools.editor/>

JotaTextEdit (src only?)
<https://github.com/jiro-aqua/JotaTextEditor>

Of these, given I want open-with integration from a file manager,
Xed-Editor is the most straightforward choice since it is open source,
ad-free, no registration, and works with Android's file pickers.

Anyone have experience with those given this situation:
a. A text file is already sitting somewhere on Android.
b. The Android file picker can find it & present a list of editors.
c. One of those editors is one of the above text editors.
d. That text editor edits that text file & saves it back where it was.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> ha scritto:

I'm traveling using someone else's laptop so please don't whine that you
know who I am 'cuz if you don't, you're a moron so don't claim you're a genius for figuring out who I am (as that just proves you're an idiot).

I saw the message by "T" asking about plain text editors, where my need is that I often copy text files over from Windows to accessible Android
folders on the sdcard0 and sdcard1 partitions, and then I want to edit them (and save them) using that Android text editor.

In the past, I've been able to edit them but not save them given some apps will only save to their own private space, which isn't what I want as I
want the closest thing to a normal PC text editor as Android can give me.

For example, often unless you open the file through the Android Storage Access Framework (the system file picker), edits may not be written back to the original file but only to the editor's own private sandboxed space. And even then, may text editors onlyl have a single data file, where they make multiple text files "tabs" inside a single binary file. I don't want that.

I don't want single binary file with tabs nonsense.
Each text file stays a separate file and gets saved where it was found.

Looking up the requirements (it also has to be free, registration free and
ad free of course, and hopefully gsf free also), these may fit the bill.

Xed-Editor
<https://f-droid.org/packages/com.rk.xededitor/>
<https://github.com/Xed-Editor/Xed-Editor/releases>

Markor
<https://f-droid.org/packages/net.gsantner.markor/>
<https://github.com/gsantner/markor/releases>

Simple Text Editor (by Bill Farmer)
<https://f-droid.org/packages/org.billthefarmer.editor/
<https://github.com/billthefarmer/editor> (src only?)

Ted (Text Editor) (src only?)
<https://github.com/xgouchet/Ted>

QuickEdit (Community Edition)
<https://github.com/SomiSrbija/QuickEdit/releases>

Simple Mobile Tools Editor (community fork on F-Droid)
<https://f-droid.org/packages/com.simplemobiletools.editor/>

JotaTextEdit (src only?)
<https://github.com/jiro-aqua/JotaTextEditor>

Of these, given I want open-with integration from a file manager,
Xed-Editor is the most straightforward choice since it is open source, ad-free, no registration, and works with Android's file pickers.

Anyone have experience with those given this situation:
a. A text file is already sitting somewhere on Android.
b. The Android file picker can find it & present a list of editors.
c. One of those editors is one of the above text editors.
d. That text editor edits that text file & saves it back where it was.

Why not using Muntashirakon's integrated code editor? Text files
(from third-party apps) can also be opened for editing and saved
them back where they were.
--
Qihe
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> wrote:

I'm traveling using someone else's laptop so please don't whine that you
know who I am 'cuz if you don't, you're a moron

Great way to engage with people...
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On Tue, 25 Nov 2025 04:38:32 +0100 (GMT+01:00), Qihe wrote:

a. A text file is already sitting somewhere on Android.
b. The Android file picker can find it & present a list of editors.
c. One of those editors is one of the above text editors.
d. That text editor edits that text file & saves it back where it was.

Why not using Muntashirakon's integrated code editor? Text files
(from third-party apps) can also be opened for editing and saved
them back where they were.

Thanks for that suggestion as I would never have known it exists!

That's what I love about this Usenet newsgroup, in that I wouldn't ever
have even thought of using Muntashirakon AP for text file editing.

I use Muntashirakon every day & I don't even know what you're saying!
But I have always maintained that it's one of the best apps on Android.

If someone has Android, and they do not have Muntashirakon AM, then that
means they don't do much on Android because it does so much for us.

But I never thought about using Muntashirakon as a general text editor.
<https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager/issues/1566>

Looking it up, Muntashirakon AP supports "Direct SAF support".
"The Storage Access Framework (SAF) is an Android system API
introduced in Android 4.4 (KitKat) that provides a standard,
secure way for apps to let users browse, open, and edit files
across different storage providers (local folders, cloud services,
USB drives, etc.) without needing direct file system access."

I'm using Muntashirakon version "4.0.4 (444)" Muntashirakon AM.
I see "3dots > Labs" and then...
Log viewer
System config
Terminal
Files <== you first have to tap this to "find" the text file
UI tracker
Interceptor
Code editor <== then you can choose the Muntashirakon Code editor
History

If you tap on the "Code editor" (which is just a text editor) directly,
you will be put in a GUI that assumes you've already opened a file.

So you have to tap on "Files" first to search your file system for a given
text file, and then you'll be presented with Android's Storage Access
Framework (SAF) picker which includes "Code editor, App Manager, EditorActivity".

It also includes Xed-editor which I tested before I saw this post about Muntashirakon, so right now I'm testing the following text editors:
Xed-editor <com.rk.xeditor>
Muntashirakon (Code editor) <io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager>
Simple Text Editor <com.maxistar.textpad>

I also need to invest some effort into figuring out which of the file
managers I have installed will also do the text editing that I need, where
I currently have installed MiXplorer, RoundSync, Zarchiver, Ghost
Commander, SimpleMobileTools Filemanager, MK explorer, Fx, Samsung Myfiles, Amaze & Amaze utilities, X-plore, OI File Manager, Material files, etc.

Since editing ad hoc text files in place & saving results outside of the sandbox of any given app is useful to everyone who owns Android, it's
probably worth the effort for the team to determine which do text edits.

MiXplorer, Ghost Commander, FX File Explorer, X-plore, Amaze, Material
Files, and OI File Manager all seem to edit ad hoc text files in place.

Of those, these have robust text editing in user-accessible storage.
1. MiXplorer - full text editor, edits files anywhere
2. Ghost Commander - built in editor, local and remote
3. FX File Explorer - text and hex editor, works across storage
4. X-plore File Manager - dual pane, text editing supported

These have basic text editing in user-accessible storage.
5. Amaze File Manager / Amaze Utilities - lightweight, simple text editor
6. Material Files - modern UI, includes text editor
7. OI File Manager - basic text editing, older but functional

These do not seem to have robust text editing.
8. ZArchiver - archive manager, no text editing
9. Samsung My Files - stock manager, viewing only
10. SimpleMobileTools File Manager - browsing only, no advanced editor
11. MK Explorer - limited, not robust for text editing
12. RoundSync - sync utility, not a text editor

Here's a more complete summary of the robust capabilities.
1. MiXplorer
- Most complete editor among Android file managers
- Handles large files, syntax highlighting, search/replace
- Works across internal, external, and cloud storage

2. Ghost Commander
- Dual-pane interface with a capable built-in editor
- Good for power users who want remote protocols (FTP, WebDAV, SMB)
- Reliable for editing plain text configs and scripts

3. FX File Explorer
- Includes text and hex editor
- Stable, polished interface
- Paid add-ons unlock cloud/network access, but local editing is solid

4. X-plore File Manager
- Dual-pane, very versatile
- Built-in text editor handles files anywhere
- Strong support for cloud and network storage

Here's a quick 'file explorer with a text editor' summary:
1. MiXplorer - full text editor
2. Ghost Commander - dual pane editor
3. FX File Explorer - text and hex editor
4. X-plore - versatile, edits anywhere
--
I'm different from the next million people in that I care always to give
back to the team, altruistically, more than I get from the team, as I'm a
100% team player (but I don't suffer non-team players all that well).
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:52:11 -0000 (UTC), Chris wrote:

Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> wrote:

I'm traveling using someone else's laptop so please don't whine that you
know who I am 'cuz if you don't, you're a moron

Great way to engage with people...

It was very clear to "intelligent" people, Chris, that I was staving off
the inevitable vermin who incessantly troll this newsgroup telling us what
a genius they are (e.g., the unprepossessing disgusting trolls such as
Frank Slootweg, s|b, Rudy Weister, Jeorg Lorenz, et al) by them gleefully infesting threads by exclaiming that they've "finally figured out" what was never hidden in decades, as to who I am when I post immense added value to
the ng.

Of those detestable well-known parasites, only Frank or Rudy "can" add
value, but both waste our precious energy by infesting these threads
WITHOUT adding any value. All these grotesque trolls do, is waste our time.

Like you just did, Chris.
--
If I haven't been clear, Chris... just ask me to clarify for you.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On Tue, 25 Nov 2025 19:13:30 -0000 (UTC), Marian wrote:

All these grotesque trolls do, is waste our time.

Like you just did, Chris.

To turn Chris' nauseating troll into on-topic added value, the goal of a
tested text editor that can easily access any text file stored anywhere in
the user partition is an extremely useful endeavor to nail down.

To that end, last night I installed & tested Xed-Editor for the team.

When you start Xed-Editor, you can open a specific directory, e.g., /sdcard1/myfiles and Xed-Editor will default to showing you the files in
that folder when you next open up Xed-Editor. That works well if most of
your files will be in that hierarchy.

Or, in Xed-Editor, you can open Internal Storage, which points to the root
of your user-accessible internal storage. These two options are essentially about setting the scope or starting point for browsing and editing

Once you find a text file to edit, it shows up in a tabbed list, but the
files are individual files which can be stored in any particular location.

Since I store all user files on /sd0/0000 and on /sd1/0001, I wanted to add BOTH directories to Xed-Editor, but apparently you only can set 1 default.

So the "navigation" is not what I'd like, but the good news is every text
file you open seems to show up as a new tab inside of the Xed-Editor for
easy access after you've once located it.

Assuming you usually only open a dozen (or so) text files, you'll
eventually have a dozen tabs, once for each text file you often edit.

Of course, you can also use a file manager that brings up the Android SAF
which allows you to set the default text editor for all text files tapped.

I'm still having some problems since some text files won't save, so I'm
working them out, but as a text editor Xed-Editor seems to be one to
consider. (I never fully understood why you can edit a file in Android but
not save it. If someone has that explanation, please let us all know.)
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Marian,

I'm traveling using someone else's laptop so please don't
whine that you know who I am

And you where unable to use your current nym/email on that laptop .... why ?

All I see is you nym-shifting again, and trying, rather transparantly I
might say, to gaslight us for noticing it.

[snip a few random text-editors]

Anyone have experience with those given this situation:
a. A text file is already sitting somewhere on Android.
b. The Android file picker can find it & present a list
of editors.
c. One of those editors is one of the above text editors.
d. That text editor edits that text file & saves it back
where it was.

And the reason you can't download (and compile) those text-editors yourself and see if they can is ... ?

Of these, given I want open-with integration from a file
manager, Xed-Editor is the most straightforward choice
since it is open source, ad-free, no registration,

-- Permissions --
android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE
android.permission.INTERNET
android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE
android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE com.rk.xededitor.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

A "straightforward" text-editor which needs internet access ? I don't
think so.

Also, it wants to play file-manager too (MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE) ? Say it aint so.

iow, your "most straightforward choice" seems to be based on some
advertising do-da, not on inspecting the product itself (duh! otherwise you would have known if it could load & save from "somewhere else")

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android


[sorry for top posting]

Being an old unix/linux user, I just dip into termux and use whichever
editor I need, text-mode emacs or vi, there are others more like notepad
etc

To be honest I'm not sure how termux gets access, but it seems to have
general access to the directory tree under /storage/emulated/0/

Editing on a phone is a pain anyway, and I only do it in extremis. When
I need to edit things to configure stuff, I ssh into the sshd daemon
running under termux from a "real" computer - you know with big screen
and a real keyboard.

On 2025-11-25, Marian <marian@dumbshits.com> wrote:

On Tue, 25 Nov 2025 04:38:32 +0100 (GMT+01:00), Qihe wrote:

a. A text file is already sitting somewhere on Android.
b. The Android file picker can find it & present a list of editors.
c. One of those editors is one of the above text editors.
d. That text editor edits that text file & saves it back where it was.

Why not using Muntashirakon's integrated code editor? Text files
(from third-party apps) can also be opened for editing and saved
them back where they were.

Thanks for that suggestion as I would never have known it exists!

That's what I love about this Usenet newsgroup, in that I wouldn't ever
have even thought of using Muntashirakon AP for text file editing.

I use Muntashirakon every day & I don't even know what you're saying!
But I have always maintained that it's one of the best apps on Android.

If someone has Android, and they do not have Muntashirakon AM, then that means they don't do much on Android because it does so much for us.

But I never thought about using Muntashirakon as a general text editor. <https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager/issues/1566>

Looking it up, Muntashirakon AP supports "Direct SAF support".
"The Storage Access Framework (SAF) is an Android system API
introduced in Android 4.4 (KitKat) that provides a standard,
secure way for apps to let users browse, open, and edit files
across different storage providers (local folders, cloud services,
USB drives, etc.) without needing direct file system access."

I'm using Muntashirakon version "4.0.4 (444)" Muntashirakon AM.
I see "3dots > Labs" and then...
Log viewer
System config
Terminal
Files <== you first have to tap this to "find" the text file
UI tracker
Interceptor
Code editor <== then you can choose the Muntashirakon Code editor
History

If you tap on the "Code editor" (which is just a text editor) directly,
you will be put in a GUI that assumes you've already opened a file.

So you have to tap on "Files" first to search your file system for a given text file, and then you'll be presented with Android's Storage Access Framework (SAF) picker which includes "Code editor, App Manager, EditorActivity".

It also includes Xed-editor which I tested before I saw this post about Muntashirakon, so right now I'm testing the following text editors:
Xed-editor <com.rk.xeditor>
Muntashirakon (Code editor) <io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager>
Simple Text Editor <com.maxistar.textpad>

I also need to invest some effort into figuring out which of the file managers I have installed will also do the text editing that I need, where
I currently have installed MiXplorer, RoundSync, Zarchiver, Ghost
Commander, SimpleMobileTools Filemanager, MK explorer, Fx, Samsung Myfiles, Amaze & Amaze utilities, X-plore, OI File Manager, Material files, etc.

Since editing ad hoc text files in place & saving results outside of the sandbox of any given app is useful to everyone who owns Android, it's probably worth the effort for the team to determine which do text edits.

MiXplorer, Ghost Commander, FX File Explorer, X-plore, Amaze, Material
Files, and OI File Manager all seem to edit ad hoc text files in place.

Of those, these have robust text editing in user-accessible storage.
1. MiXplorer - full text editor, edits files anywhere
2. Ghost Commander - built in editor, local and remote
3. FX File Explorer - text and hex editor, works across storage
4. X-plore File Manager - dual pane, text editing supported

These have basic text editing in user-accessible storage.
5. Amaze File Manager / Amaze Utilities - lightweight, simple text editor
6. Material Files - modern UI, includes text editor
7. OI File Manager - basic text editing, older but functional

These do not seem to have robust text editing.
8. ZArchiver - archive manager, no text editing
9. Samsung My Files - stock manager, viewing only
10. SimpleMobileTools File Manager - browsing only, no advanced editor
11. MK Explorer - limited, not robust for text editing
12. RoundSync - sync utility, not a text editor

Here's a more complete summary of the robust capabilities.
1. MiXplorer
- Most complete editor among Android file managers
- Handles large files, syntax highlighting, search/replace
- Works across internal, external, and cloud storage

2. Ghost Commander
- Dual-pane interface with a capable built-in editor
- Good for power users who want remote protocols (FTP, WebDAV, SMB)
- Reliable for editing plain text configs and scripts

3. FX File Explorer
- Includes text and hex editor
- Stable, polished interface
- Paid add-ons unlock cloud/network access, but local editing is solid

4. X-plore File Manager
- Dual-pane, very versatile
- Built-in text editor handles files anywhere
- Strong support for cloud and network storage

Here's a quick 'file explorer with a text editor' summary:
1. MiXplorer - full text editor
2. Ghost Commander - dual pane editor
3. FX File Explorer - text and hex editor
4. X-plore - versatile, edits anywhere

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Jim Jackson <jj@franjam.org.uk> wrote or quoted:

Editing on a phone is a pain anyway, and I only do it in extremis.

When I edit my learning cards, the flexibility of an on-screen
keyboard actually helps me. I often need phonetic symbols and
can place them on my keyboard, or quickly "swipe" to a greek
keyboard if I need a greek symbol.

Here's an example screenshot (12K):

https://www.purl.org/stefan_ram/jpg/Anki_02.png

| <- Add note V
| Front
| thermodynamic entropy according to Boltzmann O
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------
| Back
| S<sub>θ O
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------
| [ˈ] [ː] [ˑ] [ ̑] [ ̚] [ɑ] [ʌ] [ɔ] [ɘ] [ə] [ᴇ] [ɩ] [ɪ] [σ] [ɷ] [ʊ] [ɹ]
| [`] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [0] [-] [=] [<]
| [>] [;] [ϲ] [ε] [ρ] [τ] [υ] [θ] [ι] [ο] [π] ([) (]) [\] | [Ctrl] [α] [σ] [δ] [φ] [γ] [η] [ξ] [κ] [λ] ['] ['] [<--] | [ ^ ] [ζ] [χ] [ψ] [ω] [β] [ν] [μ] [,] [.] [/] [^] [^]
| [Esc] [O] [Alt] [ < ελληνικά > ] [Fn] [O] [<] [V] [>]

I'm just adding the "Back" side of the learning card . . .

The upper row can scroll and continues as:

. . . [ʃ] [ʒ] [ʤ] [ɿ] [ð] [ŋ] [Ɩ] [ˌ] [„] [ɛ] [ʧ] [ɡ] [◂] [ɐ] [ʦ]

. These are mostly phonetic symbols, but there also is a German
quotation mark. I found this keyboard in the internet where one
can place custom symbols into the top row.

The editor is part of Anki but saves learning cards, not text files.

Now, enter "ˈɑɹ kn ˌsɔ" on your desktop PC without cutting it from
my post!


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 26 Nov 2025 20:21:27 GMT, Stefan Ram wrote:

Jim Jackson <jj@franjam.org.uk> wrote or quoted:

Editing on a phone is a pain anyway, and I only do it in extremis.

When I edit my learning cards, the flexibility of an on-screen
keyboard actually helps me

I agree with Jim Jackson (on a phone being too small for my tired
octogenarian eyes) and with Stefan Ram on the characters sometimes being necessary.

It's kind of off topic, but I have solved both problems.
For the "size" problem, I simply mirror my keyboard onto a PC.

I use screen-copy (scrcpy.exe) FOSS freeware on Windows for that.
a. That uses the PC keyboard (combined with the Android keyboard)
b. It uses the PC monitor (combined with the Android screen)
c. And the PC speaker (it nullifies the Android speaker)
d. And (sometimes very important) a jointly combined clipboard

For the character setup, I use a variety of configurable keyboards.
a. Usually I use open source keyboards with an offline mic button
b. And tied to the mic I use offline speech-to-text engines

Mainly I use OpenBoard for the keyboard & mic (with voice typing by either Sayboard, Transcribo, Whisper, or, sometimes Google/Samsung voice).

Luckily, there are configurable keyboards (for character choices) and
offline configurable microphones for speech to text for fast typing.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2