# Opening up the Gramps flatpak sandbox's access to more directories **URL:** \ **Category:** Development\ **Tags:** flatpak\ **Created:** [March 9, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081 "2024-03-09T14:16:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![S.Mackay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@S.Mackay](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/S.Mackay)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/1 "2024-03-09T14:16:29Z")
The first Gramps 5.2 flatpak on user feedback restricted access from the entire home directory down to Documents, Downloads, and Pictures. This cut off access to some data directories. I am testing the addition of some more directories as shown below from the manifest ```python # for data directories and backwards compatibility - --filesystem=~/.gramps:create - --filesystem=xdg-data - --filesystem=xdg-config - --filesystem=xdg-cache ``` @Nick-Hall Are there any more directories that Gramps needs access to? ---
**Author:** ![Nick-Hall](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/nick-hall/32/95_2.png) [@Nick-Hall](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/Nick-Hall)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/2 "2024-03-09T15:51:15Z")
Gramps needs write permission to the directories in your list. The default backup directory is the home directory, but this can be changed in the preferences. Maybe we should choose a better default path? The media directory defaults to the special Pictures folder. Gramps only needs read access to this. I can’t think of anything else at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/3 "2024-03-09T16:47:29Z")
Can the default `Backup` folder be a subfolder in the [`GRAMPSHOME`](https://www.gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_5.2_Wiki_Manual_-_Command_Line#GRAMPSHOME) Directory? Then the GRAMPSHOME can be an application-set shortcut in the [Gramps Gtk File Chooser](https://www.gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_5.1_Wiki_Manual_-_Settings#File_Chooser). Further, perhaps installing could put the `share\doc\gramps\example\` folder inside $GRAMPSHOME\backup\example instead of burying it in the Source. That would allow advanced users a clear way to prune out some excess baggage. Plus it would move those files to somewhere that doesn’t require admin right to update. Which Gramps would have a consistent interface to the Backup folder and User Directory, regardless of OS. Or perhaps the XDG Base Directory support is applicable to that goal? ---
**Author:** ![S.Mackay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@S.Mackay](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/S.Mackay)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/4 "2024-03-09T18:10:05Z")
The default filesystem access for flatpaks (when given) is read/write. Options can be restricted to read only or expanded to creating new directories. Doesn’t the Edit Exif addon require write access to Pictures in order to modify metadata in case a user has their Gramps media directory in Pictures? My personal preference has always been to put backups into Documents so I can find them easily but without cluttering up my home directory. That is something I usually change right away in [Gramps preferences](https://www.gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_Glossary#preferences). ---
**Author:** ![S.Mackay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@S.Mackay](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/S.Mackay)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/5 "2024-03-09T19:32:58Z")
Unfortunately, t looks like xdg-data, xdg-config, and xdg-cache access are banned for Flathub. They cause the flathub compiler to fail the manifest, and link to here in the error message [Flatpak builder lint | Flathub Documentation](https://docs.flathub.org/docs/for-app-authors/linter/#finish-args-arbitrary-xdg-dir-access) Specifically naming the directories like filesystem=~/.config/gramps causes flatpak builder to fail with the below error error: Unknown filesystem location ~/.config/gramps, valid locations are: host, host-os, host-etc, home, xdg-\*[/…], ~/dir, /dir Edit: nevermind the rest, I found a workaround > So it will only take adding ~/.gramps which I believe should be ok for now, since Gramps 5.1.6 used ~/.gramps anyway as I understand it. The problem in the future will be from a user switching from a system installed Gramps 5.2 over to a flatpak since Flathub won’t allow access to the xdg data directories for security reasons. In that case, restoring a backup or right-clicking the (filename).gramps file will open the database. ---
**Author:** ![S.Mackay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@S.Mackay](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/S.Mackay)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/6 "2024-03-09T20:42:56Z")
The Gramps 5.2.0-1 flatpak should be available on flathub soon. It allows access to default data directories like ~/.gramps ~/.config ~/.local/share ~/.cache so that users can once again get to their 5.1.6 databases and potentially go between Gramps system installs and the Gramps 5.2.0-1 flatpak without difficulty. ---
**Author:** ![S.Mackay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@S.Mackay](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/S.Mackay)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/7 "2024-03-10T01:10:59Z")
Flathub is being difficult. They don’t even want to allow ~/.gramps access, so the Gramps flatpak might have to go back to full home directory access. > > > A change in \[build 88678\](https://buildbot.flathub.org/#/builders/6/builds/10587…1) has been reviewed by the Flathub team, and rejected for the following reason: > > \> These shouldn't be \`filesystem\`. If the problem is that they don't persist then use the \`persist\` option. Ideally this should be fixed upstream to conform the the xdg directories specification. > \## Changes > | Field | Old value | New value | > | --- | --- | --- | > | filesystems | \['xdg-documents', 'xdg-download', 'xdg-pictures'\] | \['xdg-documents', 'xdg-download', 'xdg-pictures', '~/.cache:create', '~/.config:create', '~/.gramps:create', '~/.local/share:create'\] | ---
**Author:** ![S.Mackay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@S.Mackay](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/S.Mackay)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/8 "2024-03-12T02:13:14Z")
Gramps 5.2.0-1 flatpak has gone back to full home directory access for the sake of users’ data, and also for continuity between system installs, prior Gramps flatpaks, and the 5.2 flatpak. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/1X/2ac1e712b7adf612e31ca08a55419f4cf37c0158.png) [@system](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/opening-up-the-gramps-flatpak-sandboxs-access-to-more-directories/5081/9 "2024-04-11T02:13:48Z")
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