How to Avoid Adding Duplicate Files in Flutter File Picker

Описание: Learn how to implement file selection in Flutter while preventing duplicates from being added to your list. Enhance your Flutter app with easy file management!
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/71192851/ asked by the user 'Demon' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/15552025/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/71192929/ provided by the user 'Arbiter Chil' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/10782024/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Existing file in flutter when using file picker?

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Avoid Adding Duplicate Files in Flutter File Picker

When developing mobile applications using Flutter, managing files is a common task. One common feature that many apps require is the ability to select files using the file picker. However, there may be instances where you want to ensure that previously selected files do not get added again. In this article, we will explore how to check for existing files in your selection through the Flutter file picker, preventing duplicate entries in your ListView.

The Challenge

Imagine that you've implemented a file picker in your Flutter application. Users can select multiple files, and you want to show these files in a ListView. The problem arises when a user tries to select a file that has already been picked. Without proper checks, your application would add the same file multiple times, which leads to clutter and user confusion.

Example Scenario

In the code example provided, we have the following Flutter widget structure:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

With a simple button to invoke the file picker, the current state of files is stored in a list. We need to enhance this functionality to check for duplicates before adding new files to the list.

Solution Overview

To solve this issue, we can follow these steps:

Import Required Package: Use the path package, which helps us to handle file paths effectively.

Check for Duplicates: When a file is selected, compare the new files against the existing files to avoid duplicates.

Add Unique Files: Only add files that are not already present in the list.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Import the Path Package

First, ensure you have the path package imported at the top of your Dart file:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Modify the File Picker Function

Here’s the updated pickFiles method that checks for duplicates:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Alternative Method to Handle Duplicates

Alternatively, you can utilize a Set to ensure no duplicates are stored:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This method offers a cleaner approach by leveraging the properties of a Set, which inherently does not allow duplicates.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively manage file selections in your Flutter application while preventing the addition of duplicate files. This approach not only cleans up your ListView but also enhances user experience by making file management straightforward and intuitive.

Now you can implement these techniques in your Flutter app and enjoy a more organized file selection process. If you have any questions or further issues, feel free to reach out!