this is a simple logic that the app gets data from open api and stores images in cache, showing an image in a screen a user selected. When a user decides to save it, I intended to save it in a document directory.
What’s drove me crazy was that the image from cached file path works perfectly in a screen, but when I tried to save it in document directory, it throws an error that the path doesn’t exist.

Why File(addMedicineViewModel .cachedFilePath.value) in image widget works, but not in
final vmfile = File(addMedicineViewModel.cachedFilePath.value); in save button?

Even when an image widget shows the file from the same path, why can’t I access to it from another method? Is it like it’s impossible to try multiple access to a cached file?

//screen

Obx(
                  () => Center(
                    child: InteractiveViewer(
                      minScale: 0.8,
                      clipBehavior: Clip.none,
                      child: Container(
decoration: BoxDecoration(
                                    color: Colors.grey, 
                                    borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(8.0),
                                    border: Border.all(
                                        color: Colors.white, width: 2),
                                    boxShadow: const [
                                      BoxShadow(
                                        color: Colors.black26,
                                        blurRadius: 4.0,
                                        offset: Offset(0, 2),
                                      ),
                                    ],
                                    image: DecorationImage(
                                      image: FileImage(File(addMedicineViewModel
                                          .cachedFilePath.value)),
                                      fit: BoxFit.cover,
                                    ),
                                  ),
                                  // child: Image.network(medicine.imgDownloadUrl),
                                )



// on save button in the same screen
GestureDetector(
                  onTap: () async {
                  final file = File(cachedFilePath!);
                    final vmfile =
                        File(addMedicineViewModel.cachedFilePath.value);
                    print(
                        'file exists ? in add medi screen : ${await file.exists()}');
                    print(
                        'vmfile exists ? in add medi screen : ${await vmfile.exists()}');


// in view model
Future<String> copyCacheToDocument() async {
final file = File(cachedFilePath.value);
    print('cached file  path in copyCachedToDocument: ${cachedFilePath.value}');
    print('file exists ? in copyCachedToDocument : ${await file.exists()}');


// print logs
I/flutter ( 1928): file exists ? in add medi screen : false
I/flutter ( 1928): vmfile exists ? in add medi screen : false
I/flutter ( 1928): file exists ? in saveMedicine : false
I/flutter ( 1928): cached file  path in copyCachedToDocument: /data/user/0/com.example.vital/cache/libCachedImageData/cb7e6020-4f36-11ef-ae08-c145a77f1e18.download. //this path is used in showing the image from screen
I/flutter ( 1928): file exists ? in copyCachedToDocument : false


this almost drove me crazy for a couple of days and i still don't know why.


I tried to pass the file from cached file path and to get File() instance but it didn't work. I expected to be able to access the cached file path wherever i needed like in view model or another widget in the same screen.