How to override the interface methods in the generated database table class? - android

I am using GreenDao in my Android project and i have generated my database schema successfully but I am stuck on one issue. My generated class needs to implement an interface that is not related to db. In the generator I have used the following method:
myEntity.implementsInterface("com.my.app.myinterface");
and then after generation the class has an implementation annotation of this interface in its header but there are no Override methods in the code of course. I tried putting a package with my interface in the generator project but still, methods are never there automatically. Shall I insert them manually within the
// KEEP METHODS - put your custom methods here
...
// KEEP METHODS END
section?

According GreenDAO documentation, you don't need to write any method because the classes are overriden on each run (that means each change you do will be erased), if you need an own behaviour you can use Keep Sections :
Keep sections
Entity classes are overwritten on each generator run. To allow adding custom code to your enities, greenDAO has “keep” sections. To enable them, use enableKeepSectionsByDefault() on the schema, or setHasKeepSections(true) on selected entities. Once enabled, three keep sections are generated in the entities:
// KEEP INCLUDES - put your custom includes here
// KEEP INCLUDES END
...
// KEEP FIELDS - put your custom fields here
// KEEP FIELDS END
...
// KEEP METHODS - put your custom methods here
// KEEP METHODS END
Now, you can put your custom code between KEEP […] and KEEP […] END. And don’t touch the KEEP comments. Code inside the keep section is kept during code generation. It’s a good idea to backup or commit your code in case something goes wrong unexpectedly.
Also take a look to this related question.

Related

Where to put helper methods?

I have a method that darkens a given hex color and percent. Currently, the only place I use this method is within one of my Activity classes (I may or may not end up using it in other classes later on).
public static int darkenColor(int color, int percent) { ... }
However, where should I put this method? Should I create a new class called Helpers that contains all of these methods that I may use only once throughout the entire app?
This is just a matter of choice. You can have Set of utility classes and have these helper methods to be in those classes. But, This method is for not used in one of your activity, and If you do not see that it will get reused in the near future in some other point, Put it as a private method inside your Activity. I say this because you do not want to over complicate the code and also By this way another developer can easily follow the flow of execution.
But after sometimes if you feel, that this code is getting reused, put that into a logically meaningful Utility class. When the code base is huge, you do not have any choice to follow a solid standardization of there to put your code, That is why there are things like Layered architectures etc.

Activity is getting too large and becoming more and more difficult to work with. Solutions to solve this issue?

I am working on my second Android Application, first being, hello world. The application code is quite crazy looking because I love to test new libraries and ideas in it. I have been working on this application for well over 3 months and one of my activities is getting way to large and difficult to work with. I find myself getting lost in the code and it is taking longer to do simple things. There might be simple solutions to solving this issue. I really want to split my activity into two and reference each other if possible. Is there are any suggestions to simplifying and organizing code that would be greatly helpful. Even example will help me very much.
Part of my activity is adding a ton of data into a database and the other part is a long equation with multiple values. Another part is implementing the HoloGraphLibrary (Which I love). It is also implementing a listView with custom adapter. It also has a custom dialog............ I can go on and on. I hope you get my point.
EDIT
Going to work with this.
HoloGraphHelper holoGraph = new HoloGraphHelper();
holoGraph.initialize();
Try creating classes for each responsibility.
A Database Helper that has functions to insert data too:
DatabaseHelper database = new DatabaseHelper();
database .insertData(whatever);
A HoloGraphHelper that initializes the HoloGraph
HoloGraphHelper holoGraph = new HoloGraphHelper();
holoGraph.initialize();
And so on.
Break into multiple files. First classes defined in the Activity like the adapter. Change anonymous classes to classes defined in their own file. Look for ways to break out other related code into a class.
Right click on src folder of your Project and select new - class to create a new class. You can use a class for storing methods but you won't be able to display anything on screen.
To display contents to user, you can create a new Activity bu pressing Ctrl + N and selecting Android - Android Activity.
The best way is modularise your code.
I.e split your code into various related modules, for example a separate class for each part that your testing. So you could have a database entry class, a class for Gui testing, i.e. for your custom dialog. That class does all the work for that test, into various functions, I always try to keep functions as small as possible as they are easy to read.
As an example for your database entry, you could have a function which checks the database if the record already exists and then insert it. But a better way would be your insert function only performs the insert code and instead within this function it calls CheckIfDatAlreadyExists function which can return a bool so you know whether you should go ahead and insert the record. This would keep the code tidy and clean to manage.
Then from your main activity all would need to do is instantiate the relative class and call the relevant method.

greenDAO and data validation

I'm looking into using greenDAO for my Android app, but I noticed it doesn't seem to support any kind of data validation other than "not null", "unique", and foreign keys, either on the SQL level (constraints defined when creating tables) or the Java level (validation logic in setter methods). "Keep sections" don't seem like they would be helpful in this case because you can't have them within individual methods. Am I missing something, or would I really need to add yet another layer on top of the generated Java objects if I wanted to validate input data? (I'm somewhat confused how the framework could be useful without providing any place to include validation logic.)
1.
You can write a method
boolean check ();
in KEEP-SECTION of the entity which you call manually before INSERT or UPDATE.
2.
Another possibility is to extend the sourcecode of greendao generator to support checks: In property.java you could add a method to Property.Builder
public Property.Builder check (String expr) {
property.checkConditon = expr;
}
Of course you would have to introduce the String checkCondition = ""; and use it for generating the dao in the dao-template.
Problem:
With new versions of greendao your changes would be lost (but then again new version may already contain such a feature)
3.
A third possibility is to copy the generated CREATE TABLE statement, modify it to fit your needs and call your modified statement instead of the original one or to drop the original table and call your statement.
Problem:
If your table changes you will have to repeat this.

How to make a small change to Android source code, and incorporate into your own project

I want to make a small change to the Android standard TimePicker class. Specifically, I'm trying to change it so it works in 15 minute increments, rather than 1 minute increments.
This post helped me constrain the range of minute values to {0, 15, 30, 45}, as required in my app. But as I pointed out in a follow up comment, the minute spinner still shows previous minute as current value - 1, and the next minute as current value + 1, which creates a sloppy-feeling user interface.
I looked into the relevant Android source code, and it appears that the changes I would need to make are pretty simple. But when I tried copying the source code into my project I got about a zillion errors relating to the package declaration, where to find Widget, how to resolve R.id variables, etc.
So my question is:
What's the best way to make a small change to a given class from Android source code, and incorporate it into your own project?
In my case, I just need to make a few small changes to TimePicker and NumberPicker, but I'm not sure how to properly set this up in my project.
Thanks for any suggestions.
But when I tried copying the source code into my project I got about a zillion errors relating to the package declaration
Your source file's directory needs to match the package name. And since you cannot overwrite android.widget.TimePicker, you will either need to move that class to a new package or give it a new name.
where to find Widget
That implies that you copied TimePicker into one of your packages. That is fine, but then you need to add in the appropriate import statements for classes that TimePicker referred to from its original package. Or, you need to keep your (renamed) TimePicker in android.widget, adding this package to your project. This is rudimentary Java.
how to resolve R.id variables
If TimePicker relies upon resources that are not part of the Android SDK, you will need to copy those resources from the AOSP into your project as well.
What's the best way to make a small change to a given class from Android source code, and incorporate it into your own project?
IMHO, that cannot be answered readily in the abstract. Generally speaking, you do the sorts of things that I listed above.
You are best off subclassing the relevant classes and overriding the methods you would like to change.
In Java, you can do the following in a subclass:
The inherited fields can be used directly, just like any other
fields.
You can declare a field in the subclass with the same name as
the one in the superclass, thus hiding it (not recommended).
You can
declare new fields in the subclass that are not in the superclass.
The inherited methods can be used directly as they are.
You can write a new instance method in the subclass that has the same signature as the one in the superclass, thus overriding it.
You can write a new static method in the subclass that has the same signature as the one in the superclass, thus hiding it.
You can declare new methods in the subclass that are not in the superclass.
You can write a subclass constructor that invokes the constructor of the superclass, either implicitly or by using the keyword super.
More info on subclassing in Java

Keep sections are being removed on generation

I am using GreenDAO v1.2.0 to generate entity classes for an Android app.
I have set enableKeepSectionsByDefault() on my schema, and am getting these comment lines in my generated classes:
// KEEP METHODS - put your custom methods here
// KEEP METHODS END
I have put some custom methods between the comments, but the custom methods are removed every time I regenerate.
Is there something else I need to do to get this to work?
There is a parsing bug in greenDAO that will cause some or all of your KEEP METHODS to get wiped out by running the DaoGenerator.generateAll() method (even with schema.enableKeepSectionsByDefault() enabled)
The bug is that your Entity class (the one you have added custom imports, fields or methods to) REQUIRES a blank line at the end of the file.
for example
...
//KEEP_METHODS_END
}
... end of file
will fail, while
...
//KEEP_METHODS_END
}
... end of file
will work. Nasty little bug. Until it's fixed (if ever), ensure that your entity classes have a blank line at the end.
Hope this saves someone the torment I have experienced.
Ensure that the last line of the generated entity class is blank.
You need to call the schema.enableKeepSectionsByDefault();.

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