Develop Reference

My service shutsdown when acticty exits and unbinds to it, would like it to keep running

I'm trying to creat a bacckground service that will have a thread that adds one to a counter every minute.
I want other apps to be able to call a methed call getBot that will retunt the value.
Right now I have a test app that has a activty that bindss to the app so it can talk to it to get the counter. When it exits it unbounds to it.
It has a button called botGert that gets the current counter value from the service.
When it unbounds to it, the service shuts down. How can I get it so it does not shut down????
service class
public class MessengerService extends Service {
/** Command to the service to display a message */
static final int MSG_SAY_HELLO = 1;
static final int MSG_BOT_GET = 2;
static final int MSG_BOT_SET = 3;
static final int MSG_BOT_STOP = 4;
static final int MSG_BOT_PAUSE = 5;
static final int MSG_GET_ORDERS = 6;
static final int MSG_GET_POINT = 7;
static final int MSG_BOT_GET_RES = 2;
static final int PRICE_STATIC =1;
static final int PRICE_PERCENTAGE =2;
static final int PRICE_ALL = 3;
static final int VOL_STATIC = 1;
static final int VOL_PERCENTAGE = 2;
static final int VOL_ALL = 3;
int counter;
boolean isStop=false; // put bot in pause ste on next 1 min update
boolean isUYpdateNextMinute=false;
/**
This is called by a client to exicute code in this service
*/
class IncomingHandler extends Handler {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
switch (msg.what) {
case MSG_BOT_GET:
Message resp = Message.obtain(null, MSG_BOT_GET_RES);
Bundle bResp = new Bundle();
bResp.putString("respData", Integer.toString(counter ));
resp.setData(bResp);
try {
msg.replyTo.send(resp);
} catch (Exception e)
{
}
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "hello!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
break;
default:
super.handleMessage(msg);
}
}
}
final Messenger mMessenger = new Messenger(new IncomingHandler());
/**
* When binding to the service, we return an interface to our messenger
* for sending messages to the service.
*/
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "binding", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
return mMessenger.getBinder();
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// emplanent callbacks
MessengerService parent;
#Override
public void onCreate() {
Toast.makeText(this, "Service Created", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
parent=this;
}
#Override
public void onStart(Intent intent, int startid) {
Toast.makeText(this, "Service Started", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
ThreadDemo T1 = new ThreadDemo( "Thread-1");
T1.start();
// sgart 1 minute update thread
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
Toast.makeText(this, "Service Stopped", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// thread code that runbs counter
class ThreadDemo extends Thread {
private String threadName;
ThreadDemo( String name) {
threadName = name;
System.out.println("Creating " + threadName );
}
public void run() {
try {
do {
counter++;
Thread.sleep(1000 *60 );
counter++;
} while (true);
} catch(Exception e)
{
Toast.makeText(parent, "thread stopped", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}
} // end inner thread class
} // end class
}
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
activity class
public class ActivityBoundMessenger extends AppCompatActivity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_bound_messenger);
}
/** Messenger for communicating with the service. */
Messenger mService = null;
/** Flag indicating whether we have called bind on the service. */
boolean mBound;
/**
* Class for interacting with the main interface of the service.
*/
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
private ServiceConnection mConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className, IBinder service) {
// This is called when the connection with the service has been
// established, giving us the object we can use to
// interact with the service. We are communicating with the
// service using a Messenger, so here we get a client-side
// representation of that from the raw IBinder object.
mService = new Messenger(service);
mBound = true;
}
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName className) {
// This is called when the connection with the service has been
// unexpectedly disconnected -- that is, its process crashed.
mService = null;
mBound = false;
}
};
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
public void sayHello(View v) {
if (!mBound) return;
// Create and send a message to the service, using a supported 'what' value
Message msg = Message.obtain(null, MessengerService.MSG_SAY_HELLO, 0, 0);
try {
mService.send(msg);
} catch (RemoteException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
public void butSet(View v) {
if (!mBound) return;
// Create and send a message to the service, using a supported 'what' value
Message msg = Message.obtain(null, MessengerService.MSG_BOT_SET, 0, 0);
Bundle b = new Bundle();
b.putString("data", "json object");
msg.setData(b);
try {
mService.send(msg);
} catch (RemoteException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
public void butGet(View v) {
if (!mBound) return;
// Create and send a message to the service, using a supported 'what' value
Message msg = Message
.obtain(null, MessengerService.MSG_BOT_GET);
msg.replyTo = new Messenger(new ResponseHandler());
// We pass the value
try {
mService.send(msg);
} catch (RemoteException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// these metheds get called whenb this acty starts and endsa
#Override
protected void onStart() {
super.onStart();
// Bind to the service
////////////////////////////////////////////
Intent ser = new Intent(this, MessengerService.class);
startService(ser);
bindService(ser, mConnection,
Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
///////////////////////////////////////////
}
#Override
protected void onStop() {
super.onStop();
// Unbind from the service
if (mBound) {
unbindService(mConnection);
mBound = false;
}
}
// This class handles the Service response
int ted=0;
String nextUpdate=null;
class ResponseHandler extends Handler {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
int respCode = msg.what;
switch (respCode) {
case MessengerService.MSG_BOT_GET_RES:
String nextUpdate= msg.getData().getString("respData");
ted++;
}
}
}
}

From Android Documentation:
When the last client unbinds from the service, the system destroys the service, unless the service was also started by startService().
So, all you have to do is call this in your onCreate() method in the Service:
startService(new Intent(this, MessengerService.class))
Of course make sure to call stopSelf() when you are done with the service.

NullPointerError: Cannot Connect to Server

I am attempting to connect to my XAMPP server and interact with the MySQL database with the classes below. However, the error notes that I receive a NullPointerException at the line:
result = imService.createNewGroup(newGroupName);
In the CreateGroup class. It should be noted that the CreateGroup class is also called right after a user inputs text into a Dialog and the service is started from there. I am fairly new to services and network connections, but is there something I'm missing that should allow to at least verify that the service is connected before trying to send the .createGroup command?
CreateGroup Class:
public class CreateGroup extends Activity {
private static final String SERVER_RES_RES_SIGN_UP_SUCCESFULL = "1";
private static final String SERVER_RES_SIGN_UP_USERNAME_CRASHED = "2";
private Manager imService;
private Handler handler = new Handler();
String newGroupName;
public ServiceConnection mConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className, IBinder service) {
imService = ((MessagingService.IMBinder) service).getService();
}
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName className) {
imService = null;
Toast.makeText(CreateGroup.this, R.string.local_service_stopped,
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
};
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
bindService(new Intent(CreateGroup.this, MessagingService.class),
mConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
// Getting intent and info from the dialog
Intent i = getIntent();
Bundle extras = i.getExtras();
newGroupName = extras.getString("groupName");
Thread thread = new Thread() {
String result = new String();
#Override
public void run() {
// Send group name to the messaging
// service
try {
result = imService.createNewGroup(newGroupName);
} catch (NullPointerException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (UnsupportedEncodingException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
}
Log.d("problem", "The value of result is " + result.toString());
handler.post(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
if (result == null) {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),
"It's null, not working", Toast.LENGTH_LONG)
.show();
}
if (result != null
&& result
.equals(SERVER_RES_RES_SIGN_UP_SUCCESFULL)) {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),
R.string.signup_successfull,
Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
// showDialog(SIGN_UP_SUCCESSFULL);
} else if (result != null
&& result
.equals(SERVER_RES_SIGN_UP_USERNAME_CRASHED)) {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),
R.string.signup_username_crashed,
Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
// showDialog(SIGN_UP_USERNAME_CRASHED);
} else // if
// (result.equals(SERVER_RES_SIGN_UP_FAILED))
{
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),
R.string.signup_failed, Toast.LENGTH_LONG)
.show();
// showDialog(SIGN_UP_FAILED);
}
}
});
}
};
thread.start();
}
Server Case for "createGroup" method:
case "createGroup":
$SQLtest = "insert into groups(groupName, uniqueGroup, createTime)
VALUES('TestGroup', 1234567891, NOW())";
error_log("$SQLtest", 3 , "error_log");
if($result = $db -> query($SQLtest))
{
$out = SUCCESSFUL;
}
else
{
$out = FAILED;
}
break;
Messaging Service and createGroup method:
public class MessagingService extends Service implements Manager, Updater {
// private NotificationManager mNM;
public static String USERNAME;
public static final String TAKE_MESSAGE = "Take_Message";
public static final String FRIEND_LIST_UPDATED = "Take Friend List";
public static final String MESSAGE_LIST_UPDATED = "Take Message List";
public ConnectivityManager conManager = null;
private final int UPDATE_TIME_PERIOD = 15000;
private String rawFriendList = new String();
private String rawMessageList = new String();
SocketerInterface socketOperator = new Socketer(this);
private final IBinder mBinder = new IMBinder();
private String username;
private String password;
private boolean authenticatedUser = false;
// timer to take the updated data from server
private Timer timer;
private StorageManipulater localstoragehandler;
private NotificationManager mNM;
public class IMBinder extends Binder {
public Manager getService() {
return MessagingService.this;
}
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
mNM = (NotificationManager) getSystemService(NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
localstoragehandler = new StorageManipulater(this);
// Display a notification about us starting. We put an icon in the
// status bar.
// showNotification();
conManager = (ConnectivityManager) getSystemService(CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
new StorageManipulater(this);
// Timer is used to take the friendList info every UPDATE_TIME_PERIOD;
timer = new Timer();
Thread thread = new Thread() {
#Override
public void run() {
Random random = new Random();
int tryCount = 0;
while (socketOperator.startListening(10000 + random
.nextInt(20000)) == 0) {
tryCount++;
if (tryCount > 10) {
// if it can't listen a port after trying 10 times, give
// up...
break;
}
}
}
};
thread.start();
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return mBinder;
}
#Override
public String createNewGroup(String groupName) throws NullPointerException, UnsupportedEncodingException {
String params = "action=createGroup";
String result = socketOperator.sendHttpRequest(params);
return result;
}
}

Because your code has an inherent race condition. And an evil one.
Change to something like this:
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
bindService(new Intent(CreateGroup.this, MessagingService.class),
mConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
// but do not start thread here!
}
public ServiceConnection mConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className, IBinder service) {
imService = ((MessagingService.IMBinder) service).getService();
startCommunicationThread(); // <----------------------- only here can you start comm. thread
}
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName className) {
imService = null;
Toast.makeText(CreateGroup.this, R.string.local_service_stopped,
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
};
void startCommunicationThread() {
Thread thread = new Thread() {
String result = new String();
#Override
public void run() {
try {
result = imService.createNewGroup(newGroupName);
..........
}
If you want your code to be even more secure, use a connection state field:
public ServiceConnection mConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
volatile boolean isConnected;
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className, IBinder service) {
isConnected = true; // <---------------------
imService = ((MessagingService.IMBinder) service).getService();
startCommunicationThread();
}
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName className) {
isConnected = false; // <---------------
imService = null;
Toast.makeText(CreateGroup.this, R.string.local_service_stopped,
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
};
And poll isConnected from within startCommunicationThread to make sure no sudden disconnects.

in my project MessagingService.IMBinder MessagingService gives error is there any java class that I should import.

send message not reaching the handler in activity

I am having the service and activity. inside service i am sending the message.
I am trying to catch it inside the main activity. But message is not reaching the handler in activity.
Please see the code below.
Service:
Handler handler = new Handler(Looper.getMainLooper());
handler.sendEmptyMessage(112345);
MainActivity:
handler = new Handler() {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "handled message successfully", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
if ( msg.what == 1234 ) {
Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "handled message successfully", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}
};
Can anyone tell me why it is not reaching the handler in the activity.
As far as i know

All messages you are sending using Handler.sendMessageXXX will be handled by the same Handler object. So you have to pass the Handler from Activity to Service. It can be done using Messenger class.
Activity:
public class MyActivity extends Activity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
final Handler handler = new Handler() {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
Toast.makeText(MyActivity.this, "handleMessage " + msg.what, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
};
final Intent intent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
final Messenger messenger = new Messenger(handler);
intent.putExtra("messenger", messenger);
startService(intent);
}
}
Service:
public class MyService extends IntentService {
public MyService() {
super("");
}
#Override
protected void onHandleIntent(Intent intent) {
final Messenger messenger = (Messenger) intent.getParcelableExtra("messenger");
final Message message = Message.obtain(null, 1234);
try {
messenger.send(message);
} catch (RemoteException exception) {
exception.printStackTrace();
}
}
}

Send Data from Service To Activity Android

I am building a music player that uses a service for playback. I have an Activity UI that controls (play, pause, next, ...) the service.
I want to update the UI from my service when the next or previous button is pressed. I thought of passing an integer value. Here is my code:
I have used a messenger for communication. The code in my service looks like:
enum Event {
NextSongChanged, CurrentPlayingSong
};
public synchronized void registerHandler(Messenger m) {
clients.add(m);
}
private void emit(Event e) {
for (Messenger m : clients) {
try {
m.send(Message.obtain(null, e.ordinal()));
} catch (RemoteException exception) {
/* The client must've died */
clients.remove(m);
}
}
}
My method that I am calling on click of next button:
public synchronized void playnext() {
reset();
if(songIndex < (songsList.size() - 1)) {
songIndex += 1;
playSong(songIndex);
} else {
songIndex = 0;
playSong(songIndex);
}
emit(Event.NextSongChanged);
}
As soon as I fire the NextSongChanged event I want to pass the "songIndex" variable into my activity. Any idea on how to achieve this?
My Activity code to handle the event:
private Messenger playerMessenger = new Messenger(new Handler() {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
switch (MyService.Event.values()[msg.what]) {
case NextSongChanged:
//String songTitle = songsList.get(currentSongIndex+1).get("songTitle");
//currentSongIndex += 1;
//songTitleLabel.setText(songTitle);
//updatePlaying();
break;
case CurrentPlayingSong:
break;
}
}
});

Sample code hope will help others
1. Set Handler (to receive message) and Messenger (to communicate) MainActivity.java
Messenger msgService;
boolean isBound;
ServiceConnection connection = new ServiceConnection() {
#Override
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName name) { isBound = false; }
#Override
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName name, IBinder service) {
isBound = true;
msgService = new Messenger(service);
}
};
public void sendMessage(View view) {
if (isBound) {
try {
Message message = Message.obtain(null, MessangerService.MESSAGE, 1, 1);
message.replyTo = replyMessenger;
Bundle bundle = new Bundle();
bundle.putString("rec", "Hi, you hear me");
message.setData(bundle);
msgService.send(message); //sending message to service
} catch (RemoteException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
//setting reply messenger and handler
Messenger replyMessenger = new Messenger(new HandlerReplyMsg());
class HandlerReplyMsg extends Handler {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
super.handleMessage(msg);
String recdMessage = msg.obj.toString(); //msg received from service
toast(recdMessage);
}
}
2. Setup service class MessengerService.java
Messenger replyMessanger;
final static int MESSAGE = 1;
class IncomingHandler extends Handler {
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
if (msg.what == MESSAGE) {
Bundle bundle = msg.getData();
toast(bundle.getString("rec"));//message received
replyMessanger = msg.replyTo; //init reply messenger
doSomething();
}
}
}
private void doSomething() {
// do stuff
if (replyMessanger != null)
try {
Message message = new Message();
message.obj = "Yes loud and clear";
replyMessanger.send(message);//replying / sending msg to activity
} catch (RemoteException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
Messenger messenger = new Messenger(new IncomingHandler());
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return messenger.getBinder();
}
Make sure you declared Service in manifest and binding/unbinding Service in activity.

Android remote services: no communication

I am trying to make an Activity run a certain service.
I followed the tutorial here but adapted to my code, and I can't make it work, because when I am invoking the service after starting and binding it to the activity, my Interface (IMyRemoteCallsLoggingService) object does not seem to have the connection properly created.
I have been trying to make this work for several days but I can't seem to get rid of a NullPointException.
Not sure if I made myself clear, in which case here's the code:
public class MtprojectActivity extends Activity {
[...]
private boolean started = false;
private RemoteSmsLoggingServiceConnection SmsLoggingConn = null;
private RemoteCallsLoggingServiceConnection CallsLoggingConn = null;
private IMyRemoteCallsLoggingService callsLoggingService;
private IMyRemoteSmsLoggingService smsLoggingService;
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
retrievePreferences();
Button prefBtn = (Button) findViewById(R.id.prefsBtn);
prefBtn.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
public void onClick(View v) {
// Explicit intent to call the preferences
Intent preferencesActivity = new Intent(getBaseContext(),
Preferences.class);
startActivity(preferencesActivity);
}
});
}
private void retrievePreferences() {
// Get the xml/preferences.xml preferences
SharedPreferences prefs = PreferenceManager
.getDefaultSharedPreferences(getBaseContext());
callsCheckbox = prefs.getBoolean("callsLogChk", false);
smsCheckbox = prefs.getBoolean("smsLogChk", false);
locationCheckbox = prefs.getBoolean("locationLogChk", false);
if (callsCheckbox) {
startCallsService();
bindCallsService();
try {
invokeCallsService();
} catch (RemoteException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
} else {
}
private void startCallsService() {
if (started) {
Toast.makeText(MtprojectActivity.this, "Service already started",
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
} else {
Intent i = new Intent();
i.setClassName("app.mtproject", "app.mtproject.CallsLoggingService");
startService(i);
started = true;
updateCallsServiceStatus();
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "startService()");
}
}
private void bindCallsService() {
if (CallsLoggingConn == null) {
CallsLoggingConn = new RemoteCallsLoggingServiceConnection();
Intent i = new Intent();
i.setClassName("app.mtproject", "app.mtproject.CallsLoggingService");
bindService(i, CallsLoggingConn, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
updateCallsServiceStatus();
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "bindService()");
} else {
Toast.makeText(MtprojectActivity.this,
"Cannot bind - service already bound", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
.show();
}
}
private void invokeCallsService() throws RemoteException {
if (CallsLoggingConn == null) {
Toast.makeText(MtprojectActivity.this,
"Cannot invoke - service not bound", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
.show();
} else {
callsLoggingService.dumpCallsLog();
TextView t = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.notApplicable);
t.setText("It worked!");
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "invokeService()");
}
}
class RemoteCallsLoggingServiceConnection implements ServiceConnection {
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className,
IBinder boundService) {
callsLoggingService = IMyRemoteCallsLoggingService.Stub
.asInterface((IBinder) boundService);
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "onServiceConnected()");
}
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName className) {
callsLoggingService = null;
updateCallsServiceStatus();
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "onServiceDisconnected");
}
};
I get a NullPointerException right on callsLoggingService.dumpCallsLog() in the invokeCallsService() method, and I'm not sure what's the problem!
Here's the code of the service:
public class CallsLoggingService extends Service {
String date, duration, type;
private Handler serviceHandler;
private Task myTask = new Task();
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent arg0) {
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "onBind()");
return myRemoteCallsServiceStub;
}
private IMyRemoteCallsLoggingService.Stub myRemoteCallsServiceStub = new IMyRemoteCallsLoggingService.Stub() {
public void dumpCallsLog() throws RemoteException {
CallsLoggingService.this.dumpCallsLog();
}
};
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "onCreate()");
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
serviceHandler.removeCallbacks(myTask);
serviceHandler = null;
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "onDestroy()");
}
#Override
public void onStart(Intent intent, int startId) {
super.onStart(intent, startId);
serviceHandler = new Handler();
serviceHandler.postDelayed(myTask, 10L);
Log.d(getClass().getSimpleName(), "onStart()");
}
class Task implements Runnable {
public void run() {
try {
myRemoteCallsServiceStub.dumpCallsLog();
} catch (RemoteException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
serviceHandler.postDelayed(this, 86400000L);
Log.i(getClass().getSimpleName(), "Calling the dumpCallsLog");
}
}
private synchronized void dumpCallsLog() {
ContentResolver cr = getContentResolver();
String columns[] = new String[] { CallLog.Calls.DATE,
CallLog.Calls.DURATION, CallLog.Calls.TYPE };
Uri mContacts = CallLog.Calls.CONTENT_URI;
Cursor c = cr.query(mContacts, columns, // Which columns to return
null, // WHERE clause; which rows to return(all rows)
null, // WHERE clause selection arguments (none)
CallLog.Calls.DEFAULT_SORT_ORDER // Order-by clause
// (ascending
// by name)
);
if (c.moveToFirst()) {
do {
// Get the field values
date = c.getString(c.getColumnIndex(CallLog.Calls.DATE));
duration = c
.getString(c.getColumnIndex(CallLog.Calls.DURATION));
type = c.getString(c.getColumnIndex(CallLog.Calls.TYPE));
} while (c.moveToNext());
}
}
}
Thanks a lot everybody for the help!

bindService() is asynchronous. You cannot use callsLoggingService until onServiceConnected() is called.