Is it possible to run an application from inside another application? What I want to do is write an app which allows you to chose an app to start, and then displays the activities of this app inside a view.
So in landscape mode, it should look something like this:
The idea behind this is:
I want to be able to start and run a third party activity next to my own activity, and I want to be able to create individual makros with my activity that are controlling the third party activity.
Basically, something like this:
Start third party activity from inside my app
Start makro recording
Do something in third party activity
Stop makro recording
Use makro whenever you wish
So how can I start and control another activity from inside my own activity?
Unrooted:
Sadly, what you want to achieve does not seem to be possible without rooting the phone, because you can only interact with other apps via intents. Since developers decide how their apps react on specific intents, creating macros this way is nearly impossible.
With rooted phones:
You may want to create a list of all installed apps, you can use
getPackageManager().getInstalledApplications(PackageManager.GET_META_DATA);
to retrieve a list of all installed apps.
If the user now selects an app, launch it via an intent and create a system overlay to get all touch/key events (and let the user stop the macro). You can find a way to do this here. Store the x/y-values of the touch-events.
You can recreate the events using MotionEvent#obtain.
Now comes the part where you need a rooted phone (the permission INJECT_EVENTS). Launch the app and inject the events so your macro gets executed. Samplecode:
Instrumentation m_Instrumentation = new Instrumentation();
m_Instrumentation.sendPointerSync(motionEvent);
You can find more information about injecting (also keyevents) here.
If you need help to compile your app, these 2 links will help you: How to compile Android Application with system permissions, Android INJECT_EVENTS permission
It's not possible to start an application in a View, but you can launch an app from within your app:
Intent i = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage("com.package.ofapp");
startActivity(i);
//EDIT to your updated question:
After starting the activity from the above code, one way you could start/stop the macro at any time in the new app would be to create a small view overlay on top of the screen.
This overlay would be on top of ALL activities.
Check out the following link: Creating a system overlay window (always on top)
You could write code to start the macro when the View is pressed, and then if the button was pressed once and the user presses it again, stop the macro. This would be in the onTouchEvent() method.
Yes, I think it's possible as a app named floating apps does that (WITHOUT ROOT)
Only using some adb commands
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lwi.android.flapps
Yes its possible if you use Intents. They allow you to move between screens and to launch another different functionality inside the same app. visit coursera for more tutorials on intents
Related
I write 2 applications for Android: A and B.
All seems OK, but my task is very specified.
It's not practical, it is learning low-level Android capabilities.
I need simple following: listen a LAUNCH intent of app A in app B or another way if you know.
The result must be: when I press app A icon, app B must started.
Not in onCreate! I know this method very well, but not a single line of application code A should be executed. Just run app B immediately.
I control both apps A and B, I write them. How I can do described?
Very similar Two launchers for a single activity, only I need to redirect alias to another application.
Apps are isolated so luckily you cannot do that otherwise that would be serious security risk.
i just want to know how can i detect if the user opens an app so an activity of mine launches as well.
For example, the user opens the sms app and right after a kind of lockscreen appears.
You can create a service which will run int the background and you can use this API to determine which activity is visible. That's how many app lock works.
As far as I understand the Android system, it is not possible unless you are making a custom firmware.
I'm developing a Learning Application. In it, I have an Activity where the user can select some applications from a list of all the applications installed on his device.
Now, I'd like to launch my Activity whenever the user launches any of the selected applications from the app list. Basically I'd like to override the selected Activity by my activity. Once the user complete's some task, the user should be returned to the previously clicked Application.
How do I "Capture" this 'Launching other applications' part? BroadcastReceivers? Any example would be highly helpful. I'd be very grateful if anyone points me in the right direction with reference links.
This is very similar to a Lock Apps Application. But in a very badly twisted kind of way.
I know I have to use a background service to monitor the user activity.
You don't intercept arbitrary application launches, if that's what you're after. Doing this silently goes against the Android (or any reasonable) security model.
What you can do is offer an alternative Home screen.
However, if you just have a list view of available applications, nothing stops you from defining custom behaviours within that list activity.
I'm writing a basic application. One of the features I'm interested in trying to do is to launch another app, INSIDE the app already running.
Eg. I have an app with 3 menu options, 1 and 2 do certain tasks as part of this parent app, menu option 3 launches another app that's installed on the phone.
I'm not sure if this is possible?
This is possible with the Intents mechanism.
The exact Intent you'll have to write depend on various factors:
do you have to provide some data to the launched application?
do you target a specific application or do you want to let the user choose the application he prefers for that task (in case he has several applications able to do what you need)?
do you want to ensure that the application is available? (that would be better)
do you know if the other app provides specific intent-filters to do some tasks?
Edit:
Then, you should be able to start the second application with the following code:
Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
i.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_LAUNCHER);
i.setPackage("com.otherapp.package");
startActivity(i);
Place this code in the OnClickListener of your button and that should be enough.
When a user tries to launch an application I want to suppress that application and then call another application. Example I want the user to authenticate himself before launching a particular system application (settings application etc). The authentication application should pop up every time the user launches the settings application
I know you will have to use broadcast receivers and intents but have no clue how to do it.
Sounds like you should create a "lib" project that have public interfaces that you can use.
Then share them between the apps instead of trying to execute another app?
But what I know this is not possible to actually execute up another app, since this then gives dependency to something that you don't know if it is installed. It must already been started if the intents should work.
Also like the answer before, it could be used for abuse.
Look at this link for more information:
http://mylifewithandroid.blogspot.com/2007/12/playing-with-intents.html
I sort of hope this isn't possible... Launching a different application from the one the user actually clicked? Leaves the door open for abuse.