Develop Reference

How do I access Android SharedPreferences from a static method in a class without passing in a context reference?

I have just one class where I need to access SharedPreferences:
public class MyUtils {
public static String packageMe(Object input){
// do stuff here
// need SharedPreferences here
}
public static Object unpackageMe(String input){
// do stuff here
// need SharedPreferences here
}
}
I tried this:
public class MyUtils extends Activity
But, as you know, I cannot access SharedPreferences from a static method.
I thought about passing in the context to the static methods, but that extends the number of classes out to four that I will need to modify, and the classes are already extending AsyncTask:
public class SomeClass01 extends AsyncTask {
#Override
protected Object doInBackground(Object[] params){
MyUtils.packageMe(abc_123_object);
// do stuff here
}
}
So, I thought that maybe I could pass the context into those four classes. However, there are a couple dozen classes that I would need to modify that use those four classes, that in turn use that single class.
public class SomeTopClass extends FragmentActivity implements x, y, z {
new SomeClass01.execute(abc_123_object);
// do stuff here
}
I don't know if I want to be passing a context reference that deep into my code.
I saw here on StackOverflow about putting a reference to the SharedPreferences in my abc_123_object model, but there are quite a few objects I use (other than abc_123_object) and I don't want to have to jerry-rig so many classes.
So, is there a way for me to do this without modifying dozens of classes and passing context references all around my code, or am I stuck?
Thanks

Create static variable in your Application class.
public class MyApp extends Application{
public static Context context;
#Override
public void onCreate() {
context = this;
}
}
Then use it when you need.
public static String packageMe(Object input){
// do stuff here
// need SharedPreferences here
// context = MyApp.context
}

As Dusan mentioned, using an application class is an easy way to do this:
In your application class:
private static MyApplication sInstance = null;
private SharedPreferences mPrefs
public static MyApplication getApp()
{
return sInstance;
}
public SharedPreferences getSharePreferences()
{
return mPrefs;
}
in onCreate():
sInstance = this;
mPrefs = getSharedPreferences(PREF_FILE, MODE_PRIVATE);
Then in your code simply do:
MyApplication.getApp().getSharePreferences();
Your Application's onCreate() is guaranteed to be executed before any activity is created, so unless you are doing something really weird, it should be safe.

how safe is to use application class's context in entire android app

I have created one class that is extending Application class and using the static method to expose the contexts as follows. moreover i am using many util methods like checking internet connections e.c.t into this class.
Problem is i am not sure
how safe is to use following method to expose the application level context
would this create any memory leaks when i will use App.getAppContext() method
public class App extends Application {
private static Context mContext;
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
mContext = this.getApplicationContext();
}
public static Context getAppContext() {
return mContext;
}
}

Android: Maintaining Global Application State

Android documentation for Application states:
There is normally no need to subclass Application. In most situations, static singletons can provide the same functionality [i.e. maintain global application state] in a more modular way. If your singleton needs a global context (for example to register broadcast receivers), the function to retrieve it can be given a Context which internally uses Context.getApplicationContext() when first constructing the singleton.
My request is: Can you explain, and provide code sample that implements the above suggestion for maintaining global state.
Note that there is already a suggestion that recommends subclassing Application:
How to declare global variables in Android?
Thank you.

Correction to StinePike's answer regarding context in the ApplicationState. In the code posted the context passed in to the application state is held on to. If the context passed in is an activity or similar unit then the activity would be leaked and prevented from being garbage collected.
The android documentation for the Application class states you should "internally use Context.getApplicationContext() when first constructing the singleton."
public class ApplicationState {
private Context applicationContext;
private static ApplicationState instance;
private ApplicationState(Context context) {
this.applicationContext = context.getApplicationContext();
}
public static ApplicationState getInstance(Context context) {
if(instance == null) {
instance = new ApplicationState(context);
}
return instance;
}
}

If I am not wrong your are trying to save global variables without extending Application. If so you can do two things
if you don't need any context then you ca simply use a class with static members like this
public class ApplicationState {
public static boolean get() {
return b;
}
public static void set(boolean a) {
b = a;
}
private static boolean b;
}
And if you need a context but you don't want to extend Application you can use
Public class ApplicationState {
private Context context;
private static ApplicationState instance;
private ApplicationState(Context context) {
this.context = context;
public static ApplicationState getInstance(Context context) {
if (instance == null) {
instance = new ApplicationState(context);
}
return instance;
}
public void someMethod(){}
}
So you can call some method like this
ApplicationState.getInstance(context).somemethod();

How to Access Android Custom Application Object in simple Java Class which Also has ApplicationContext object?

I have created a custom application class like this:
class A extends android.app.Application{
public String abc = "xyz";
}
And I have a simple java class
class B {
private appContext;
// This constructor is called from activity.
B(Context ctx){
this.appContext = ctx;
}
private void foo(){
// want to access Class A's abc String vairable Here...HOW TO DO THAT?????
}
}
How to access Class A's abc String vairable in foo method.

You can get the Application class with getApplicationContext from Context with the good casting
((A) this.ctx.getApplicationContext()).abc;

The Application class in Android is a singleton and therefore so is your derived class. Android will create just one instance of your class A when it starts your application. Just change
class A extends android.app.Application {
public String abc = "xyz";
}
to
class A extends android.app.Application {
public static String abc = "xyz";
}
and you can reference it from anywhere like this:
String foo = A.abc;

Instead of passing a Context, try passing an instance of the Application class instead.
Something like:
class B {
private Application app;
// This constructor is called from activity.
B(Application ctx){
this.app = ctx;
}
private void foo(){
app.abc; //Do what you want
}
}
And call B like:
B b = new B(getApplication());
Make sure that this is in onCreate() or later.

Looks like you are already passing the application context as a parameter and initializing it in the constructor. So all you have to now is to use the context variable to access abc of A like the following way: ((A) this.appContext).abc;

Creating an Object accessible by all Activities in Android

I'm trying to create an ArrayList of Data containing Objects (Like a list of Addresses and properties (pretty complex)) and am wondering: How can I make an Object accessible (and editable) by all Activities and not just the one it was instanciated in?
Basically this:
Create Array in Activity 1
Access same Array in Activity 2 and 3
???
Profit.

The easiest way to do this is by creating an Singleton. It's a kind of object that only can be created once, and if you try to access it again it will return the existing instance of the object.
Inside this you can hold your array.
public class Singleton {
private static final Singleton instance = new Singleton();
// Private constructor prevents instantiation from other classes
private Singleton() {
}
public static Singleton getInstance() {
return instance;
}
}
Read more about singleton:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singleton_pattern

You can extend the application class. And add your arrays there.
You can access the instance of the class by using this command
MyApplication appContext = (MyApplication)getApplicationContext();

Well you can create a Constant class and declare you ArrayList as a static variable.
1.)
Class ConstantCodes{
public static ArrayList<MyClass> list = new ArrayList<MyClass>;
}
This will be accessible from everywhere you want by just ConstantCodes.list
2.) You can extend your class by Application class like this
class Globalclass extends Application {
private String myState;
public String getState(){
return myState;
}
public void setState(String s){
myState = s;
}
}
class TempActivity extends Activity {
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle b){
...
Globalclass appState = ((Globalclass)getApplicationContext());
String state = appState.getState();
...
}
}

you should make it static and access it from any other activity.....

how about use a static keyword ?
public static SomeClass someObject
in your activity class that initiate your object

1- In your Activity1, déclare your array in public static
public static ArrayList<HashMap<String, String>> myArray = new ArrayList<HashMap<String, String>>();
2- In your Activity2, Activity3, etc. access to your ArrayList
Activity1.myArray

You can create a java file x beside other java files.
x file contains static method which used to access the class method without instantiate it.
Now make a method called createVariable() and declare variable which you want to make it Global.
Now make a method called getVariable() which returns the Global variable.
At which point you want to create global variable, call className.createVariable().
And to get access to that variable call className.getVariable().
Here is my example for Database class.
public class GlobalDatabaseHelper{
static DatabaseHelper mydb;
public static DatabaseHelper createDatabase(Context context)
{
mydb = new DatabaseHelper(context);
return mydb;
}
public static DatabaseHelper returnDatabase()
{
return mydb;
}
}