I have a particular collection of code along with some XML files that I need to share with every application I will make.
At the moment I can't because as far as I am aware there is no way to do this. This seems like a massive oversight by the development team.
If the code needs changing, I have to change it in every app that I create - and will create in the future.
Are there any ways to share code in android yet?
I am using Eclipse for development.
You can create an Android library project. The TicTacToeMain sample project in the SDK shows how to reference your created library project.
You can reference a third party JAR like you would any Java project. Or are you talking about something else?
As for sharing XML files, I think you may have to just copy them to each project, but I'm not certain about that.
You can reuse particular Activity classes in applications other than the one they were installed with. Is that sufficient?
To do that, you need to set android:exported="true" in the Activity's declaration in AndroidManifest.xml. http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/activity-element.html has more details.
Related
I have a project that I have been working on which is a standard android application that does not include any other external libraries at this time. I am now looking at making a game at the end of the app(its a quiz so after the questions I want to make a mini game).
So what I am trying to find out is can I just import the libraries that it uses and connect them to my project rather than creating a LibGDX project and importing that?
What it comes down to is your personal preference. In answer to your question, yes you could just add in the jar files and such into your current project, however you are going to have to edit your manifest and some add in some other stuff besides jars using this Setup. In my personal opinion it would be easier to create a libgdx project using the tutorial found here, but in the end as I said before it all depends on what exactly you want to do.
Before deciding, ask yourself.
Do I want to have everything in one project, or can it be in more than one?
What would be better in the long run for managing my app.
Do I want ease now or later?
Cheers!
Currently I am working on an application aimed to small local businesses, which serves as a template for other applications (other stores). The base application allows local stores to send notifications to their customers, depending on the business context, notifications can be to report promotions, inform a client that he can pick up his order at the store, notices of new products in the store, etc ... What I do is work on the template for each client and then customize the appearance of the application in the background but the functionality is the same for everyone. My problem is that every time we have more businesses interested in the application and the problem arises when I find bugs or want further improvements, and to update the code in each of the applications can be hell (open each project, add the lines code, recompile, etc ...), and also publish new applications involves a great job because I have to change namespaces whole project, change the authority of the content provider, update references to the namespace associated with the template, etc. ...
Is there any way that I provide update and / or add portions of code in the original template and the changes are automatically reflected in all projects generated from the template?
I have understood Apache Ant can help with the compiling process of large project with many dependencies, but could be useful in the context of my problem?
The solution that I can think of right now is to create a project library and then put everything common to projects, including resources and Activities. The problem is that for example the application Content Provider could not go there because I need to have a single authority in the Manifiest defined for each application.
In advance thank you very much for taking the time to read my message. Any help or advice is welcome. Thank you again.
My question is there any way that I provide update and / or add portions of code in the original template and the changes are automatically reflected in all projects generated from the template?
Make the core code be an Android library project, and use that library project in all the customer apps.
The solution that I can think of right now is to create a project library and then put everything common to projects, including resources and Activities.
Correct.
The problem is that for example the application Content Provider could not go there because I need to have a single authority in the Manifiest defined for each application.
Your ContentProvider implementation can go in the library project. Your customer-specific project will need the <provider> element in the manifest, with a unique authority, pointing to the ContentProvider class from the library.
I am a new developer for android programming. I understand android SDK does not contain all classes from android source code. For example, AtCommandResult.class is missing (hiding) from android.bluetooth package in the SDK.
Sometimes, however, I want to use the hidden code in my app and I wonder what would be the best way to do that. One approach I can think of would be to include its corresponding source code in my project with different package name to avoid conflict with existing core. But problem with this approach would be I have to maintain the code by myself from that point. One or two classes are OK but you know where I am going.
Is there any better way other than bothering google to include the code in the SDK? Thanks in advance.
You may want to use a .AIDL file:
http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/aidl.html
Those can already be used to access for example in Telephony functions.
Code example here:
http://code.google.com/p/auto-answer/source/browse/trunk/src/com/android/internal/telephony/ITelephony.aidl?r=13
I am very new to eclipse and android developing in general and need help with the following. I have built two android projects in Eclipse with the android SDK:
"ORF401 Project" - targets Android 2.2 platform
"Map Project" - targets Google APIs 2.2 platform
I have followed the steps as specified by the standard Hello World Google Maps for android tutorial and have gotten the Google map to display on the emulator when I run the second project.
I have a menu set up in the 1st project for which one of the options is to load the map. However, I'm not sure how to load the map within this project since only one build target can be specified for each project, and so I cannot specify the Google Maps API as a (additional) build target. Is there a way to call the main .java class from the second project within the first project? I see where a reference can be made to the 2nd project under the project properties, but I'm not sure how to make use of this. One possible solution I found on the web was to add the following code under the switch case in the first project:
Intent intent = new Intent(this, {googleMap}.class);
startActivity(intent);
I presume this would require an additional googleMap.java class in the first project and also another activity, but I can't get it to work. Can anyone make a suggestion as to how I can accomplish this?
If the code for either or both projects would help, I'll be happy to post it. Thanks
The main idea with projects is to have one project per application that does some thing.
I assume your application needs to do something with maps, as well as something else. There is no need to split those ideas. Keep them in one project, because they make up one single application that you develop.
First thing I would suggest - read carefully about activities and intents. Head to http://developer.android.com - everything's clearly explained.
With that all cleared up you will see the point in making some button, which, being tapped, opens a new screen with the map feature that you've developed. And then let's you go back or do something else, like open a new screen, a browser, etc.
And give up trying to call the other project from a different one :) It's not the way I think you want to do stuff.
Just to make sure I'm not misunderstood - of course you might want to have two projects. But those will most probably result in two separate applications. Luckily, applications may also interact by intents, or content providers, or a couple more. Just see how Contacts app takes you to GMail app if you want to send a mail. If that's what you want to achieve - still need to read about intents.
edit:
Here's the link I mentioned about in the comments:
http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-have-your-cupcake-and-eat-it-too.html
It explains how to achieve the 'additional target' that you would like to have.
There are ways to call a class from one project in another project, but there are bigger problems here. The first project can run on any Android device. The second, however, requires Google Maps APIs. You won't be able to invoke it anyway, because it can't be installed unless you're in an environment that supports Google APIs. There really is no benefit to doing this, unless you have additional functionality in project 1 such that it can exist without project 2.
I would suggest using the Intent method rather than trying to hack something together that allows you to access another class. Regardless, though coupling these two together like this seems overly complicated and error prone. I would suggest simply embedding the mapping functionality in project 1 and requiring Google APIs. Most mainstream device support them anyway.
If you're married to the idea of having two separate projects with different build targets, I would suggest looking into using BroadcastReceivers with a custom intent that you broadcast from application 1. I don't believe startActivity will work across application boundaries because of class loader issues, but I could be wrong about that.
I'm attempting to use a custom Android vertical scrollbar widget that seems to work fine in its own example project, but I am having trouble trying to include it into my project. I've exported a .jar from it to use in my project, but it seems to be a minefield of problems, from duplicate resources, to my XML layouts not able to get at styles inside the library, and errors "inflating class" when reading my XML layout file.
How should I go about using the widget from another project in my own?
Quite new to Java development (know the language, but not much of the overarching project/package management), so if there's some good text regarding that it would be appreciated.
Create an Android Library Project for the widget.
As far as I can understand the problem should be related to the "R" class which is created in the same package as the main activity. When you create the new project this class is located in "the wrong place".
Giving up compatibility and require the use of the same package in all projects is not an option: market will not allow you to publish more than one application per namespace. Moreover, is is not a good practice for software engineering.
A much better solution is, as already pointed out by fhucho, to create a library project with your widget to be imported in the main application project.
If you are also looking for a book on android development and already know java I usually recommend "Hello Android" by Ed Burnette, it is quick to read but gives a nice overview with examples.