Non Deprecated findPreference() Method? - Android

Question

I want to detect when a Preference contained in a ListView gets clicked, so that I can launch an intent to manage that selection.

I would have done like this in my layout XML file:

<Preference android:title="About" android:key="myKey"></Preference>

And the following in my java code:

Preference myPref = (Preference) findPreference("myKey");
myPref.setOnPreferenceClickListener(new OnPreferenceClickListener() {
             public boolean onPreferenceClick(Preference preference) {
                 //open browser or intent here
             }
         });

But the method public Preference findPreference (CharSequence key) is deprecated.

1. Is there a non deprecated equivalent?
2. If not, what if I use it anyway?
3. How can Fragments help me do my task in a better way? Check here: Preferences without deprecated methods.

---

Here you can check the XML layout structure that my activity has, and a snapshot of the application:

XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<PreferenceScreen xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >

    <Preference
        android:key="about"
        android:title="@string/titleAbout"
        android:summary="@string/summaryAbout"
    />

    <Preference
        android:key="labelTaxonomy"
        android:title="@string/titleLabelTaxonomy"
        android:summary="@string/summaryLabelTaxonomy"
    />

</PreferenceScreen>

SNAPSHOT:

After clicking on the About (or Access Label Taxonomy) Preference, I'd like to open an intent of some kind (could also be a video or anything else...the names are misleading).

Xenophobe

I have a problem similar to yours. I do a bunch of things in Preferences (that probably I shouldn't), and I do need findPreference() to do some java on clicks. Not sure how to handle this now without heavily changing the whole thing, or ignoring the deprecation. :/ – Postpone

Answer 1

Is there a non deprecated equivalent?

If you are using PreferenceFragment on API Level 11+ devices, you would call findPreference() on it. Otherwise, call findPreference() on your PreferenceActivity, as you have no choice.

If not, what if I use it anyway?

It will work.

How can Fragments help me do my task in a better way?

API Level 11+ introduced PreferenceFragment as another way of constructing the contents of a PreferenceActivity. You are welcome to use them, but if you are still supporting older devices, you cannot use PreferenceFragment for those devices.

That being said:

I want to detect when a Preference contained in a ListView gets clicked, so that I can launch an intent to manage that selection.

You do not need Java code for this. Use:

    <PreferenceScreen
            android:title="@string/title_intent_preference"
            android:summary="@string/summary_intent_preference">

        <intent android:action="android.intent.action.VIEW"
                android:data="http://www.android.com" />

    </PreferenceScreen>

(as seen in the JavaDocs for PreferenceActivity)

This will create an entry in the preference UI that, when clicked, will start an activity with the specified Intent.

Expiry

Thks a lot, just two other questions: 1) I have many preferences entries <Preference> inside of my <PreferenceScreen>, can I still use the XML approach you are suggesting in the snippet just for one single Preference entry?and how? 2) Suppose I want to use a new intent, I'm forced to used some java code to create it, correct? I hope you can help me, Thks again! ;D – Xenophobe

@Matteo: 1) Read the JavaDocs that I linked to, and see the example of the use of this <intent> approach in and among other preferences. 2) I have no idea what "a new intent" means in this case. – Expiry

1) Thks... 2) Let me explain better: it seemed to me that the intent described in your XML snippet is only for visiting a website by opening the browser. Suppose I want to launch an intent opening another activity, or displaying a video from the gallery of the phone, or anything else, I should define the new intent in the standard Java way, correct? – Xenophobe

@Matteo: IMHO, preferences should not be leading to random places. Preferences are for preferences, not for displaying videos. The purpose of <intent> is if you have something that logically is part of the app's settings but cannot readily be rendered using the standard preference UI. That being said, if your Intent is not static, you will need to handle it via Java, probably using code along the lines of what you have in your question. – Expiry

I c...!So I should not use Preferences in the way I'm doing?(You can check the added part of the question)...If not what kind of class should I use instead?Thks so much for you help, and sorry if it's a stupid question, I'm a beginner in android... ;D – Xenophobe

@Matteo: I would just have "About" be in your options menu or the overflow menu of the action bar. – Expiry

And what class should I use instead for the other entries? a ListActivity? – Xenophobe

@Matteo: Since I don't know what "Access Label Taxonomy" is supposed to do, I cannot answer that question, sorry. – Expiry

It should launch an intent visualising a video, or opening the browser, or anything like that. Thks for your help, really! – Xenophobe

Answer 2

If you use fragments, you can use the method "findPreference()" on the basis of a preferences fragment.

public class CustomActivity extends PreferenceActivity {
  @Override
  public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_custom);

      CustomFragment customFragment = (CustomFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.custom_fragment);
      EditTextPreference textPreference = (EditTextPreference) customFragment.findPreference("preference_key");

      textPreference.setOnPreferenceClickListener(new OnPreferenceClickListener() {
         public boolean onPreferenceClick(Preference preference) {
             //open browser or intent here
         }
     });
  }
}

Wholehearted

So what is the R.id.custom_fragment? I am trying to get the preference from within my custom fragment and can't figure it. – Onomastic

The R.id.custom_fragment is the id of your defined fragment. For example: <fragment android:id="@+id/custom_fragment" android:name="com.example.CustomFragment"/> – Wholehearted

Answer 3

2018 UPDATE Today, the onPreferenceTreeClick method has to be overriden in the Preference fragment for this purpose. For example:

public class MySettingsFragment extends PreferenceFragment {

    @Override
    public boolean onPreferenceTreeClick (PreferenceScreen preferenceScreen,
                                          Preference preference)
    {
        String key = preference.getKey();
        if(key.equals("someKey")){
            // do your work
            return true;
        }
        return false;
    }
}

Journalistic

Deprecated in API 15 – Benildas

Answer 4

maybe docs link are not clear. But using that feature is very simple. for example, you can use that as a twitter page like this

<PreferenceCategory android:title="Share" >
 <PreferenceScreen
        android:title="Twitter"
        android:summary="Follow me at Twitter">

    <intent android:action="android.intent.action.VIEW"
            android:data="https://twitter.com/" />

</PreferenceScreen>
</PreferenceCategory>

it doesnt need any java code. Thanks to CommonsWare!

Kendricks