Android metadata from manifest returning null

Question

I have a class with one method that tries to retrieve meta-data from the manifest. Everything works fine except that the bundle that I create from the application info returns null values

Here's the code:

    private int getCurrentVersion(){
    int currVersion = 0;

    try {
        ApplicationInfo app = context.getPackageManager().getApplicationInfo(context.getPackageName(),PackageManager.GET_META_DATA);
        Bundle bundle = app.metaData;

        for (String key: bundle.keySet())
        {
          Log.d ("TEST", key + " is a key in the bundle");
        }

        Log.d("TEST","google: "+bundle.getString("com.google.android.gms.version"));
        Log.d("TEST","version: "+bundle.getString("dbVersion"));

        //currVersion = Integer.valueOf(bundle.getString("dbVersion"));
        currVersion = 1;
    } catch (NameNotFoundException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    } catch (NullPointerException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();         
    }

    return currVersion;
}


03-05 18:53:23.818: D/TEST(31400): com.google.android.gms.version is a key in the bundle
03-05 18:53:23.818: D/TEST(31400): dbVersion is a key in the bundle
03-05 18:53:23.828: D/TEST(31400): google: null
03-05 18:53:23.828: D/TEST(31400): version: null

As you can see I'm using some logs to see if the bundle is empty, but its not.

Presbyter

It looks like whatever they are, they aren't Strings. Is it possible you're providing a value like "1" and that it's being interpreted as the int 1? – Tina

for future readers, make sure you've put <meta-data> under <application> tag. Not under <manifest> tag. – Cortezcortical

Answer 1

In some cases you need to use getInt() method:

bundle.getInt("com.google.android.gms.version"));

because the value of this meta-data is defined as an integer.

Log.d("TEST","google: "+bundle.getInt("com.google.android.gms.version"));

For example if the value defined in your meta-data is a String:

     <meta-data 
         android:name="com.elenasys.a"
         android:value="abcXJ434" />  

use:

   bundle.getString("com.elenasys.a"));   

if the value is an integer:

   <meta-data 
         android:name="com.elenasys.b"
         android:value="1234" />  

use getInt()

 bundle.getInt("com.elenasys.b"));

Vingtetun

Oh I get it now. meta-data is a string type but it seems to be converted to int when I get the bundle from the app.metaData right? I can't believe I didn't notice. Thank you! – Presbyter

I added android:value="true" and was trying with getString method when I should have used getBoolean. In my case getString was causing the error. – Sambo

Answer 2

Also make sure the tag is under the manifest/application node in AndroidManifest.xml and not just under the root:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  package="com.example.readmetadata"
  android:versionCode="1"
  android:versionName="1.0">
    <application android:icon="@drawable/icon" android:label="@string/app_name">

        <meta-data android:name="dbVersion" android:value="1.0" />

        <activity android:name=".MainMenu" android:label="@string/app_name">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>
    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="3" android:targetSdkVersion="8" />
</manifest>

Whitten

This did it for me. Thanks! – Dahabeah

thanks a lot ! 1 hour or more left to find you :) – Cahoot