SearchView in one activity, results in another one

Question

My use case is the following: in activity A, I have an action bar with a collapsible SearchView. When the user gives her query and presses the 'search' button, I would like to show activity B with the results. I'm failing to do so, here is my code:

searchable.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<searchable xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
            android:hint="@string/action_search_hint"
            android:label="@string/app_name"/>

Activity A:

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.menu, menu);

    SearchManager searchManager = (SearchManager) getSystemService(Context.SEARCH_SERVICE);
    SearchView searchView = (SearchView) menu.findItem(R.id.action_search).getActionView();
    searchView.setSearchableInfo(searchManager.getSearchableInfo(getComponentName()));

    return true;
}

AndroidManifest for Activity A and B:

    <activity
        android:name=".ActivityA">

        <intent-filter>

            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>

        </intent-filter>

    </activity>

    <activity android:name=".ActivityB">

        <intent-filter>

            <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEARCH"/>

        </intent-filter>

        <meta-data
            android:name="android.app.searchable"
            android:resource="@xml/searchable"/>

    </activity>

Howerver, no matter what I try, getSearchableInfo in A always returns null.

I have the feeling I'm not understanding something. The only way I can make getSearchableInfo() return not null is when I put the SEARCH intent filter and the searchable meta-data into activity A in the manifest. But then, when I press the 'search' button, another instance of activity A is started again on top of the current one, which definitely is not what I want. I guess I could add singleTop to A and handle the SEARCH action in onNewIntent and start B, but I generally don't want A to be singleTop, I want the default. Or do I?

I tried adding this to A in the manifest (as suggested in some other threads):

    <meta-data
        android:name="android.app.default_searchable"
        android:value=".ActivityB" >
    </meta-data>

What am I doing wrong?

EDIT: I replaced the 'getComponentName()' line in A with the following:

searchView.setSearchableInfo(searchManager.getSearchableInfo(new ComponentName(this, ActivityB.class)));

and it seems to work the way I want! Am I doing something wrong here, or is this the correct way? I'm a bit uncertain because it is not mentioned anywhere!

Isar

The doc says getSearchableInfo(componentName) take one argument, which is 'the activity to get searchable information for'. In your case you need ActivityB, so constructing a ComponentName that points to ActivityB is the correct way. – Sludgy

@Sludgy - I will accept your answer if you write one. – Isar

Thanks a million for asking this question. Rescued after four hours of wasted time. – Wooster

Answer 1

According to Android documentations, SearchManager.getSearchableInfo(componentName) takes one argument, which is:

componentName: The activity to get searchable information for

In your case you need ActivityB, so constructing a ComponentName that points to ActivityB is the correct way

new ComponentName(this, ActivityB.class)

Sludgy

Works like magic. I can't give more than one upvote else I could have given a million. – Wooster

Answer 2

<intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEARCH"/>
        </intent-filter>

add this intent filter to activity A.

2.SearchView Menu

SearchManager searchManager = (SearchManager) getSystemService(Context.SEARCH_SERVICE);
        searchView = (SearchView) menu.findItem(R.id.search).getActionView();
        searchView.setSearchableInfo(searchManager
                .getSearchableInfo(getComponentName()));

xml:

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

    <item
        android:id="@+id/search"
        android:actionViewClass="android.widget.SearchView"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_action_search"
        android:showAsAction="collapseActionView|always"
        android:title="@string/search_hint"/>

</menu>

3.Call this method from oncreate.

private void handleIntent(Intent intent) {
        if (Intent.ACTION_SEARCH.equals(intent.getAction())) {
            String query = intent.getStringExtra(SearchManager.QUERY);

            Debug.e("Suggestion handle click", "call " + query);

            startNextActivity(query);

        }
    }

4. if you are using Autosuggestion Listview implement searchView.setOnQueryTextListener ,setOnSuggestionListener and setSuggestionsAdapter.

Sterilize

I don't want A to get the search intent, that's the whole point in my question, sorry if I wasn't clear. – Isar