Android Intents - Tutorial http://www.vogella.com/tutorials/AndroidIntent/article.

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Android Intents - Tutorial

Lars Vogel

Version 3.5

Copyright © 2009-2014 vogella GmbH

28.04.2014

Using Intents in Android

This tutorials describes the usage of intents to communicate between Android components. It is based on
Eclipse 4.4, Java 1.6 and Android 4.4.

Table of Contents
1. Intents and intent filter
1.1. What are intents?
1.2. Starting activities
1.3. Sub-activities
1.4. Starting services
2. Intents types
2.1. Different types of intents
2.2. Explicit Intents
2.3. Implicit Intents
3. Data transfer between activities
3.1. Data transfer to the target component
3.2. Example: Using the share intent
3.3. Retrieving result data from a sub-activity
4. Defining intent filters
4.1. Intent filter
4.2. Defining intent filter
4.3. Example: Register an activity as browser
4.4. Example: Register an activity for the share intent
5. Intents as event triggers
6. Determine valid intent receivers
7. Prerequisites for this tutorial
8. Exercise: Starting activities
8.1. Target of this exercise
8.2. Create project and main layout
8.3. Create new layout file
8.4. Create additional activity
8.5. Start sub-activity
8.6. Send data to ResultActivity
8.7. Get intent data in the ResultActivity
9. Exercise: Receiving data from sub-activities
9.1. Target of this exercise
9.2. Return data from ResultActivity
9.3. Evaluate the return data in MainActivity
10. Solution: Using intents
10.1. How to use this chapter
10.2. Activity code
11. Exercise: Register an activity as Browser
11.1. Target
11.2. Create project
11.3. Register activity as browser
11.4. Validating
11.5. Optional: Make it a real browser
12. Exercise: picking an image via an intent
12.1. Target
12.2. Create project
12.3. Validating
13. Exercise: Using different implicit intents
13.1. Target

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15. Links and Literature

15.1. Android Resources
15.2. vogella GmbH training and consulting support
QUICK LINKS

22 Feb - RCP Training

29 Feb - Android Training Dual channel all-platform
vogella Training interface Pro Audio goes mobile.
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1. Intents and intent filter

1.1. What are intents?

Intents are asynchronous messages which allow application components to request functionality from
other Android components. Intents allow you to interact with components from the same applications as
well as with components contributed by other applications. For example, an activity can start an external
activity for taking a picture.

Intents are objects of the android.content.Intent type. Your code can send them to the Android
system defining the components you are targeting. For example, via the startActivity() method you
can define that the intent should be used to start an activity.

An intent can contain data via a Bundle . This data can be used by the receiving component.

1.2. Starting activities

To start an activity, use the method startActivity(intent) . This method is defined on the Context
object which Activity extends.

The following code demonstrates how you can start another activity via an intent.

# Start the activity connect to the

# specified class

Intent i = new Intent(this, ActivityTwo.class);

startActivity(i);

1.3. Sub-activities

Activities which are started by other Android activities are called sub-activities. This wording makes it
easier to describe which activity is meant.

1.4. Starting services

You can also start services via intents. Use the startService(Intent) method call for that.

2. Intents types

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An application can define the target component directly in the intent (explicit intent) or ask the Android
system to evaluate registered components based on the intent data (implicit intents).
QUICK LINKS
2.2. Explicit Intents
22 Feb - RCP Training
29 Feb - Android Training Explicit intents explicitly define the component which should be called by the Android system, by using the
vogella Training Java class as identifier.
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The following shows how to create an explicit intent and send it to the Android system. If the class
specified in the intent represents an activity, the Android system starts it.

Intent i = new Intent(this, ActivityTwo.class);

i.putExtra("Value1", "This value one for ActivityTwo ");
i.putExtra("Value2", "This value two ActivityTwo");

Explicit intents are typically used within on application as the classes in an application are controlled by
the application developer.

2.3. Implicit Intents

Implicit intents specify the action which should be performed and optionally data which provides content
for the action.

For example, the following tells the Android system to view a webpage. All installed web browsers should
be registered to the corresponding intent data via an intent filter.

Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("http://www.vogella.com"));

startActivity(i);

If an implicit intent is sent to the Android system, it searches for all components which are registered for
the specific action and the fitting data type.

If only one component is found, Android starts this component directly. If several components are
identified by the Android system, the user will get a selection dialog and can decide which component
should be used for the intent.

A component can register itself for actions. See Section 4.1, “Intent filter” for details.

3. Data transfer between activities

3.1. Data transfer to the target component

An intent contains certain header data, e.g., the desired action, the type, etc. Optionally an intent can also
contain additional data based on an instance of the Bundle class which can be retrieved from the intent
via the getExtras() method.

You can also add data directly to the Bundle via the overloaded putExtra() methods of the Intent
objects. Extras are key/value pairs. The key is always of type String . As value you can use the
primitive data types ( int , float , ...) plus objects of type String , Bundle , Parceable and
Serializable .

The receiving component can access this information via the getAction() and getData() methods
on the Intent object. This Intent object can be retrieved via the getIntent() method.

The component which receives the intent can use the getIntent().getExtras() method call to get
the extra data. That is demonstrated in the following code snippet.

Bundle extras = getIntent().getExtras();

if (extras == null) {
return;
}
// get data via the key
String value1 = extras.getString(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT);
if (value1 != null) {
// do something with the data
}

3.2. Example: Using the share intent

Lots of Android applications allow you to share some data with other people, e.g., the Facebook, G+,

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// this runs, for example, after a button click

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
QUICK LINKS intent.setType("text/plain");
intent.putExtra(android.content.Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "News for you!");
22 Feb - RCP Training startActivity(intent);
29 Feb - Android Training
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3.3. Retrieving result data from a sub-activity
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An activity can be closed via the back button on the phone. In this case the finish() method is
performed. If the activity was started with the startActivity(Intent) method call, the caller requires
no result or feedback from the activity which now is closed.

If you start the activity with the startActivityForResult() method call, you expect feedback from
the sub-activity. Once the sub-activity ends, the onActivityResult() method on the sub-activity is
called and you can perform actions based on the result.

In the startActivityForResult() method call you can specify a result code to determine which
activity you started. This result code is returned to you. The started activity can also set a result code
which the caller can use to determine if the activity was canceled or not.

The sub-activity uses the finish() method to create a new intent and to put data into it. It also sets a
result via the setResult() method call.

The following example code demonstrates how to trigger an intent with the
startActivityForResult() method.

public void onClick(View view) {

Intent i = new Intent(this, ActivityTwo.class);
i.putExtra("Value1", "This value one for ActivityTwo ");
i.putExtra("Value2", "This value two ActivityTwo");
// set the request code to any code you like,
// you can identify the callback via this code
startActivityForResult(i, REQUEST_CODE);

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If you use the startActivityForResult() method, then the started activity is called a sub-activity.

If the sub-activity is finished, it can send data back to its caller via an Intent. This is done in the
finish() method.
QUICK LINKS

22 Feb - RCP Training @Override

29 Feb - Android Training public void finish() {
vogella Training // Prepare data intent
vogella Books Intent data = new Intent();
data.putExtra("returnKey1", "Swinging on a star. ");
data.putExtra("returnKey2", "You could be better then you are. ");
// Activity finished ok, return the data
setResult(RESULT_OK, data);
super.finish();
}

Once the sub-activity finishes, the onActivityResult() method in the calling activity is called.

@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
if (resultCode == RESULT_OK && requestCode == REQUEST_CODE) {
if (data.hasExtra("returnKey1")) {
Toast.makeText(this, data.getExtras().getString("returnKey1"),
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}
}

4. Defining intent filters

4.1. Intent filter

Intents are used to signal to the Android system that a certain event has occurred. Intents often describe
the action which should be performed and provide data upon which such an action should be done. For
example, your application can start a browser component for a certain URL via an intent. This is
demonstrated by the following example.

String url = "http://www.vogella.com";

Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
i.setData(Uri.parse(url));
startActivity(i);

But how does the Android system identify the components which can react to a certain intent?

A component can register itself via an intent filter for a specific action and specific data. An intent filter
specifies the types of intents to which an activity, service, or broadcast receiver can respond to by
declaring the capabilities of a component.

Android components register intent filters either statically in the AndroidManifest.xml or in case of a
broadcast receiver also dynamically via code. An intent filter is defined by its category, action and data
filters. It can also contain additional meta-data.

If an intent is sent to the Android system, the Android platform runs a receiver determination. It uses the
data included in the intent. If several components have registered for the same intent filter, the user can
decide which component should be started.

4.2. Defining intent filter

You can register your Android components via intent filters for certain events. If a component does not
define one, it can only be called by explicit intents. This chapter gives an example for registering a
component for an intent. The key for this registration is that your component registers for the correct
action, mime-type and specifies the correct meta-data.

If you send such an intent to your system, the Android system determines all registered Android
components for this intent. If several components have registered for this intent, the user can select which
one should be used.

4.3. Example: Register an activity as browser

The following code will register an Activity for the Intent which is triggered when someone wants to open a
webpage.

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<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
QUICK LINKS <data android:scheme="http"/>
</intent-filter>
22 Feb - RCP Training </activity>
29 Feb - Android Training
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4.4. Example: Register an activity for the share intent
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The following example registers an activity for the ACTION_SEND intent. It declares itself only relevant for
the text/plain mime type.

<activity
android:name=".ActivityTest"
android:label="@string/app_name" >
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />

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

<data android:mimeType="text/plain" />

</intent-filter>

</activity>

If a component does not define an intent filter, it can only be called by explicit intents.

5. Intents as event triggers

Intents can be used to send broadcast messages into the Android system. A broadcast receiver can
register to an event and is notified if such an event is sent.

Your application can register to system events, e.g., a new email has arrived, system boot is complete or
a phone call is received and react accordingly.

6. Determine valid intent receivers

Sometimes you want to determine if a component has registered for an intent. For example, you want to
check if a certain intent receiver is available and in case a component is available, you enable a
functionality in your application.

This check can be done via the PackageManager class.

The following example code checks if a component has registered for a certain intent. Construct your
intent as you are desired to trigger it and pass it to the following method.

public static boolean isIntentAvailable(Context ctx, Intent intent) {

final PackageManager mgr = ctx.getPackageManager();
List<ResolveInfo> list =
mgr.queryIntentActivities(intent,
PackageManager.MATCH_DEFAULT_ONLY);
return list.size() > 0;
}

Based on the result you can adjust your application. For example, you could disable or hide certain menu
items.

7. Prerequisites for this tutorial

The following assumes that you have already basic knowledge in Android development. Please check the
Android development tutorial to learn the basics.

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QUICK LINKS 8. Exercise: Starting activities

22 Feb - RCP Training
8.1. Target of this exercise
29 Feb - Android Training
vogella Training The following exercise demonstrates how to use an explicit intent to start a sub-activity and how to send
vogella Books data to it.

This is the first part of an exercise continued in ???. The final solution can be found in ???.

8.2. Create project and main layout

Create a new Android project called com.vogella.android.intent.explicit with an activity called

MainActivity .

Change the layout file of this activity to the following.

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context=".MainActivity" >

<EditText
android:id="@+id/inputforintent"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:minHeight="60dip"
android:text="First Activity"
android:textSize="20sp" >
</EditText>

<Button
android:id="@+id/startintent"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignLeft="@+id/inputforintent"
android:layout_below="@+id/inputforintent"
android:onClick="onClick"
android:text="Calling an intent" />

</RelativeLayout>

8.3. Create new layout file

Create a new layout called activity_result.xml. In the next step you create a new activity which will
use this layout file.

To create a new layout file, select your project, right click on it and select File → New → Other... →
Android → Android XML File and select the Layout option.

Enter activity_result.xml as file name and press the Finish button. Change your layout so that it is
similar to the following XML file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >

<TextView
android:id="@+id/displayintentextra"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Input"
/>

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android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >

QUICK LINKS <requestFocus />

</EditText>
22 Feb - RCP Training
29 Feb - Android Training </LinearLayout>
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8.4. Create additional activity

Create a new class called ResultActivity based on the following example code.

package com.vogella.android.intent.explicit;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;

public class ResultActivity extends Activity {

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle bundle) {
super.onCreate(bundle);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_result);
}
}

Add a new activity called ResultActivity to the AndroidManifest.xml file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="com.vogella.android.first"
android:versionCode="1"
android:versionName="1.0" >

<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="14" />

<application
android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
android:label="@string/app_name" >
<activity
android:label="@string/app_name"
android:name=".MainActivity" >
<intent-filter >
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

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

</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity
android:label="Result Activity"
android:name=".ResultActivity" >
</activity>
</application>

</manifest>

Note: This new activity will be started via the MainActivity , hence it is called a
sub-activity.

8.5. Start sub-activity

Start the sub-activity via a button click from the MainActivity class. The following code gives some
pointers on how to solve this. Solve the TODO's in the source code so that the ResultActivity activity
is started from the onClick() method.

package com.vogella.android.intent.explicit;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;

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public class MainActivity extends Activity {

@Override
QUICK LINKS public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
22 Feb - RCP Training setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
29 Feb - Android Training }
vogella Training
vogella Books public void onClick(View view) {
EditText text = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.inputforintent);
// used later
String value = text.getText().toString();
// TODO 1 create new Intent(context, class)
// use the activity as context parameter
// and "ResultActivity.class" for the class parameter

// TODO 2 start second activity with

// startActivity(intent);
}

Once you finished this part of the exercise, start your application and ensure that you can start the second
activity.

8.6. Send data to ResultActivity

The MainActivity class should pass the value of the EditText view to the sub-activity. For this use
the putExtra("yourKey", string) on the Intent object.

8.7. Get intent data in the ResultActivity

In your ResultActivity sub-activity get the Bundle with the intent data via the
getIntent().getExtras() ) method call.

Get the value of the passed extra with the extras.getString("yourkey") method on the bundle
object which you got with the getExtras() call.

This value should be placed in the TextView with the displayintentextra ID.

9. Exercise: Receiving data from sub-activities

9.1. Target of this exercise

This is the second part of an exercise which started in Section 8.1, “Target of this exercise”. An
example solution for the activity can be found in Section 10, “Solution: Using intents”.

Continue to use the com.vogella.android.intent.explicit project.

In the following exercise you transfer data back from your second sub-activity to the MainActivity
once the user selects the Back button.

9.2. Return data from ResultActivity

Add the implementation of the finish() method to the ResultActivity class.

@Override
public void finish() {

// TODO 1 create new Intent

// Intent intent = new Intent();

// TODO 2 read the data of the EditText field

// with the id returnValue

// TODO 3 put the text from EditText

// as String extra into the intent
// use editText.getText().toString();

// TODO 4 use setResult(RESULT_OK, intent);

// to return the Intent to the application

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Solve all TODOs.

QUICK LINKS 9.3. Evaluate the return data in MainActivity

22 Feb - RCP Training Use the startActivityForResult() method in MainActivity to start the sub-activity. This allows
29 Feb - Android Training you to use the onActivityResult() method to receive data from the sub-activity. Extract the extra
vogella Training data with the received bundle.
vogella Books
Show a Toast with the extra data to validate that you correctly received it. The following code contains
some pointer on how to solve that.

package com.vogella.android.intent.explicit;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.EditText;

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

// constant to determine which sub-activity returns

private static final int REQUEST_CODE = 10;

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
}

public void onClick(View view) {

EditText text = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.inputforintent);
String string = text.getText().toString();
Intent i = new Intent(this, ResultActivity.class);
i.putExtra("yourkey", string);
// TODO 2.. now use
// startActivityForResult(i, REQUEST_CODE);
}

// TODO 3 Implement this method

// assumes that "returnkey" is used as key to return the result
@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
if (resultCode == RESULT_OK && requestCode == REQUEST_CODE) {
if (data.hasExtra("returnkey")) {
String result = data.getExtras().getString("returnkey");
if (result != null && result.length() > 0) {
Toast.makeText(this, result, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}
}
}
}

10. Solution: Using intents

10.1. How to use this chapter

After finishing the exercise in Section 9.1, “Target of this exercise”, your activity coding should look
similar to the following classes.

You can use this chapter to compare your solution with the proposed solution.

10.2. Activity code

package com.vogella.android.intent.explicit;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;

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public class ResultActivity extends Activity {

@Override
QUICK LINKS public void onCreate(Bundle bundle) {
super.onCreate(bundle);
22 Feb - RCP Training setContentView(R.layout.activity_result);
29 Feb - Android Training Bundle extras = getIntent().getExtras();
vogella Training String inputString = extras.getString("yourkey");
vogella Books TextView view = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.displayintentextra);
view.setText(inputString);
}

@Override
public void finish() {
Intent intent = new Intent();
EditText editText= (EditText) findViewById(R.id.returnValue);
String string = editText.getText().toString();
intent.putExtra("returnkey", string);
setResult(RESULT_OK, intent);
super.finish();
}
}

package com.vogella.android.intent.explicit;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

// constant to determine which sub-activity returns

private static final int REQUEST_CODE = 10;

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
}

public void onClick(View view) {

EditText text = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.inputforintent);
String string = text.getText().toString();
Intent i = new Intent(this, ResultActivity.class);
i.putExtra("yourkey", string);
startActivityForResult(i, REQUEST_CODE);
}

@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
if (resultCode == RESULT_OK && requestCode == REQUEST_CODE) {
if (data.hasExtra("returnkey")) {
String result = data.getExtras().getString("returnkey");
if (result != null && result.length() > 0) {
Toast.makeText(this, result, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}
}
}
}

11. Exercise: Register an activity as Browser

11.1. Target

In the following exercise you register an activity as browser. This means, if an intent is triggered when
someone wants to view an URL starting with http, your activity will be available to process this intent.

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11.2. Create project

Create an Android project called de.vogella.android.intent.browserfilter with an activity called

BrowserActivity .
QUICK LINKS
11.3. Register activity as browser
22 Feb - RCP Training
29 Feb - Android Training
Register your activity to the Intent.Action_VIEW action and the scheme "http" via the following
vogella Training
changes in your AndroidManifest.xml file Ensure that your manifest also declares the permission to
vogella Books
access the Internet.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="de.vogella.android.intent.browserfilter"
android:versionCode="1"
android:versionName="1.0" >

<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="15" />

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" >

</uses-permission>

<application
android:icon="@drawable/icon"
android:label="@string/app_name" >
<activity
android:name=".BrowserActivity"
android:label="@string/app_name" >
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />

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

<data android:scheme="http" />

</intent-filter>
</activity>
</application>

</manifest>

Change the corresponding layout file according the following listing.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
>
<TextView
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="@+id/textView"/>
</LinearLayout>

Change your activity class to the following code.

package de.vogella.android.intent.browserfilter;

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.URL;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.StrictMode;
import android.widget.TextView;

public class BrowserActivity extends Activity {

@Override

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// To keep this example simple, we allow network access

// in the user interface thread
StrictMode.ThreadPolicy policy = new StrictMode.ThreadPolicy.Builder()
QUICK LINKS .permitAll().build();
StrictMode.setThreadPolicy(policy);
22 Feb - RCP Training
29 Feb - Android Training setContentView(R.layout.main);
vogella Training Intent intent = getIntent();
vogella Books TextView text = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.textView);
// To get the action of the intent use
String action = intent.getAction();
if (!action.equals(Intent.ACTION_VIEW)) {
throw new RuntimeException("Should not happen");
}
// To get the data use
Uri data = intent.getData();
URL url;
try {
url = new URL(data.getScheme(), data.getHost(), data.getPath());
BufferedReader rd = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(url.openStream()));
String line = "";
while ((line = rd.readLine()) != null) {
text.append(line);
}

} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}

}
}

11.4. Validating

Install your application. If you trigger an intent to open a URL, the user should be able to select your
custom browser implementation. Trigger for this purpose the following intent from one of your Android
applications by adding for example an additional button to the application which can trigger the code.

intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW,Uri.parse("http://www.vogella.com"));

startActivity(intent);

If you select your component, the HTML code is loaded and displayed into your TextView .

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11.5. Optional: Make it a real browser

Tip: Replace your TextView with a WebView to create a "real" browser. The
WebView does the loading of the HTTP request for you. Simply assign the URL via the
loadUrl method to it.

12. Exercise: picking an image via an intent

12.1. Target

The following example shows how to pick an image from any registered photo application on Android via
an intent.

12.2. Create project

Create a new Android project called de.vogella.android.imagepick with one activity called
ImagePickActivity.

Change the activity_main.xml layout file to the following.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >

<Button
android:id="@+id/button1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:onClick="pickImage"
android:text="Button" >
</Button>

<ImageView
android:id="@+id/result"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:src="@drawable/icon" >
</ImageView>

</LinearLayout>

Change your activity class according to the following coding.

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import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
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import android.app.Activity;
22 Feb - RCP Training import android.content.Intent;
29 Feb - Android Training import android.graphics.Bitmap;
vogella Training import android.graphics.BitmapFactory;
vogella Books import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.ImageView;

public class ImagePickActivity extends Activity {

private static final int REQUEST_CODE = 1;
private Bitmap bitmap;
private ImageView imageView;

/** Called when the activity is first created. */

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
imageView = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.result);
}

public void pickImage(View View) {

Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.setType("image/*");
intent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_OPENABLE);
startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_CODE);
}

@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
InputStream stream = null;
if (requestCode == REQUEST_CODE && resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK)
try {
// recyle unused bitmaps
if (bitmap != null) {
bitmap.recycle();
}
stream = getContentResolver().openInputStream(data.getData());
bitmap = BitmapFactory.decodeStream(stream);

imageView.setImageBitmap(bitmap);
} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} finally {
if (stream != null)
try {
stream.close();
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
}

12.3. Validating

If you run this application, you can select an image from your image library on your Android phone and
assign it to your ImageView .

13. Exercise: Using different implicit intents

13.1. Target

The following exercise demonstrates the usage of implicit intents to trigger activities in your Android
system.

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CallIntentsActivity .

In this example you use a Spinner view to select which intent is triggered. For the content of the
QUICK LINKS Spinner you define static values.

22 Feb - RCP Training Create the following intents.xml file in the res/values folder.
29 Feb - Android Training
vogella Training
<resources>
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<string-array name="intents">
<item>Open Browser</item>
<item>Call Someone</item>
<item>Dial</item>
<item>Show Map</item>
<item>Search on Map</item>
<item>Take picture</item>
<item>Show contacts</item>
<item>Edit first contact</item>
</string-array>

</resources>

Change the layout file of the activity to the following.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<GridLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:alignmentMode="alignBounds"
android:columnCount="1" >

<Spinner
android:id="@+id/spinner"
android:layout_gravity="fill_horizontal"
android:drawSelectorOnTop="true"
>
</Spinner>

<Button
android:id="@+id/trigger"
android:onClick="onClick"
android:text="Trigger Intent">
</Button>

</GridLayout>

To be able to use certain intents, you need to register for the required permission in your
AndroidManifest.xml file. Ensure that your AndroidManifest.xml contains the permissions from
the following listing.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="de.vogella.android.intent.implicit"
android:versionCode="1"
android:versionName="1.0" >

<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="15" />

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PRIVILEGED" >

</uses-permission>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" >
</uses-permission>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" >
</uses-permission>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" >
</uses-permission>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>

<application
android:icon="@drawable/icon"
android:label="@string/app_name" >

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

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

</intent-filter>
22 Feb - RCP Training </activity>
29 Feb - Android Training </application>
vogella Training
vogella Books </manifest>

Change your activity class to the following code.

package de.vogella.android.intent.implicit;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.Spinner;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class CallIntentsActivity extends Activity {

private Spinner spinner;

/** Called when the activity is first created. */

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
spinner = (Spinner) findViewById(R.id.spinner);
ArrayAdapter adapter = ArrayAdapter.createFromResource(this,
R.array.intents, android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item);
adapter.setDropDownViewResource(android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item);
spinner.setAdapter(adapter);
}

public void onClick(View view) {

int position = spinner.getSelectedItemPosition();
Intent intent = null;
switch (position) {
case 0:
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW,
Uri.parse("http://www.vogella.com"));
break;
case 1:
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_CALL,
Uri.parse("tel:(+49)12345789"));
break;
case 2:
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_DIAL,
Uri.parse("tel:(+49)12345789"));
startActivity(intent);
break;
case 3:
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW,
Uri.parse("geo:50.123,7.1434?z=19"));
break;
case 4:
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW,
Uri.parse("geo:0,0?q=query"));
break;
case 5:
intent = new Intent("android.media.action.IMAGE_CAPTURE");
break;
case 6:
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW,
Uri.parse("content://contacts/people/"));
break;

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break;

}
QUICK LINKS if (intent != null) {
startActivity(intent);
22 Feb - RCP Training }
29 Feb - Android Training }
vogella Training
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public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
if (resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK && requestCode == 0) {
String result = data.toURI();
Toast.makeText(this, result, Toast.LENGTH_LONG);
}
}

13.3. Validating

If you start your application, you see a list of buttons and if you press one of the buttons, your defined
activities are started.

Note: Note that you didn't specify any receiving application, only the action that should
be done. This allows you to define loosely coupled tasks which use components of
different applications.

14. About this website

15. Links and Literature

15.1. Android Resources

Android Location API and Google Maps

Android and Networking

Android Homepage

Android Issues / Bugs

Android Google Groups

15.2. vogella GmbH training and consulting support

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