Share text via Intent on Facebook without using Fa

Question

As Facebook doesn't allow sharing text via Intent unless we use Facebook sdk, I am looking for a way around to achieve this.

I can think of 3 hacks which I can use:

1) As Facebook allows image sharing, I can generate a Bitmap with sharing text drawn onto it and share the image using Intent.

2) Facebook allows sharing URLs, for which it also displays the Head of the page while sharing. I can host a dedicated page on my server and pass values as parameter in the url, and generate the Head using it.(I have no experience with php, but I guess this is possible)

3) Copy text to clipboard and notify user about this.

OR

Use combinations of all 3.

Can anyone suggest me a much better way around to share my content on Facebook without using Facebook sdk?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

There is no way you can share Text alone in the Facebook using android shareIntent.

It is possible only through Facebook SDK using share links functions.

Facebook simply ignores the Extra Text from the intent if there is an image. You can share image, but it does not allow you to share the Text content.

Unfortunately the Facebook sharing intent can only take a single URL with prefixed http:// and no additional text message. Actually facebook strips out the text content and allows only URL/Link. It is by Design and we have no control over it.

This will work

Intent sharingIntent = new Intent(android.content.Intent.ACTION_SEND);
sharingIntent.setType("text/plain");
sharingIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "http://www.google.com");
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(sharingIntent, "Share via"));

This will not work.

Intent sharingIntent = new Intent(android.content.Intent.ACTION_SEND);
sharingIntent.setType("text/plain");
sharingIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "Share Text from App");
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(sharingIntent, "Share via"));

Only approach you can share the text in the Facebook is using Facebook SDK.

Reference Links

Android share intent for facebook- share text AND link

Unable to share text with a link through Android Share Intent

Android and Facebook share intent

Answer 2

Check this :

Intent share=new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
share.setType("text/plain");
share.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "Some text you would like to share...");
share.setPackage("com.facebook.katana"); //Facebook App package
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(share, "Title of the dialog the system will open"));

You don't need facebook SDK with this code......

To enhance your UX, you can do a check if Facebook App(or FacebookLite App) ware installed...

Answer 3

Use this function, I hope it will help

public static void share(Context context, String text, String subject, String title, String dialogHeaderText) {
    Intent intent = new Intent(android.content.Intent.ACTION_SEND);
    intent.setType("text/plain");
    intent.putExtra(android.content.Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, subject);
    intent.putExtra(android.content.Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, text);
    intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TITLE, title);
    context.startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent, dialogHeaderText));
}

Answer 4

When you use native intent it's up to the app the user shares with if it uses the data from the intent or not.

This is a known bug and facebook have made this bug to wishlist. Maybe they are not trying to fix it. This is intentional to make people use FB SDK i think. refer this link http://forum.developers.facebook.net/viewtopic.php?id=93900 and this post

http://forum.developers.facebook.net/viewtopic.php?id=93900

Answer 5

First of all, in order to share text on FB, you got to use FB SDK.

Without FB SDK better option is to go for a dedicated website with "OG" data, which will get resolved automatically. By this, you can change your OG data when ever you need a change.

I would suggest you to go for your hack number 2. But, with this approach, FB allows users to click on the link and redirects to the website, you may try to handle this according to your requirement.

I hope you are clarified with this.

For details on OG please check this Open Graph details

Answer 6

This code lets you paste your content on only on facebook. what id do is get the list of all apps present in your phone and find the open then open facebook app if is already present

        Intent shareIntent = new Intent(android.content.Intent.ACTION_SEND);
        shareIntent.setType("text/plain");
        shareIntent.putExtra(android.content.Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "text to be shared");
        PackageManager pm = getPackageManager();
        List<ResolveInfo> activityList = pm.queryIntentActivities(shareIntent, 0);
        for (final ResolveInfo app : activityList) {
            if ((app.activityInfo.name).contains("facebook")) {
                final ActivityInfo activity = app.activityInfo;
                final ComponentName name = new ComponentName(activity.applicationInfo.packageName, activity.name);
                shareIntent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_LAUNCHER);
                shareIntent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_RESET_TASK_IF_NEEDED);
                shareIntent.setComponent(name);
                startActivity(shareIntent);
                break;
           }
        }