How to simulate touch from background service with

Question

Is it possible to simulate touch from the background application (or service) or to run sh script (that simulate touch)?

It is needed for testing android system without USB or other connection to PC, thats why I can't (or don' know how) use Monkey or other autotest tools.

Added info: I found the way to run shell commands with root (tested devices rooted):

Unable to execute sendevent shell command through the android code (create touch simulation). Writing file on system partition (run commands with root permissions)

Also I get events to simulate touch.

As a result I have:

//sendevent commands to simulate touch (verify it work from cmd)
String[] touchEvent = { "sendevent /dev/input/event0 0 0 0\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 3 53 499\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 3 54 680\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 3 58 40\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 3 48 3\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 3 57 0\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 0 2 0\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 0 0 0\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 0 2 0\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event6 0 0 0\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event0 3 0 2\n",
                        "sendevent /dev/input/event0 0 0 0\n"};

try{
    Thread.sleep(2000);
    Process root = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("su");
    DataOutputStream os = new DataOutputStream(root.getOutputStream());             
    for(int i = 0; i < touchEvent.length; i++){
            Log.i(TAG, touchEvent[i]);  
            os.writeBytes(touchEvent[i]);
            os.flush();
    }
    root.waitFor();
} catch (IOException e) {
    Log.e(TAG, "Runtime problems\n");
    e.printStackTrace();
} catch (SecurityException se){
    se.printStackTrace();
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

I have no any exceptions, but it is not touch simulates.

Can anybody help to solve this problem?

If there is another way to do it with android ndk or daemon on C, please tell me about it.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I can't execute the "sendevent" command, but found another way for myself, hope it will be helpfull for somebody.

For simulate touch I used sendPointerSync() from android.app.Instrumentation, that work only with "android.permission.INJECT_EVENTS" permission. For use it you should compile your app as a system app. To do it you should follow next steps:

1. Getting files from android source:

   root-of-android-source-tree/out/host//framework/signapk.jar

   root-of-android-source-tree/build/target/product/security/platform.x509.pem

   root-of-android-source-tree/build/target/product/security/platform.pk8

2. sign your app using getting files:

   Command "java -jar signapk.jar platform.x509.pem platform.pk8 YourApp-unsigned.apk" YourApp-signed.apk.

3. adb install YourApp-signed.apk
   • Run your app
   • Use "adb shell ps" to confirm that your app is running as system.

Code with touch simulating(new thread is necessary for simulation):

Thread thread = new Thread(){
       @Override
       public void run(){
               Instrumentation m_Instrumentation = new Instrumentation();

               m_Instrumentation.sendPointerSync(MotionEvent.obtain(
                       SystemClock.uptimeMillis(),
                       SystemClock.uptimeMillis(),
                       MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN,posx, posy, 0));
               m_Instrumentation.sendPointerSync(MotionEvent.obtain(
                       SystemClock.uptimeMillis(),
                       SystemClock.uptimeMillis(),
                       MotionEvent.ACTION_UP,width*4/5,height, 0));
       }
   };

Manifest:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.example.yourapp"
    **android:sharedUserId="android.uid.system"**
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0" >

Using resources:

• Programmatically Injecting Events on Android – Part 1
• How to compile Android Application with system permissions
• Instruction for compile here

Answer 2

You can use the "swipe" input. Looking at the Input.java source code you can see the needed parameters to make a swipe.

Here is a gist I made for simulating a swipe for playing the smove game with clicks instead of swipes just to test this. You need super user access to use this implementation though.

Answer 3

I was about to implement your solution when I found an easier one - posting in the hope it will be helpful to someone. Since you already have a rooted device, you don't need to sign as a system app.

To simulate a touch at position (100,200), all you need to is call input from within the service using Runtime.exec as follows:

Process process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("su");
DataOutputStream os = new DataOutputStream(process.getOutputStream());
String cmd = "/system/bin/input tap 100 200\n";
os.writeBytes(cmd);
os.writeBytes("exit\n");
os.flush();
os.close();
process.waitFor();