Save ArrayList to SharedPreferences

Question

I have an ArrayList with custom objects. Each custom object contains a variety of strings and numbers. I need the array to stick around even if the user leaves the activity and then wants to come back at a later time, however I don't need the array available after the application has been closed completely. I save a lot of other objects this way by using the SharedPreferences but I can't figure out how to save my entire array this way. Is this possible? Maybe SharedPreferences isn't the way to go about this? Is there a simpler method?

Answer 1

It's very simple using getStringSet and putStringSet in SharedPreferences, but in my case, I have to duplicate the Set object before I can add anything to the Set. Or else, the Set will not be saved if my app is force closed. Probably because of the note below in the API below. (It saved though if app is closed by back button).

Note that you must not modify the set instance returned by this call. The consistency of the stored data is not guaranteed if you do, nor is your ability to modify the instance at all. http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/SharedPreferences.html#getStringSet

SharedPreferences prefs = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(getActivity());
SharedPreferences.Editor editor = prefs.edit();

Set<String> outSet = prefs.getStringSet("key", new HashSet<String>());
Set<String> workingSet = new HashSet<String>(outSet);
workingSet.add("Another String");

editor.putStringSet("key", workingSet);
editor.commit();

Answer 2

As @nirav said, best solution is store it in sharedPrefernces as a json text by using Gson utility class. Below sample code:

//Retrieve the values
Gson gson = new Gson();
String jsonText = Prefs.getString("key", null);
String[] text = gson.fromJson(jsonText, String[].class);  //EDIT: gso to gson


//Set the values
Gson gson = new Gson();
List<String> textList = new ArrayList<String>();
textList.addAll(data);
String jsonText = gson.toJson(textList);
prefsEditor.putString("key", jsonText);
prefsEditor.apply();

Answer 3

following code is the accepted answer, with a few more lines for new folks (me), eg. shows how to convert the set type object back to arrayList, and additional guidance on what goes before '.putStringSet' and '.getStringSet'. (thank you evilone)

// shared preferences
   private SharedPreferences preferences;
   private SharedPreferences.Editor nsuserdefaults;

// setup persistent data
        preferences = this.getSharedPreferences("MyPreferences", MainActivity.MODE_PRIVATE);
        nsuserdefaults = preferences.edit();

        arrayOfMemberUrlsUserIsFollowing = new ArrayList<String>();
        //Retrieve followers from sharedPreferences
        Set<String> set = preferences.getStringSet("following", null);

        if (set == null) {
            // lazy instantiate array
            arrayOfMemberUrlsUserIsFollowing = new ArrayList<String>();
        } else {
            // there is data from previous run
            arrayOfMemberUrlsUserIsFollowing = new ArrayList<>(set);
        }

// convert arraylist to set, and save arrayOfMemberUrlsUserIsFollowing to nsuserdefaults
                Set<String> set = new HashSet<String>();
                set.addAll(arrayOfMemberUrlsUserIsFollowing);
                nsuserdefaults.putStringSet("following", set);
                nsuserdefaults.commit();

Answer 4

//Set the values
intent.putParcelableArrayListExtra("key",collection);

//Retrieve the values
ArrayList<OnlineMember> onlineMembers = data.getParcelableArrayListExtra("key");

Answer 5

Hey friends I got the solution of above problem without using Gson library. Here I post source code.

1.Variable declaration i.e

  SharedPreferences shared;
  ArrayList<String> arrPackage;

2.Variable initialization i.e

 shared = getSharedPreferences("App_settings", MODE_PRIVATE);
 // add values for your ArrayList any where...
 arrPackage = new ArrayList<>();

3.Store value to sharedPreference using packagesharedPreferences():

 private void packagesharedPreferences() {
   SharedPreferences.Editor editor = shared.edit();
   Set<String> set = new HashSet<String>();
   set.addAll(arrPackage);
   editor.putStringSet("DATE_LIST", set);
   editor.apply();
   Log.d("storesharedPreferences",""+set);
 }

4.Retrive value of sharedPreference using retriveSharedValue():

 private void retriveSharedValue() {
   Set<String> set = shared.getStringSet("DATE_LIST", null);
   arrPackage.addAll(set);
   Log.d("retrivesharedPreferences",""+set);
 }

I hope it will helpful for you...

Answer 6

This is your perfect solution.. try it,

public void saveArrayList(ArrayList<String> list, String key){
    SharedPreferences prefs = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(activity);
    SharedPreferences.Editor editor = prefs.edit();
    Gson gson = new Gson();
    String json = gson.toJson(list);
    editor.putString(key, json);
    editor.apply();     // This line is IMPORTANT !!!
}

public ArrayList<String> getArrayList(String key){
    SharedPreferences prefs = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(activity);
    Gson gson = new Gson();
    String json = prefs.getString(key, null);
    Type type = new TypeToken<ArrayList<String>>() {}.getType();
    return gson.fromJson(json, type);
}