Non Deprecated findPreference() Method? - Android

Question

I want to detect when a Preference contained in a ListView gets clicked, so that I can launch an intent to manage that selection.

I would have done like this in my layout XML file:

<Preference android:title="About" android:key="myKey"></Preference>

And the following in my java code:

Preference myPref = (Preference) findPreference("myKey");
myPref.setOnPreferenceClickListener(new OnPreferenceClickListener() {
             public boolean onPreferenceClick(Preference preference) {
                 //open browser or intent here
             }
         });

But the method public Preference findPreference (CharSequence key) is deprecated.

1. Is there a non deprecated equivalent?
2. If not, what if I use it anyway?
3. How can Fragments help me do my task in a better way?Chek here: Preferences without deprecated methods.

---

Here you can check the XML layout structure that my activity has, and a snapshot of the application:

XML:

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

    <Preference 
        android:key="about" 
        android:title="@string/titleAbout" 
        android:summary="@string/summaryAbout" 
    />

    <Preference 
        android:key="labelTaxonomy" 
        android:title="@string/titleLabelTaxonomy" 
        android:summary="@string/summaryLabelTaxonomy" 
    />

</PreferenceScreen>

SNAPSHOT:

After clicking on the About (or Access Label Taxonomy) Preference, I'd like to open an intent of some kind (could also be a video or anything else...the names are misleading).

Answer 1

maybe docs link are not clear. But using that feature is very simple. for example, you can use that as a twitter page like this

<PreferenceCategory android:title="Share" >
 <PreferenceScreen
        android:title="Twitter"
        android:summary="Follow me at Twitter">

    <intent android:action="android.intent.action.VIEW"
            android:data="https://twitter.com/" />

</PreferenceScreen>
</PreferenceCategory>

it doesnt need any java code. Thanks to CommonsWare!

Answer 2

2018 UPDATE Today, the onPreferenceTreeClick method has to be overriden in the Preference fragment for this purpose. For example:

public class MySettingsFragment extends PreferenceFragment {

    @Override
    public boolean onPreferenceTreeClick (PreferenceScreen preferenceScreen,
                                          Preference preference)
    {
        String key = preference.getKey();
        if(key.equals("someKey")){
            // do your work
            return true;
        }
        return false;
    }
}

Answer 3

If you use fragments, you can use the method "findPreference()" on the basis of a preferences fragment.

public class CustomActivity extends PreferenceActivity {
  @Override
  public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_custom);

      CustomFragment customFragment = (CustomFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.custom_fragment);
      EditTextPreference textPreference = (EditTextPreference) customFragment.findPreference("preference_key");

      textPreference.setOnPreferenceClickListener(new OnPreferenceClickListener() {
         public boolean onPreferenceClick(Preference preference) {
             //open browser or intent here
         }
     });
  }
}

Answer 4

Is there a non deprecated equivalent?

If you are using PreferenceFragment on API Level 11+ devices, you would call findPreference() on it. Otherwise, call findPreference() on your PreferenceActivity, as you have no choice.

If not, what if I use it anyway?

It will work.

How can Fragments help me do my task in a better way?

API Level 11+ introduced PreferenceFragment as another way of constructing the contents of a PreferenceActivity. You are welcome to use them, but if you are still supporting older devices, you cannot use PreferenceFragment for those devices.

That being said:

I want to detect when a Preference contained in a ListView gets clicked, so that I can launch an intent to manage that selection.

You do not need Java code for this. Use:

    <PreferenceScreen
            android:title="@string/title_intent_preference"
            android:summary="@string/summary_intent_preference">

        <intent android:action="android.intent.action.VIEW"
                android:data="http://www.android.com" />

    </PreferenceScreen>

(as seen in the JavaDocs for PreferenceActivity)

This will create an entry in the preference UI that, when clicked, will start an activity with the specified Intent.