How to access <item> from <string-array> resource in an android XML?

Question

I have a xml file (/res/xml/setting.xml) for PreferenceActivity:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<PreferenceScreen xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
        <PreferenceCategory android:title="Main Settings">
            <ListPreference
                android:title="Background Image"
                android:summary="Set the background image"
                android:key="key_background"
                android:entries="@array/background"
                android:entryValues="@array/background_values" 
                android:defaultValue="winter.png" /> 
        </PreferenceCategory>
</PreferenceScreen>

Then I have another xml file "/res/values/string.xml":

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

    <string-array name="background">
        <item>Winter</item>
        <item>Desert</item>
    </string-array>

    <string-array name="background_values">
        <item>winter.png</item>
        <item>desert.png</item>
    </string-array>

</resources>

See ListPreference in setting.xml, I want android:defaultValue to be set with winter.png. But I also don't want to be set with hardcoded/constant value in the xml, so I tried with various values such as "@array/background_values/0", "@array/background_values[0]", etc...but all failed.

So, the questions are:

What is the correct syntax for accesing an item of string-array resource in other xml?
How to make sure if the android:defaultValue is working?
Is there any documentation about the @array syntax? I can't found any.

Dot Cink · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-18 09:38:37Z

1

Android Developers gives no way for resource reference to string-array in XML, not to metion its items.
You can clear your app's data, reinstall and open your app, go to your settings screen, then the defaultValue will go to your shared prefereces file. If defaultValue matches one of the items, it will be selected.

BTW, you can change your items in string-array to reference to string to avoid hardcoding.

answered Apr 18, 2012 at 9:38

Dot Cink

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2 Comments

Dot Cink Over a year ago

References to string is not hardcoded value, why not use it?

null Over a year ago

I see, so I can create a <string> resource for the winter.jpg (let'say I give it id=default_background) and winter.jpg in background_values <string-array> is changed to @string/default_background. I found it a little not intuitive, but I guess it's the only way to type winter.jpg once in xml.

julian · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-18 11:43:15Z

0

~~Use the index of the value you want from your array android:defaultValue="0"~~

The above code worked only because i am using numbers inside my string array values, it is not because of index.

edited Apr 18, 2012 at 11:43

answered Apr 18, 2012 at 8:14

julian

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9 Comments

null Over a year ago

Hi, do you know how to test if the android:defaultValue is working?

julian Over a year ago

You may want to 'Clear data' of your application to reset preferences to default. You can do it on the phone Settings. (Also please don't forget to upvote and/or mark this as an answer if it helps you)

julian Over a year ago

Try to select a different value other than the default. Then go to Settings and Clear the data of your app. The next time you open your app it must display the default value.

null Over a year ago

The android:defaultValue="0" doesn't work. The result is the list showed up with no option selected at all (of course I already cleared the application data). Screenshot: imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/device20120418175643.jpg

null Over a year ago

Also it doesn't make sense if we can put number "0", "1",...etc. How if there is "0" value in a background_values list? Let's say I change the "desert.png" to "0" in background_values string-array.

|

roghayeh hosseini · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-24 10:26:23Z

1- Define a separate file for arrays (res/values/arrays.xml)

arrays.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?
<resources>
<string-array name="settings_order_by_labels">
    <item>label1</item>
    <item>label2</item>
</string-array>

<string-array name="settings_order_by_values">
    <item>value1</item>
    <item>value2</item>
</string-array>
</resources>

2- use this arrays in Preference xml file:

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

<ListPreference
    android:defaultValue="value1"
    android:entries="@array/settings_order_by_labels"
    android:entryValues="@array/settings_order_by_values"
    android:key="order_by"
    android:title="Order By" />
</PreferenceScreen>

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