[android] how to read value from string.xml in android?

I have written the line:

String Mess = R.string.mess_1 ;

to get string value, but instead of returning string, it is giving me id of type integer. How can I get its string value? I mentioned the string value in the string.xml file.

Details

• Android Studio 3.1.4
• Kotlin version: 1.2.60

Task

• single line use
• minimum code
• use suggestions from the compiler

Step 1. Application()

Get link to the context of you application

class MY_APPLICATION_NAME: Application() {

    companion object {
        private lateinit var instance: MY_APPLICATION_NAME

        fun getAppContext(): Context = instance.applicationContext
    }

    override fun onCreate() {
        instance = this
        super.onCreate()
    }

}

Step 2. Add int extension

inline fun Int.toLocalizedString(): String = MY_APPLICATION_NAME.getAppContext().resources.getString(this)

Usage

strings.xml

<resources>
    <!-- .......  -->
    <string name="no_internet_connection">No internet connection</string>
    <!-- .......  -->
</resources>

Get string value:

val errorMessage = R.string.no_internet_connection.toLocalizedString()

Results

String myString = getResources().getString(R.string.here_your_string_name);

Now your string is copied into myString. I hope it will work for you.

If you want to add the string value to a button for example, simple use

android:text="@string/NameOfTheString"

The defined text in strings.xml looks like this:

 <string name="NameOfTheString">Test string</string>

**

I hope this code is beneficial

**

String user = getResources().getString(R.string.muser); 

Only for future references.

In the String resources documentation it says:

You can use either getString(int) or getText(int) to retrieve a string. getText(int) will >retain any rich text styling applied to the string.

while u write R. you are referring to the R.java class created by eclipse, use getResources().getString() and pass the id of the resource from which you are trying to read inside the getString() method.

Example : String[] yourStringArray = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.Your_array);

Update

• You can use getString(R.string.some_string_id) in both Activity or Fragment.
• You can use Context.getString(R.string.some_string_id) where you don't have direct access to getString() method. Like Dialog.

Problem is where you don't have Context access, like a method in your Util class.

Assume below method without Context.

public void someMethod(){
    ...
    // can't use getResource() or getString() without Context.
}

Now you will pass Context as a parameter in this method and use getString().

public void someMethod(Context context){
    ...
    context.getString(R.string.some_id);
}

What i do is

public void someMethod(){
    ...
    App.getRes().getString(R.string.some_id)
}

What? It is very simple to use anywhere in your app!

So here is a Bonus unique solution by which you can access resources from anywhere like Util class .

import android.app.Application;
import android.content.res.Resources;

public class App extends Application {
    private static App mInstance;
    private static Resources res;


    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();
        mInstance = this;
        res = getResources();
    }

    public static App getInstance() {
        return mInstance;
    }

    public static Resources getResourses() {
        return res;
    }

}

Add name field to your manifest.xml <application tag.

<application
        android:name=".App"
        ...
        >
        ...
    </application>

Now you are good to go.

By the way, it is also possible to create string arrays in the strings.xml like so:

<string-array name="tabs_names"> 
    <item>My Tab 1</item> 
    <item>My Tab 2</item>
</string-array>

And then from your Activity you can get the reference like so:

String[] tab_names = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.tab_names);
String tabname1=tab_names[0];//"My Tab 1"

Solution 1

Context context;
String mess = context.getString(R.string.mess_1)

Solution 2

String mess = getString(R.string.mess_1)

getString(R.string.your_string) get the result

In Activity:

this.getString(R.string.resource_name)

If not in activity but have access to context:

context.getString(R.string.resource_name)
application.getString(R.string.resource_name)

You can use this code:

 getText(R.string.mess_1); 

Basically, you need to pass the resource id as a parameter to the getText() method.

You must reference Context name before using getResources() in Android.

String user=getApplicationContext().getResources().getString(R.string.muser);

OR

Context mcontext=getApplicationContext();

String user=mcontext.getResources().getString(R.string.muser);

I'm using this:

String URL = Resources.getSystem().getString(R.string.mess_1);

If you are in an activity you can use

getResources().getString(R.string.whatever_string_youWant);

If you are not in an Activity use this :

getApplicationContext.getResource().getString(R.String.Whatever_String_you_want)

You can read directly the value defined into strings.xml:

<resources>
    <string name="hello">Hello StackOverflow!</string>
</resources>

and set into a variable:

String mymessage = getString(R.string.hello);

but we can define the string into the view:

<TextView
    android:id="@+id/myTextView"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="@string/hello"/>

In fragments, you can use

getActivity().getString(R.id.whatever);