How do you reference strings from strings.xml in code?

Question

I'm using the following code to update an image switcher and corresponding strings when the next button is clicked,but I'm having trouble referencing the strings from the res/strings folder in the GetMyString().

For example one of my strings is named cutString.How do I reference it instead of YOUR_STRING_01? Is there a simple way to do call the string or is there a flaw in this implementation?

 btnNext.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
        public void onClick(View v) {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
        currentIndex++;
        // If index reaches maximum reset it
        if(currentIndex==messageCount)
        currentIndex=0;
        imageSwitcher.setImageResource(imageIds[currentIndex]);
        tView.setText(getMyString(clicks++));
        }
        });

        //method called to update textview strings.
        public String getMyString(int variable){
            switch(variable){
                case 1:
                    return YOUR_STRING_01;
                    break;
                case 2:
                    return YOUR_STRING_02;
                    break;
                case 3:
                    return YOUR_STRING_03;
                    break;
            }

Tony · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-31 18:27:20Z

4

So I notice that your implementation doesnt necessarily have reference to a context so you will need to do something like this.

//method called to update textview strings.
    public String getMyString(final int variable, final Context applicationContext){
        switch(variable){
            case 1:
                return applicationContext.getResources().getString(R.string.something);
                break;
            case 2:
                return applicationContext.getResources().getString(R.string.something2);
                break;
            case 3:
                return applicationContext.getResources().getString(R.string.something3);
                break;
        }

    }

edited Jan 31, 2017 at 18:27

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 23:01

Tony

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1 Comment

Brian Var Over a year ago

Thanks that worked a charm,but I'm still having trouble with where to place the code in the class.I placed the getMyString() method call within the same onClick() for switching the images in the view.But it's giving me errors relating to: ` The method getMyString(int, Context) in the type AboutActivity is not applicable for the arguments (int)`

Myth1c · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-11 22:47:39Z

3

You can access Strings stored in the strings.xml via the getString() function.

Example:

XML file saved at res/values/strings.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <string name="hello">Hello!</string>
</resources>

This layout XML applies a string to a View:

<TextView
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="@string/hello" />

This application code retrieves a string:

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

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.

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 22:47

Myth1c

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Comments

Gal Ben-Haim · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-11 22:46:14Z

0

use either String str = getResources().getString(R.string.cutString); or String str = getString(R.string.cutString);

both options are part of Context - http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Context.html

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 22:46

Gal Ben-Haim

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Comments

Marcin Orlowski · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-11 22:46:22Z

0

You reference your string as any other resource, using R class, i.e.:

R.string.cutString;

To get value, use getString():

String text = getResources().getString(R.string.cutString);

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 22:46

Marcin Orlowski

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Comments

Carlos Paulino · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-11 22:49:35Z

0

Every class that inherits from the Context class has a method called getString, which you can use to retrieve your value.

Assuming that btnNext is inside your activity you just have to call

getString(R.string.cutString)

and the result should be that value of your string.

See http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Context.html#getString(int)

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 22:49

Carlos Paulino

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Comments

Mirza Dobric · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-11 22:58:09Z

0

Rather than returning a String from getMyString(), why don't you return the resource ID (R.string.cutString) and then use TextView.setText(int resid) to set the text. Essentially, you should just change the return type of getMyString() to int and the return value from the switch statement to something like this:

    public int getMyString(int variable){
        switch(variable){
            case 1:
                return R.string.YOUR_STRING_01;
                break;
            case 2:
                return R.string.YOUR_STRING_02;
                break;
            case 3:
                return R.string.YOUR_STRING_03;
                break;
        }

answered Nov 11, 2013 at 22:58

Mirza Dobric

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