How to get id of a string array in string.xml if you have the array name

Question

I there a simple way to get the id of the string array defined in string.xml using it's string name? I have a string name of the string array, i need a way to reference that array. Below is the just an sample xml.

<string-array name="categories_array">
    <item>Clothes</item>
    <item>Electronics</item>
    <item>Gifts</item>
    <item>Food</item>
</string-array>
<string-array name="clothes">
    <item>Clothes</item>
    <item>Electronics</item>
    <item>Gifts</item>
    <item>Food</item>
    <item>Books</item>
    <item>Music</item>
    <item>Bags</item>
</string-array>
<string-array name="electronics">
    <item>Clothes</item>
    <item>Electronics</item>
    <item>Gifts</item>
    <item>Food</item>
    <item>Books</item>
    <item>Music</item>
    <item>Bags</item>
</string-array>
<string-array name="gifts">
    <item>Clothes</item>
    <item>Electronics</item>
    <item>Gifts</item>
    <item>Food</item>
    <item>Books</item>
    <item>Music</item>
    <item>Bags</item>
</string-array>
<string-array name="food">
    <item>Clothes</item>
    <item>Electronics</item>
    <item>Gifts</item>
    <item>Food</item>
    <item>Books</item>
    <item>Music</item>
    <item>Bags</item>
</string-array>

Now if i have the array name "clothes" , how would i get it's id?

can you describe better with an example?

Shayan Pourvatan
– Shayan Pourvatan

2014-02-17 12:55:15 +00:00
Commented Feb 17, 2014 at 12:55 — Shayan Pourvatan
– Shayan Pourvatan, Commented Feb 17, 2014 at 12:55

Pang · Accepted Answer · 2023-06-21 00:59:23Z

10

You can use this:

int resId = getResources().getIdentifier("nameOfStringResource", "array", getPackageName());

For instance:

int resId = getResources().getIdentifier("categories_array", "array", getPackageName());

See docs.

edited Jun 21, 2023 at 0:59

Pang

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answered Feb 17, 2014 at 12:58

Devrim

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Comments

Pang · Accepted Answer · 2023-06-21 01:00:32Z

2

This can be done using reflection:

String name = "your_array";
final Field field = R.array.getField(name);
int id = field.getInt(null);
String[] strings = getResources().getStringArray(id);

Or using Resources.getIdentifier():

String name = "your_array";
int id = getResources().getIdentifier(name, "array", getPackageName());
String[] strings = getResources().getStringArray(id);

edited Jun 21, 2023 at 1:00

Pang

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answered Feb 17, 2014 at 12:58

FD_

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Comments

SMR · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-17 12:55:43Z

0

try R.array.yourarray Hope it helps.

answered Feb 17, 2014 at 12:55

SMR

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Comments

Pang · Accepted Answer · 2023-06-21 01:00:45Z

0

String[] some_array = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.categories_array);

edited Jun 21, 2023 at 1:00

Pang

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answered Feb 17, 2014 at 13:07

Ahmad Arslan

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Comments

Pang · Accepted Answer · 2023-06-21 01:01:59Z

0

You can use

getResources().getString(R.string.your_string)

to get String and

getResources().getStringArray(R.array.your_string)

to get String array.

edited Jun 21, 2023 at 1:01

Pang

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answered Feb 17, 2014 at 12:57

Apoorv

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