How to get String Array from arrays.xml file

Question

I am just trying to display a list from an array that I have in my arrays.xml. When I try to run it in the emulator, I get a force close message.

If I define the array in the java file

String[] testArray = new String[] {"one","two","three","etc"};

it works, but when I use

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

it doesnt work.

Here is my Java file:

package com.xtensivearts.episode.seven;

import android.app.ListActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;

public class Episode7 extends ListActivity {
 String[] testArray = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.testArray);

 /** Called when the activity is first created. */
 @Override
 protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {

  super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

  // Create an ArrayAdapter that will contain all list items
  ArrayAdapter<String> adapter;

  /* Assign the name array to that adapter and 
     also choose a simple layout for the list items */ 
  adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(
    this,
    android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1,
    testArray);

  // Assign the adapter to this ListActivity
  setListAdapter(adapter);
 }


}

Here is my arrays.xml file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  
<resources>  
  <array name="testArray">  
    <item>first</item>  
    <item>second</item>  
    <item>third</item>  
    <item>fourth</item>  
    <item>fifth</item>  
  </array>
</resources>

KimKha · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-25 12:38:08Z

232

You can't initialize your testArray field this way, because the application resources still aren't ready.

Just change the code to:

package com.xtensivearts.episode.seven;

import android.app.ListActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;

public class Episode7 extends ListActivity {
    String[] mTestArray;

    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

        // Create an ArrayAdapter that will contain all list items
        ArrayAdapter<String> adapter;

        mTestArray = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.testArray);    

        /* Assign the name array to that adapter and 
        also choose a simple layout for the list items */ 
        adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(
            this,
            android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1,
            mTestArray);

        // Assign the adapter to this ListActivity
        setListAdapter(adapter);
    }
}

edited Mar 25, 2015 at 12:38

KimKha

4,5301 gold badge39 silver badges46 bronze badges

answered Mar 16, 2010 at 11:59

Dimitar Dimitrov

16.4k5 gold badges55 silver badges57 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Lesik2008 Over a year ago

I would also add that "-" are not allowed in arrays names. Eclipse did not warn me, the xml file seemed alright, and it took me a while to realize that this was causing the problem. "_" work fine.

Muhammad Aamir Ali · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-27 07:24:27Z

31

Your array.xml is not right. change it to like this

Here is array.xml file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  
<resources>  
    <string-array name="testArray">  
        <item>first</item>  
        <item>second</item>  
        <item>third</item>  
        <item>fourth</item>  
        <item>fifth</item>  
   </string-array>
</resources>

answered Nov 27, 2012 at 7:24

Muhammad Aamir Ali

21.2k11 gold badges68 silver badges58 bronze badges

1 Comment

Lubos Horacek Over a year ago

Would not solve that this field is initialized before Activity context and resources are initialized.

HaMMeReD · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-17 22:57:55Z

2

Your XML is not entirely clear, but arrays XML can cause force closes if you make them numbers, and/or put white space in their definition.

Make sure they are defined like No Leading or Trailing Whitespace

answered Dec 17, 2010 at 22:57

HaMMeReD

2,46223 silver badges29 bronze badges

Comments

rama-void · Accepted Answer · 2021-12-07 06:10:18Z

2

You can also get the string array from xml as ArrayList by the following code

xml array:

    <string-array name="testArray">  
        <item>first</item>  
        <item>second</item>  
        <item>third</item>  
        <item>fourth</item>  
        <item>fifth</item>  
   </string-array>

kotlin code:

val stringArray: ArrayList<String> =  resources.getStringArray(R.array.testArray).toList() as ArrayList<String>

answered Dec 7, 2021 at 6:10

rama-void

835 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to get String Array from arrays.xml file

4 Answers 4

1 Comment

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

1 Comment

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related