How to listen for preference changes within a PreferenceFragment?

Question

As described here, I am subclassing PreferenceFragment and displaying it inside an Activity. That document explains how to listen for preference changes here, but only if yo

Answer 1

Another complete example so you see the entire picture.

public class SettingsActivity extends AppCompatPreferenceActivity {


    /**
     * A preference value change listener that updates the preference's summary
     * to reflect its new value.
     */
    private static Preference.OnPreferenceChangeListener
            sBindPreferenceSummaryToValueListener =
            new Preference.OnPreferenceChangeListener() {

                @Override
                public boolean onPreferenceChange(Preference preference, Object value) {
                    String stringValue = value.toString();

                    if (preference instanceof ListPreference) {
                        // For list preferences, look up the correct display value in
                        // the preference's 'entries' list.
                        ListPreference listPreference = (ListPreference) preference;
                        int index = listPreference.findIndexOfValue(stringValue);

                        // Set the summary to reflect the new value.
                        preference.setSummary(
                                index >= 0
                                        ? listPreference.getEntries()[index]
                                        : null);

                    } else if (preference instanceof RingtonePreference) {
                        // For ringtone preferences, look up the correct display value
                        // using RingtoneManager.
                        if (TextUtils.isEmpty(stringValue)) {
                            // Empty values correspond to 'silent' (no ringtone).
                            preference.setSummary(R.string.pref_ringtone_silent);
                        } else {
                            Ringtone ringtone = RingtoneManager.getRingtone(
                                    preference.getContext(), Uri.parse(stringValue));
                            if (ringtone == null) {
                                // Clear the summary if there was a lookup error.
                                preference.setSummary(null);
                            } else {
                                // Set the summary to reflect the new ringtone display
                                // name.
                                String name = ringtone.getTitle(preference.getContext());
                                preference.setSummary(name);
                            }
                        }

                    } else {
                        // For all other preferences, set the summary to the value's
                        // simple string representation.
                        preference.setSummary(stringValue);
                    }
                    return true;
                }
            };

    /**
     * Helper method to determine if the device has an extra-large screen. For
     * example, 10" tablets are extra-large.
     */
    private static boolean isXLargeTablet(Context context) {
        return (context.getResources().getConfiguration().screenLayout
                & Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_MASK) >= Configuration.SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE_XLARGE;
    }

    /**
     * Binds a preference's summary to its value. More specifically, when the
     * preference's value is changed, its summary (line of text below the
     * preference title) is updated to reflect the value. The summary is also
     * immediately updated upon calling this method. The exact display format is
     * dependent on the type of preference.
     *
     * @see #sBindPreferenceSummaryToValueListener
     */
    private static void bindPreferenceSummaryToValue(Preference preference) {
        // Set the listener to watch for value changes.
        preference.setOnPreferenceChangeListener(sBindPreferenceSummaryToValueListener);

        // Trigger the listener immediately with the preference's current value.
        sBindPreferenceSummaryToValueListener.onPreferenceChange(preference,
                PreferenceManager
                        .getDefaultSharedPreferences(preference.getContext())
                        .getString(preference.getKey(), ""));
    }

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setupActionBar();
    }

    /**
     * Set up the {@link android.app.ActionBar}, if the API is available.
     */
    private void setupActionBar() {
        ActionBar actionBar = getSupportActionBar();
        if (actionBar != null) {
            // Show the Up button in the action bar.
            actionBar.setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
        }
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onMenuItemSelected(int featureId, MenuItem item) {
        int id = item.getItemId();
        if (id == android.R.id.home) {
            if (!super.onMenuItemSelected(featureId, item)) {
                NavUtils.navigateUpFromSameTask(this);
            }
            return true;
        }
        return super.onMenuItemSelected(featureId, item);
    }

    /**
     * {@inheritDoc}
     */
    @Override
    public boolean onIsMultiPane() {
        return isXLargeTablet(this);
    }

    /**
     * {@inheritDoc}
     */
    @Override
    @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.HONEYCOMB)
    public void onBuildHeaders(List<Header> target) {
        loadHeadersFromResource(R.xml.pref_headers, target);
    }

    /**
     * This method stops fragment injection in malicious applications.
     * Make sure to deny any unknown fragments here.
     */
    protected boolean isValidFragment(String fragmentName) {
        return PreferenceFragment.class.getName().equals(fragmentName)
                || GPSLocationPreferenceFragment.class.getName().equals(fragmentName)
                || DataSyncPreferenceFragment.class.getName().equals(fragmentName)
                || NotificationPreferenceFragment.class.getName().equals(fragmentName);
    }

    ////////////////// NEW PREFERENCES ////////////////////////////

    @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.HONEYCOMB)
    public static class GPSLocationPreferenceFragment extends PreferenceFragment {

        Preference prefGPSServerAddr, prefGPSASDID, prefIsGPSSwitch;

        @Override
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
            super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
            addPreferencesFromResource(R.xml.pref_gps_location);
            setHasOptionsMenu(true);

            // Bind the summaries of EditText/List/Dialog/Ringtone preferences
            // to their values. When their values change, their summaries are
            // updated to reflect the new value, per the Android Design
            // guidelines.

            bindPreferenceSummaryToValue(findPreference("gpsServer_Addr"));
            bindPreferenceSummaryToValue(findPreference("gpsASD_ID"));


            prefGPSServerAddr = findPreference("gpsServer_Addr");
            prefGPSServerAddr.setOnPreferenceChangeListener(new Preference.OnPreferenceChangeListener() {
                @Override
                public boolean onPreferenceChange(Preference preference, Object newValue) {

                    try {
                        // do whatever you want with new value

                    }
                    catch (Exception ex)
                    {
                        Log.e("Preferences", ex.getMessage());
                    }

                    // true to update the state of the Preference with the new value
                    // in case you want to disallow the change return false
                    return true;
                }
            });

            prefGPSASDID = findPreference("gpsASD_ID");
            prefGPSASDID.setOnPreferenceChangeListener(new Preference.OnPreferenceChangeListener() {
                @Override
                public boolean onPreferenceChange(Preference preference, Object newValue) {

                    try {
                        // do whatever you want with new value

                    }
                    catch (Exception ex)
                    {
                        Log.e("Preferences", ex.getMessage());
                    }

                    // true to update the state of the Preference with the new value
                    // in case you want to disallow the change return false
                    return true;
                }
            });

            prefIsGPSSwitch = findPreference("isGPS_Switch");
            prefIsGPSSwitch.setOnPreferenceChangeListener(new Preference.OnPreferenceChangeListener() {
                @Override
                public boolean onPreferenceChange(Preference preference, Object newValue) {

                    try {
                        // do whatever you want with new value

                    }
                    catch (Exception ex)
                    {
                        Log.e("Preferences", ex.getMessage());
                    }

                    // true to update the state of the Preference with the new value
                    // in case you want to disallow the change return false
                    return true;
                }
            });
        }

        @Override
        public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
            int id = item.getItemId();
            if (id == android.R.id.home) {
                boolean tabletSize = getResources().getBoolean(R.bool.isTablet);
                if (tabletSize) {
                    startActivity(new Intent(getActivity(), MainActivity.class));
                } else {
                    startActivity(new Intent(getActivity(), SettingsActivity.class));
                }
                return true;
            }
            return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
        }
    }

    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    /**
     * This fragment shows notification preferences only. It is used when the
     * activity is showing a two-pane settings UI.
     */
    @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.HONEYCOMB)
    public static class NotificationPreferenceFragment extends PreferenceFragment {
        @Override
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
            super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
            addPreferencesFromResource(R.xml.pref_notification);
            setHasOptionsMenu(true);

            // Bind the summaries of EditText/List/Dialog/Ringtone preferences
            // to their values. When their values change, their summaries are
            // updated to reflect the new value, per the Android Design
            // guidelines.
            bindPreferenceSummaryToValue(findPreference("notifications_new_message_ringtone"));
        }

        @Override
        public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
            int id = item.getItemId();
            if (id == android.R.id.home) {
                boolean tabletSize = getResources().getBoolean(R.bool.isTablet);
                if (tabletSize) {
                    startActivity(new Intent(getActivity(), MainActivity.class));
                } else {
                    startActivity(new Intent(getActivity(), SettingsActivity.class));
                }
                return true;
            }
            return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
        }
    }

    /**
     * This fragment shows data and sync preferences only. It is used when the
     * activity is showing a two-pane settings UI.
     */
    @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.HONEYCOMB)
    public static class DataSyncPreferenceFragment extends PreferenceFragment {
        @Override
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
            super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
            addPreferencesFromResource(R.xml.pref_data_sync);
            setHasOptionsMenu(true);

            // Bind the summaries of EditText/List/Dialog/Ringtone preferences
            // to their values. When their values change, their summaries are
            // updated to reflect the new value, per the Android Design
            // guidelines.
            bindPreferenceSummaryToValue(findPreference("sync_frequency"));
        }

        @Override
        public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
            int id = item.getItemId();
            if (id == android.R.id.home) {
                boolean tabletSize = getResources().getBoolean(R.bool.isTablet);
                if (tabletSize) {
                    startActivity(new Intent(getActivity(), MainActivity.class));
                } else {
                    startActivity(new Intent(getActivity(), SettingsActivity.class));
                }
                return true;
            }
            return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
        }
    }
}

Answer 2

Here is one way to do it and avoid any potential memory leaks:

@Override
public void onCreatePreferences(Bundle savedInstanceState, String rootKey) {
    addPreferencesFromResource(R.xml.pref_movies);

    SharedPreferences sharedPreferences = getPreferenceScreen().getSharedPreferences(); 

    //starts live change listener
    sharedPreferences.registerOnSharedPreferenceChangeListener(this);
}

@Override
public void onDestroyView () {
    super.onDestroyView(); 
//Unregisters listener here
    PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(getContext())
            .unregisterOnSharedPreferenceChangeListener(this);
}

Answer 3

If you only want to update the summary, using androidx preference library (see the official guides), and adding the following attribute in your layout xml will be enough:

<EditTextPreference
    ...
    app:useSimpleSummaryProvider="true" />