how to create a shortcut which leads to a non-launcher activity?

Question

I want to create a shortcut in an android app, it lead to another activity which is not launcher of the app.

Answer 1

I have developed one method below for creating the shortcut icon on android Homescreen. Just call it.

private void ShortcutIcon(){

    Intent shortcutIntent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), MainActivity.class);
    shortcutIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
    shortcutIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);

    Intent addIntent = new Intent();
    addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, shortcutIntent);
    addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, "Test");
    addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_ICON_RESOURCE, Intent.ShortcutIconResource.fromContext(getApplicationContext(), R.drawable.ic_launcher));
    addIntent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.INSTALL_SHORTCUT");
    getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(addIntent);
}

Don't forget to change your activity name, icon resource . Happy coding !!!

Answer 2

To create the shortcut itself you need a specially crafted activity which must:

• Be defined in your AndroidManifest.xml with an intent filter with the action android.intent.action.CREATE_SHORTCUT.
• Return a result, an Intent, containing your actual shortcut. The shortcut itself is represented by another Intent.

This activity will then show up when you longpress your desktop and select "Shortcuts".

Of course the shortcut by itself is not much use, so you must add an intent filter to whatever activity you want to get triggered by the shortcut. The intent filter should match whatever Intent you chose for your shortcut.

I wrote a small how-to on the subject, it's got more details: http://www.kind-kristiansen.no/2010/android-adding-desktop-shortcut-support-to-your-app/

Do tell me if anything is unclear in that post, I'll try to clear it up.