Where to store Android preference keys?

Question

When I create preference activity I define all preferences in xml file. Every preference has a key defined in this xml. But when I access preference I write:

Answer 1

Try getString(R.string.key_defined_in_xml).

Answer 2

As far as I know there's no better way of referencing preference keys (aside from maybe using a static final String to store the string on the class).

The example given in the SDK docs does the same as what you've given in your example,

Answer 3

Not sure if this post need another answer, put i end up to it like this:

-Extend all the Preference needed and add this code

   final static private int[] ATTR_INDEX = {android.R.attr.id};
    private void init(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyleAttr, int defStyleRes){
        if(attrs == null) return;
        AttributeReader attributes = new AttributeReader().setAttrsIndex(ATTR_INDEX).parse(attrs);
        int id = attributes.asResourceID(0);
        setKey(AppContext.getIdentifierName(id));
    }

• In the xml, don't use the key attribute but android:id="@+id/...

• And finally to get back the value,

  SharedPreferences SP = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(getContext()); String preference_1 = SP.getString(AppContext.getIdentifierName(R.id.pref_key_1), null);

This way, you don't have to create a string file who need to be maintain, just create any id on the fly. But you need to be familiar with extending a view and get read the attr to find what you want (Here the id attribute)

Answer 4

I've found that it's possible to store keys in strings.xml and refer to them from preferences.xml just like all other values android:key="@string/preference_enable".

In code you can refer to key by typing getString(R.string.preference_enable)

You can mark the string to not be translated using a <xliff:g> tag. See Localization Checklist

<string name="preference_enable"><xliff:g id="preference_key">enable</xliff:g></string>

Answer 5

You could use a "keys.xml" files in "res/values", but should put something like this, this way you should dont have problem when you are using multiple languages:

    <resources
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    tools:ignore="MissingTranslation">

    <string name="key1">key1</string>
    <string name="key2">key2</string>
...
</resources>

Then you could reference it like a normal string in xml:

....
android:key="@string/key1"
....

or in your java code for example:

SwitchPreference Pref1= (SwitchPreference) getPreferenceScreen().findPreference(getString(R.string.key1));

Answer 6

In strings.xml mark the key as untranslatable:

<string name="screw_spacing_key" translatable="false">Screw spacing</string>
<string name="screw_spacing_title">Screw spacing</string>
<string name="screw_spacing_summary">Set screw spacing</string>

Usage:

<EditTextPreference
    android:key="@string/screw_spacing_key"
    android:title="@string/screw_spacing_title"
    android:summary="@string/screw_spacing_summary"/>

See: Configure untranslatable rows