Convert activities to fragments while using AppCompatActivity for Materiel Design support

Question

I have some working android code that uses the AppCompatActivity to support floating TextEdit Labels, though, now I would like to convert these activities into fragments so I can add support for the Navigation Drawer.

I've been trying to figure this out for days, and it seems like it should be simple but has become complicated by using the android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity.

How do I turn my code into fragments so I can implement a Navigation drawer and other more advanced UI controls?

I have two "activity".java files and one layout.xml for each activity.

The Activity.java files are:

MainActivity.java
NewLogActivity.java

The layout.xml are:

main.xml
newlog.xml

The NewLogActivity.java and newlog.xml contain the working floating TextEdit Labels.

MainActivity.java

package com.lazztech.thoughtlog;

import android.app.*;
import android.content.*;
import android.os.*;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.view.*;
import android.widget.*;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity
{
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
    }

    public void onNewLogButtonClick(View view)
    {
        Intent intent = new Intent(this, NewLogActivity.class);
        startActivity(intent);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu)
    {
        // Inflate main_menu.xml 
        MenuInflater inflater = getMenuInflater();
        inflater.inflate(R.menu.main_menu, menu);
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item)
    {
        switch (item.getItemId())
        {
            case R.id.mainMenuAbout:
                Toast.makeText(this, "This is my app!!!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                return true;
            case R.id.mainMenuExit:
                finish();
                return true;

        }
        return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
    }
}

NewLogActivity.java

package com.lazztech.thoughtlog;

import android.app.*;
import android.os.*;
import android.view.*;
import android.widget.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;

import android.content.*;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
import android.widget.SearchView.*;

public class NewLogActivity extends AppCompatActivity
{
    // GUI controls
    EditText txtData;
    EditText situation;
    EditText thoughts;
    EditText emotions;
    EditText behavior;
    CheckBox fortunetelling;
    CheckBox mindreading;
    CheckBox labeling;
    CheckBox filtering;
    CheckBox overestimating;
    CheckBox catastrophizing;
    CheckBox overgeneralizing;

    List<String> distortions = new ArrayList<String>();
    String fortuneTellingString = "Fortune-Telling";
    String mindReadingString = "Mind-Reading";
    String labelingString = "Labeling";
    String filteringString = "Filtering";
    String overestimatingString = "Overestimating";
    String catastrophizingString = "Catastrophizing";
    String overgeneralizingString = "Overgeneralizing";

    EditText altbehavior;
    EditText altthoughts;
    Button btnWriteSDFile;
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        //Set NewLogActivity.xml as user interface layout
        setContentView(R.layout.newlog);

        final TextInputLayout nameWrapper = (TextInputLayout) findViewById(R.id.nameWrapper);
        nameWrapper.setHint("Name:");

        // bind GUI elements with local controls
        txtData = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.txtData);
        situation = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.situation);
        thoughts = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.thoughts);
        emotions = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.emotions);
        behavior = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.behavior);

        fortunetelling = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.fortunetellingCheckBox1);
        mindreading = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.mindreadingCheckBox2);
        labeling = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.labelingCheckBox3);
        filtering = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.filteringCheckBox4);
        overestimating = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.overestimatingCheckBox5);
        catastrophizing = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.catastrophizingCheckBox6);
        overgeneralizing = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.overgeneralizingCheckBox7);

        altbehavior = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.altbehaviors);
        altthoughts = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.altthoughts);

        btnWriteSDFile = (Button) findViewById(R.id.btnWriteSDFile);
    }

        //Checkbox onclick actions
    public void onCheckboxClicked(View view)
    {

        // Is the view now checked?
        boolean checked = ((CheckBox) view).isChecked();

        // Check which checkbox was clicked
        switch(view.getId()) {
            case R.id.fortunetellingCheckBox1:
                if (checked)
                    distortions.add(fortuneTellingString);
                else
                    distortions.remove(fortuneTellingString);
                break;
            case R.id.mindreadingCheckBox2:
                if (checked)
                    distortions.add(mindReadingString);
                else
                    distortions.remove(mindReadingString);
                break;
            case R.id.labelingCheckBox3:
                if (checked)
                    distortions.add(labelingString);
                else
                    distortions.remove(labelingString);
                break;
            case R.id.filteringCheckBox4:
                if (checked)
                    distortions.add(filteringString);
                else
                    distortions.remove(filteringString);
                break;
            case R.id.overestimatingCheckBox5:
                if (checked)
                    distortions.add(overestimatingString);
                else
                    distortions.remove(overestimatingString);
                break;
            case R.id.catastrophizingCheckBox6:
                if (checked)
                    distortions.add(catastrophizingString);
                else
                    distortions.remove(catastrophizingString);
                break;
            case R.id.overgeneralizingCheckBox7:
                if (checked)
                    distortions.add(overgeneralizingString);
                else
                    distortions.remove(overestimatingString);
                break;

        }
        btnWriteSDFile.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {

                public void onClick(View v) {
                    // write on SD card file data in the text box
                    try {
                        File directory = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
                        File myFile = new File(directory, "mythoughtlog.txt");

                        // Check if the file already exists so you don't keep creating
                if(!myFile.exists()) {
                    //Log.i(TAG, "Creating the file as it doesn't exist already");
                    myFile.createNewFile();
                }

                        // Open the FileoutputStream
                FileOutputStream fOut = new FileOutputStream(myFile, true);

                        // Open the printStream to allow for Strings to be written
                PrintStream printStream = new PrintStream(fOut);


                        // Using a stringBuffer to append all the values to
                        StringBuffer stringBuffer = new StringBuffer();
                        stringBuffer.append("Name: " + txtData.getText());
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');
                        stringBuffer.append("Situation: " + situation.getText());
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');
                        stringBuffer.append("Thoughts: " + thoughts.getText());
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');
                        stringBuffer.append("Emotions: " + emotions.getText());
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');
                        stringBuffer.append("Behavior: " + behavior.getText());
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');
                        stringBuffer.append("Distortions: ");
                        stringBuffer.append(distortions);
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');
                        stringBuffer.append("Alt Behavior: " + altbehavior.getText());
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');
                        stringBuffer.append("Alt Thoughts: " + altthoughts.getText());
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');
                        stringBuffer.append('\n');

                        // Print the stringBuffer to the file
                        printStream.print(stringBuffer.toString());

                // Close everything out
                        printStream.close();
                        fOut.close();
                        txtData.setText("Name: "); //ClearScreen
                        situation.setText("Situation: ");
                        thoughts.setText("Thoughts: ");
                        emotions.setText("Emotions: ");
                        behavior.setText("Behavior: ");
                        altbehavior.setText("Alternative Behavior: ");
                        altthoughts.setText("Alternative Thoughts: ");
                        Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(),
                                       "Saved to 'mythoughtlog.txt'",
                                       Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                    } catch (Exception e) {
                        e.printStackTrace();
                        Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(), e.getMessage(),
                                       Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                    }


            }//Save onClick
        });// btnWriteSDFile
    }
}// AndSDcard

And my main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:gravity="top|center"
    android:orientation="vertical">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="@string/title"
        android:textStyle="normal"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
        android:textSize="20sp"
        android:textColor="#000000" />

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:gravity="bottom|center">

        <Button
            android:layout_height="80dp"
            android:text="New Log"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_weight="1.0"
            android:textSize="25sp"
            android:onClick="onNewLogButtonClick"/>

    </LinearLayout>

</LinearLayout>

newlog.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical">

    <ScrollView
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="500dp">

        <LinearLayout
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:orientation="vertical">

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/nameWrapper"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light">

                <EditText
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:inputType="textPersonName"
                    android:ems="10"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:hint="Name:"
                    android:id="@+id/txtData" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/situationWrapper"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light">

                <EditText
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:inputType="textMultiLine"
                    android:ems="10"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:hint="Situation:"
                    android:id="@+id/situation" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/thoughtsWrapper"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light">

                <EditText
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:inputType="textMultiLine"
                    android:ems="10"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:hint="Thoughts:"
                    android:id="@+id/thoughts" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/emotionsWrapper"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light">

                <EditText
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:ems="10"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:hint="Emotions:"
                    android:id="@+id/emotions" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/behaviorWrapper"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light">

                <EditText
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:ems="10"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:hint="Behavior:"
                    android:id="@+id/behavior" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <CheckBox
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:text="Fortune-telling: This occurs when we predict that things will turn out badly. However, we cannot predict the future because we don't have a magic ball!"
                android:id="@+id/fortunetellingCheckBox1"
                android:onClick="onCheckboxClicked"/>

            <CheckBox
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:text="Mind-reading: This happens when we believe that we know what others are thinking and we assume that they are thinking the worst of us. However, we can't mind-read so we don't know what others are thinking!"
                android:id="@+id/mindreadingCheckBox2"
                android:onClick="onCheckboxClicked"/>

            <CheckBox
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:text="Labeling: Sometimes we talk to ourselve in a mean way and we use a single negative word to describe ourselves. However, this kind of thinking is unfair and we are too complex to be summed up in a single word!"
                android:id="@+id/labelingCheckBox3"
                android:onClick="onCheckboxClicked"/>

            <CheckBox
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:text="Filtering: This happens when we take note of all the bad things that happen, but ignore any good things."
                android:id="@+id/filteringCheckBox4"
                android:onClick="onCheckboxClicked"/>

            <CheckBox
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:text="Overestimating: This happens when we believe that something that is unlikely to occur is actually about to happen."
                android:id="@+id/overestimatingCheckBox5"
                android:onClick="onCheckboxClicked"/>

            <CheckBox
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:text="Catastrophizing: This is when we imagine the worst pssible thing is about to happen and we will be unable to cope with it."
                android:id="@+id/catastrophizingCheckBox6"
                android:onClick="onCheckboxClicked"/>

            <CheckBox
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:text="Overgeneralizing: This is when we use words like always or never to describe situations or events. This is a problematic way of thinking because it does not take all situations or events into account."
                android:id="@+id/overgeneralizingCheckBox7"
                android:onClick="onCheckboxClicked"/>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/altbehaviorsWrapper"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light">

                <EditText
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:ems="10"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:hint="Alternative Behaviors:"
                    android:id="@+id/altbehaviors" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

            <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                android:id="@+id/altthoughtsWrapper"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.Light">

                    <EditText
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:ems="10"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:hint="Alternative Thoughts:"
                    android:id="@+id/altthoughts" />

            </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

        </LinearLayout>

    </ScrollView>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:gravity="bottom|center">

        <Button
            android:layout_height="80dp"
            android:text="Save"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_weight="1.0"
            android:textSize="25sp"
            android:id="@+id/btnWriteSDFile"/>

    </LinearLayout>

</LinearLayout>

Answer 1 · 2016-04-04T09:26:04Z

April 4, 2016 9:26am

You don't need fragments to be able to implement Nav drawer.

To convert to fragment you first want to extend Fragment. then you'll have to make some changes in the code.

You need onCreateView(LayoutInflater, ViewGroup, Bundle) instead of onCreate.
findViewById() becomes getView().findViewById()

There are a few other things but you'll work those out as you go.

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Gian Lazzarini

Gian Lazzarini

Convert activities to fragments while using AppCompatActivity for Materiel Design support

1 Answer

Ozhan Saat

Ozhan Saat