How to startActivity() from BroadcastReceiver without recreating the activity?

Question

I need to receive a broadcast event inside a broadcast receiver and than pass this information to an activity that is already open. How can I inform the activity from the broadcast receiver without it getting recreated? This causes a total refresh which is not needed.

Now I could receive intent inside a broadcast receiver that is declared within the activity, but I also need to receive the intent when its in background as well, hence the main place I am processing the intents is in a separate broadcast receiver. So I just don't know how to inform the activity that a new intent has arrived without onCreate() getting called and re-init the whole UI.

I think I need the NEW_TASK flag or it won't run.

PS: What are these insane downvotes about. What could be more relevant than how to start an activity from a broadcast receiver in such a way as not to recreate the activity. BTW, I am going to find an answer w/wo you. Why the bitter downvotes? I suspect it is because you know I could use an answer. Well I'll probably be posting an answer to this great question myself quite soon.

Don't worry, I didn't downvote you, but this is a possible duplicate of http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11225687/receive-custom-intent-without-activity-restart — A--C, Dec 12 '12 at 03:41
This question should be upvoted to show that unjustified negativity is not appreciated on this forum. — Android Developer, Dec 12 '12 at 04:33
I do have one problem with my solution and that is that in onResume it does no seem to keep the bundle values that are sent over like it did before ... — Android Developer, Dec 12 '12 at 05:45

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 12 '12 at 06:10

2

if you want to recreate this activity do this:

intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);

if don't want to recreate , just do this:

while this activity on your task's top，intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP);
declare the actvity in the manifest with: android:lauchMode= "singleTask";

edited Dec 12 '12 at 06:10

Siddharth

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answered Dec 12 '12 at 03:57

xlwplm

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Android Developer · Answer 2 · 2012-12-12T08:15:29.837

1

And the answer is .....

declare the Activity in the manifest with

  android:launchMode="singleTop"

Still would like feedback on this answer as I notice that in onResume() the intent does not seem to carry over the values as it did before. So I cannot pull out values that I set on the intent inside the broadcast receiver ...

Update: In order to get the values from the receiver you may need to do the following inside the Activity:

             @Override 
     public void onNewIntent(Intent intent)
     {
         setIntent(intent);
     }

edited Dec 12 '12 at 08:15

answered Dec 12 '12 at 03:38

Android Developer

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Answering your own questions is encouraged. – Siddharth Dec 12 '12 at 03:41
Others please upvote to show that unjustified negativity is not appreciated on this forum. – Android Developer Dec 12 '12 at 04:33
One thing I have to figure out still is how to get the bundle values to reach onResume(). it appears that they don't make it across in this mode. – Android Developer Dec 12 '12 at 05:46
Now, dont turn this into a discussion and tutoring site. Do your own study and research. – Siddharth Dec 12 '12 at 05:50
Actually there is more to the answer which I am updating – Android Developer Dec 12 '12 at 08:14

How to startActivity() from BroadcastReceiver without recreating the activity?

2 Answers2