Creating integer array of resource IDs

Question

I have some images in my res/drawable folder. Let's say img1.png, img2.png and img3.png. I am currently creating an integer array of these image IDs in Java like this

int[] imgIds = {R.drawable.img1, R.drawable.img2, R.drawable.img3};

Instead, is it possible to create an integer array in one of res/values files (say strings.xml) like this

<integer-array name="img_id_arr">
    <item>@drawable/img1</item>
    <item>@drawable/img2</item>
    <item>@drawable/img3</item>
</integer-array>

and then access it in Java via getResources().getIntArray(R.array.img_id_arr)?

score 70 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 18 '11 at 06:45

70

Use just "array" instead of "integer-array". See Typed Array in the developer guide.

answered Mar 18 '11 at 06:45

resnbl

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This seems to work for drawables but not for styles for example: @android:style/Theme @android:style/Theme.Light @android:style/Theme.Holo @android:style/Theme.Holo.Light How can this work for other resource ids aside from drawables? – Etienne Lawlor Sep 13 '12 at 04:33
I think, as far as i know, is create an int array representing the pre-compiled value itself and not the value what it represents. if someone has any idea it's welcome. – AXSM Oct 31 '14 at 22:32

score 53 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 18 '12 at 03:48

53

See XML integer array, resource references, getIntArray

TypedArray ar = context.getResources().obtainTypedArray(R.array.my_array);
int len = ar.length();
int[] resIds = new int[len];
for (int i = 0; i < len; i++)
    resIds[i] = ar.getResourceId(i, 0);
ar.recycle();
// Do stuff with resolved reference array, resIds[]...
for (int i = 0; i < len; i++)
    Log.v (TAG, "Res Id " + i + " is " + Integer.toHexString(resIds[i]));

answered Sep 18 '12 at 03:48

Joe Bowbeer

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is it possible to obtain a single reference to a resource instead of an array? i need it in case i want to check if 2 resource ids are equal. – android developer Apr 04 '13 at 14:11
I guess we'll never know – Denny Jan 06 '19 at 18:00

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 18 '11 at 01:43

2

Make a LevelListDrawable. Although it is not exactly what you want, but pretty much achievable.

answered Mar 18 '11 at 01:43

xandy

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Very elegant and very underrated solution. – Tobias Feb 22 '17 at 16:16

android developer · Answer 4 · 2020-11-29T14:22:00.417

0

I think it's best to keep them in code.

private static final int[] AVATARS = new int[]{
            R.drawable.ava_1, R.drawable.ava_2, R.drawable.ava_3...};

edited Nov 29 '20 at 14:22

answered Nov 23 '20 at 13:58

android developer

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Creating integer array of resource IDs

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