Create iOS Action Extension with no UI

Question

I am trying to create an Action Extension similar to the system "Copy" action available in iOS.
I found different answers saying it's not possible to have non-fullscreen UI, but according to Apple Official Documentation it is possible to have no UI (like in the Copy action, I presume).

Action (iOS and macOS; UI and non-UI variants)

I have tried creating a transparent view, but the result is always a fullscreen black overlay.
I have already specified NSExtensionActionWantsFullScreenPresentation to NO in my Info.plist, but nothing changes.

Any idea about how to do it?

Can you please share us your code? – DJ-Glock Feb 11 '19 at 11:19 — DJ-Glock, Feb 11 '19 at 11:19
I have added my own answer with some code. – pasine Feb 16 '19 at 13:53 — pasine, Feb 16 '19 at 13:53

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 15 '19 at 21:12

To answer my own question: it is actually possible to create a non-UI Action Extension on iOS by assigning the property NSExtensionPrincipalClass to a class implementing a NSExtensionRequestHandling protocol.

Example:

class ActionRequestHandler: NSObject, NSExtensionRequestHandling {

    var extensionContext: NSExtensionContext?

    func beginRequest(with context: NSExtensionContext) {
        // Do not call super in an Action extension with no user interface
        self.extensionContext = context

        // Do stuff with the context

    }
}

The easiest way to create an extension like this is to add a new target (File > New > Target), select Action Extension and then select No User Interface in the Action Type.

Hi @pasine. Could you please let me know if it is possible to invoke this extension programmatically from the containing app? — Arjuna, Aug 07 '21 at 06:30
Sorry, it's something I haven't tried, so I don't have an answer. — pasine, Aug 26 '21 at 08:15

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 11 '19 at 11:22

0

In iOS, an Action extension:

Helps users view the current document in a different way

Always appears in an action sheet or full-screen modal view

Receives selected content only if explicitly provided by the host app

edited Feb 11 '19 at 11:22

pasine

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answered Feb 11 '19 at 11:18

Sachin Vas

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So, is the no UI option available on MacOS only? Does this mean I can have a non-fullscreen action sheet? – pasine Feb 11 '19 at 11:21
Yes, it only exists on MacOS. Yes, as per the documents you can have an action sheet which was never a fullscreen. – Sachin Vas Feb 11 '19 at 11:23
Apparently, non-UI variant also exists on iOS. – pasine Feb 15 '19 at 21:07

Create iOS Action Extension with no UI

2 Answers2

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