You need to look into android Intents and Intent Filters. Check this training article for example.
This blog post can also be an interesting read.
A quick example for sending text (other types are in the links on top);
Intent sendIntent = new Intent();
sendIntent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
sendIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "This is my text to send.");
sendIntent.setType("text/plain");
startActivity(sendIntent);
And for receiving:
void onCreate (Bundle savedInstanceState) {
...
// Get intent, action and MIME type
Intent intent = getIntent();
String action = intent.getAction();
String type = intent.getType();
if (Intent.ACTION_SEND.equals(action) && type != null) {
if ("text/plain".equals(type)) {
handleSendText(intent); // Handle text being sent
} else if (type.startsWith("image/")) {
handleSendImage(intent); // Handle single image being sent
}
} else if (Intent.ACTION_SEND_MULTIPLE.equals(action) && type != null) {
if (type.startsWith("image/")) {
handleSendMultipleImages(intent); // Handle multiple images being sent
}
} else {
// Handle other intents, such as being started from the home screen
}
...
}
void handleSendText(Intent intent) {
String sharedText = intent.getStringExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT);
if (sharedText != null) {
// Update UI to reflect text being shared
}
}
void handleSendImage(Intent intent) {
Uri imageUri = (Uri) intent.getParcelableExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM);
if (imageUri != null) {
// Update UI to reflect image being shared
}
}
void handleSendMultipleImages(Intent intent) {
ArrayList<Uri> imageUris = intent.getParcelableArrayListExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM);
if (imageUris != null) {
// Update UI to reflect multiple images being shared
}
}
You'll have to update the manifest also:
<activity android:name=".ui.MyActivity" >
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<data android:mimeType="image/*" />
</intent-filter>
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<data android:mimeType="text/plain" />
</intent-filter>
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND_MULTIPLE" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<data android:mimeType="image/*" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
