Make Android app listen to shared links

Question

I want my Android app to appear listed as an option when the user shares an URL from another app (like the browser). How can I register my app to do that? How can I react to link shares?

Thanks a lot.

Edit:

I've tried using IntentFilter like this without success:

<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
</intent-filter>

Any ideas?

Answer 1

At the very bare minimum you need:

<activity android:name=".ShareActivity">
    <intent-filter
        android:label="Share with my app">
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    </intent-filter>
</activity>

in your manifest...which will at least make it show up in the 'share' listing.

The most important part you are missing is:

<action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />

To make it actually do something, you need an Activity.

This may help too: http://sudarmuthu.com/blog/sharing-content-in-android-using-action_send-intent

Additional Info:

<activity android:name=".ShareActivity">
<intent-filter
    android:label="Share with my app">
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <data android:mimeType="text/plain" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>

There the <data android:mimeType will limit what you respond to, if you want to limit your app's response.

Answer 2

To get the image in your activity, use Uri imgUri = (Uri) i.getParcelableExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM); for a single image, or use ArrayList<Uri> imgUris = i.getParcelableArrayListExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM); for a list of images:

Intent i = getIntent();
Bundle extras = i.getExtras();
String action = i.getAction();

// if this is from the share menu
if (Intent.ACTION_SEND.equals(action)) {   
    if (extras.containsKey(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM)) {
        Uri imgUri = (Uri) i.getParcelableExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM);
        // Do job here
    }
}

Hope that helps

Answer 3

You need to create an Activity with appropriate Intent filter. Read documentation about Intent, it explains all this with examples.