How to insert a new line in strings in Android

Question

This may seem like a stupid question, but I've been searching and can't find an answer.

I'm creating an android application and within it there is a button that will send some information in an email, and I don't want to have everything all in one paragraph.

Here's what my app is doing for the putExtra for the email's body:

I am the first part of the info being emailed. I am the second part. I am the third part.

Here's what I want it to do:

I am the first part of the info being emailed.
I am the second part.

I am the third part.

How would I put a new line into a string or with the putExtra method to accomplish that?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Try using System.getProperty("line.separator") to get a new line.

Answer 2

Try:

String str = "my string \n my other string";

When printed you will get:

my string
my other string

Answer 3

I would personally prefer using "\n". This just puts a line break in Linux or Android.

For example,

String str = "I am the first part of the info being emailed.\nI am the second part.\n\nI am the third part.";

Output

I am the first part of the info being emailed.
I am the second part.

I am the third part.

A more generalized way would be to use,

System.getProperty("line.separator")

For example,

String str = "I am the first part of the info being emailed." + System.getProperty("line.separator") + "I am the second part." + System.getProperty("line.separator") + System.getProperty("line.separator") + "I am the third part.";

brings the same output as above. Here, the static getProperty() method of the System class can be used to get the "line.seperator" for the particular OS.

But this is not necessary at all, as the OS here is fixed, that is, Android. So, calling a method every time is a heavy and unnecessary operation.

Moreover, this also increases your code length and makes it look kind of messy. A "\n" is sweet and simple.

Answer 4

I use <br> in a CDATA tag. As an example, my strings.xml file contains an item like this:

<item><![CDATA[<b>My name is John</b><br>Nice to meet you]]></item>

and prints

My name is John
Nice to meet you