How to add Strings to a spinner without .xml and Resources

Question

It's quite simple. I just want to add Strings to a Spinner without using the .xml and without using the Resources folder.

I used onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu), but I didn't find any solution to my problem.

I have seen How can I add items to a spinner in Android?, but it doesn't work in my case...

Here's my code:

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.action_bar3, menu);
    setTitle("");

    String[] arraySpinner = new String[] {
            "1", "2", "3", "4", "5"
    };
    Spinner s = (Spinner) findViewById(R.id.spinner);
    ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(this,R.array.spinner_values);
    s.setAdapter(adapter);

    return true;
}

Note: This code doesn't run since I need a type of layout, but I don't know what layout...

Can you elaborate? I don't know what your question is exactly. — Dishonered, May 14 '17 at 15:07
@SushobhNadiger adding items to a Spinner without using the .xml and without using the R.array — HessianMad, May 14 '17 at 15:09
Possible duplicate of [How can I add items to a spinner in Android?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5241660/how-can-i-add-items-to-a-spinner-in-android) — John Joe, May 14 '17 at 15:13
Please explain **in detail** what "doesn't work in my case" means. FWIW, here is a complete sample app showing defining a `Spinner` from a Java array: https://github.com/commonsguy/cw-omnibus/tree/v8.5/Selection/Spinner — CommonsWare, May 14 '17 at 16:24
All the snippets shared here are correct and working samples. I use Spinner all the time as many developers here. If it crashes share logcat, check why and in which line it crashes. — Thracian, May 14 '17 at 16:31

John Joe · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-14T15:34:54.407

Change to this ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(this, android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, arraySpinner);

It crashes: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method Line: s.setAdapter(adapter);

Initialize them inside onCreate method, not inside onCreateOptionsMenu

 public class SpinnerExample extends Activity {    

      private String[] arraySpinner;

        @Override
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
            super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
            setContentView(R.layout.main);

            this.arraySpinner = new String[] {
                "1", "2", "3", "4", "5"
            };
            Spinner s = (Spinner) findViewById(R.id.spinner);
            ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(this,
                    android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, arraySpinner);
            s.setAdapter(adapter);
        }
    }

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 01 '17 at 11:32

0

You can create an array adapter like this:

ArrayAdapter aa = new
    ArrayAdapter(this, android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, arraySpinner);

edited Jul 01 '17 at 11:32

Peter Mortensen

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answered May 14 '17 at 15:08

Dishonered

8,449
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It crashes: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method Line: s.setAdapter(adapter); – HessianMad May 14 '17 at 15:13
@HessianMad: Presumably, `s` is `null`. That is not a problem with this answer. – CommonsWare May 14 '17 at 16:18

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 14 '17 at 15:16

0

String categoryItem1 = "item1";
String categoryItem2 = "item2";
String categoryItem3 = "item3";
List<String> categories = new ArrayList<String>();
categories.add(categoryItem1);
categories.add(categoryItem2);
categories.add(categoryItem3);
ArrayAdapter<String> dataAdapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(getActivity(), R.layout.spinnner_item, categories);
// attaching data adapter to spinner
spinner.setAdapter(dataAdapter);

answered May 14 '17 at 15:16

Thracian

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Crashes in the same line as ArrayAdapter aa = new ArrayAdapter(this,android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item,arraySpinner ); – HessianMad May 14 '17 at 15:20
Are you sure that you are instantiating the Spinner, or inflating it from the correct layout of your activity/fragment? – Thracian May 14 '17 at 16:33

Andre Thiele · Answer 4 · 2019-10-24T13:04:24.330

For anyone looking for a Kotlin approach:

private fun setUpTranslateToSpinner() {
    val languages = listOf(
        "English",
        "German",
        "Russian",
        "Arabic",
        "Japanese",
        "Chinese"
    ).sorted()

    ArrayAdapter<String>(this, android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, languages).apply {
        setDropDownViewResource(android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item)
        translateToSpinner.adapter = this
    }

    translateToSpinner.onItemSelectedListener = object : AdapterView.OnItemSelectedListener {
        override fun onItemSelected(parent: AdapterView<*>?, view: View?, position: Int, id: Long) {
            val item = parent?.getItemAtPosition(position)
            item.let { Log.e(TAG, item.toString()) }
        }

        override fun onNothingSelected(parent: AdapterView<*>?) {

        }
    }
}

How to add Strings to a spinner without .xml and Resources

4 Answers4