Get a string resource from "values" folder in Android

Question

I have a default string that needs to be used on the app, no matter the language.

Thinking that it should be independent from the app language I did not put the string inside any of the string.xml files for the different languages. Instead I created another myString.xml file inside values folder, looking like that:

myString.xml

<resources>
    <string name="myStringResource">This text shall be available
for the entire app no matter the language
</string>
</resources>

But now I am not able to access this string.

Is it the wrong way to do that? And if yes, then how can I achieve the above explained scenario?

If it's just one string, you can store it in your preferences and then retrieve it wherever you want. — Aradhna, Sep 14 '17 at 08:44
I tried different things like writing for example `String test = getString...`but Android Studio marks getString in red. How Should I call it? — codeKiller, Sep 14 '17 at 08:44
yep, if it's just one string why bother creating an xml file. regardless, how are you accessing the string? — Orvenito, Sep 14 '17 at 08:45
If `getString` is marked red, then you are working in a class that does not extend from context. In what kind of class are you trying to do this? Is it an `Activity`, `Fragment` or something else? — 0xDEADC0DE, Sep 14 '17 at 08:45
I just tested it, created new file inside values named it mystrings.xml, and then added new string inside it callled it hi and then called it using @string/mystring and it worked — Yamen Nassif, Sep 14 '17 at 08:47
As @0xDEADC0DE explain i think you trying to get that string with out side context reference class. — Haresh Chhelana, Sep 14 '17 at 08:48
@Haresh, yes context might be the problem, the class is just `public class testString` nothing else — codeKiller, Sep 14 '17 at 08:49
If you are trying to get inside a Class make sure you are inside Activity class or then pass your Context to another class and call it using that context. Something like context.getString(R.string.myString); — Yamen Nassif, Sep 14 '17 at 08:49
@eddie its the same thing with Toast to do Toasts in another classes you need to pass the context — Yamen Nassif, Sep 14 '17 at 08:50
thanks guys, I will fix it, im almost sure it is a context problem — codeKiller, Sep 14 '17 at 08:50
@eddie alternative way is define such constant string on some app constant class with public static final declaration. — Haresh Chhelana, Sep 14 '17 at 08:51

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 14 '17 at 08:49

To access Strings, you do as Berat said in his answer. From code using ID's (R.string.resName) and XML using the @string annotation: @string/resName to get the String.

However, when you use code (e.g. Java), you can't just use the ID. You also have to use Context.getString(R.string.resName); to get the actual String. So if you want to access the String from code and get it as a variable, you do this:

String res = context.getString(R.string.myStringResource);

I write context because it is a class in Context. You can, however, use Activity instances to get the String as well. If you are writing the code inside an activity, you can just write String res = getString(R.string.myStringResource);.

Activity means either extending Activity or AppCompatActivity (or a class that extends either on some level)

thanks, I will try that, I am almost sure that `Context` is the problem here — codeKiller, Sep 14 '17 at 08:50

Get a string resource from "values" folder in Android

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