How to show typing indicator in android firebase chat

Question

I need to implement typing indicator in chat application using firebase. I have a logic like

Add a textwatcher listener and in text change listener update flag of a field named typing in firebase db
Then i think when a value change it will notify the value change listener

if any one has a code implementation please share.

@GastónSaillén i have done only chating part , i stucked at this part no code implemented — Jins Lukose, Feb 15 '19 at 04:56
@JinsLukose Here I found same question : https://stackoverflow.com/a/45915206/1318946 — Pratik Butani, Feb 15 '19 at 05:20
@ManojPerumarath i know the logic but i need a working implementation — Jins Lukose, Feb 15 '19 at 05:31

Deep Patel · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-15T05:50:23.727

Please check code below: `

make structure something like: (it may vary as per your need I am just referring something to you)

I have an object "isTyping" with Two Keys Let's say "first_user" and "second_user". If you want to check for "second_user" is typing or not this should be the code.

  private void checkForOtherUserTypingStatus() {
        mMessageThread.child("isTyping").addChildEventListener(new ChildEventListener() {
            @Override
            public void onChildAdded(DataSnapshot dataSnapshot, String s) {
                if (dataSnapshot.getKey().equalsIgnoreCase("second_user") && dataSnapshot.getValue().toString().equals("true")) {
                    updateTypingViewVisibility(true);
                } else if (dataSnapshot.getKey().equalsIgnoreCase("second_user") && dataSnapshot.getValue().toString().equals("false")) {
                    updateTypingViewVisibility(false);
                }
            }

            @Override
            public void onChildChanged(DataSnapshot dataSnapshot, String s) {
                if (dataSnapshot.getValue() != null) {
                    if (dataSnapshot.getKey().equalsIgnoreCase("second_user") && dataSnapshot.getValue().toString().equals("true")) {
                        updateTypingViewVisibility(true);
                    } else if (dataSnapshot.getKey().equalsIgnoreCase("second_user") && dataSnapshot.getValue().toString().equals("false")) {
                        updateTypingViewVisibility(false);
                    }
                }
            }

            @Override
            public void onChildRemoved(DataSnapshot dataSnapshot) {

            }

            @Override
            public void onChildMoved(DataSnapshot dataSnapshot, String s) {

            }

            @Override
            public void onCancelled(DatabaseError databaseError) {

            }
        });
    }

To update value of "isTyping" > "first_user" (assume that you are typing)

 mBinder.etChatMessage.addTextChangedListener(new TextWatcher() {
            @Override
            public void beforeTextChanged(CharSequence charSequence, int i, int i1, int i2) {

            }

            @Override
            public void onTextChanged(CharSequence charSequence, int i, int i1, int i2) {


                Map<String, Object> params = new HashMap<>();
                params.put("first_user", charSequence.length() > 0);
                mMessageThread.child("isTyping").updateChildren(params);
            }

            @Override
            public void afterTextChanged(Editable editable) {

            }
        });

Yeah Sure! I had nearly same functionality and implemented this — Deep Patel, Feb 15 '19 at 05:17
in your messageThread parent. so that within that thread, you can track both the users' typing status — Deep Patel, Feb 15 '19 at 05:46
I just created a sample chat thread to show you how it will work, please check attached image and mentioned code, you will have a better idea — Deep Patel, Feb 15 '19 at 05:52
i think your db structure make sense .thanks for every thing i will inform by tommorow — Jins Lukose, Feb 15 '19 at 05:56

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 15 '19 at 05:02

1

Yes . you got it right. in user node maintain one boolean flag like isTyping.

on textwatcherListener change the value to true and yeah onValueChangeListner will also trigger so that you can set Typing on recipients screen by getting that boolean Value

answered Feb 15 '19 at 05:02

Tejas Pandya

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did you have any code implementation? – Jins Lukose Feb 15 '19 at 05:05
@JinsLukose no . i'm just representing a logic . that's how you can implement . – Tejas Pandya Feb 15 '19 at 05:06
ok thanks for the response – Jins Lukose Feb 15 '19 at 05:07
@JinsLukose i hope your doubt is cleared now – Tejas Pandya Feb 15 '19 at 05:09
Actually i am looking for a code implementation – Jins Lukose Feb 15 '19 at 05:10
@JinsLukose : please check my answer – Deep Patel Feb 15 '19 at 05:13
@JinsLukose its not that difficult just get edittext value change listener and inside it update your firebase . post your existing code otherwise – Tejas Pandya Feb 15 '19 at 05:14
But how can detect if the user terminates the application during typing how do we manage ? – Sathish Gadde Jun 26 '20 at 10:50
@SathishGadde you can add `isTyping` false inside `onDestroy` method of activity. – Tejas Pandya Jul 05 '20 at 05:33
@TejasPandya that's ok, but if user disable internet and exit from the app how do we manage ? – Sathish Gadde Jul 06 '20 at 11:43
Good point @TejasPandya, that one also not manageable. – Sathish Gadde Jul 10 '20 at 05:29

How to show typing indicator in android firebase chat

2 Answers2