clickable word inside TextView in android

Question

I have TextView with text that changed dynamically. This text contain strings like <a href='myWord'>myWord</a>. I want that after click to this "link" myWord appear in the EditText in the same activity.

This is my code:

txt.setText(Html.fromHtml("...<a href='link'>link</a>..."));
txt.setMovementMethod(LinkMovementMethod.getInstance());

It's work well for URLs inside href attribute, but there is an error for another format.

I found a lot of similar questions on the StackOverflow but all of them were about url links. In my app I want create "link" inside activity. In general, I can change tag to some another if it's depend...

Please help me! Thank you!

-----SOLVED----- Thank you Jacob Phillips for idea!

May it will be interesting someone in future. This is a code:

//This is my string;
String str = "<b>Text</b> which contains one <a href='#'>link</a> and another <a href='#'>link</a>";
//TextView;
TextView txt = new TextView(this);
//Split string to parts:                                        
String[] devFull = data[v.getId()][1].split("<a href='#'>");
//Adding first part:
txt.append(Html.fromHtml(devFull[0]));
//Creating array for parts with links (they amount always will devFull.length-1):
SpannableString[] link = new SpannableString[devFull.length-1];
//local vars:
ClickableSpan[] cs = new ClickableSpan[devFull.length-1];
String linkWord;
String[] devDevFull = new String[2];

for(int i=1; i<devFull.length; i++){
    //obtaining 'clear' link
    devDevFull = devFull[i].split("</a>");
    link[i-1] = new SpannableString(devDevFull[0]);
    linkWord = devDevFull[0];
    cs[i-1] = new ClickableSpan(){
        private String w = linkWord;
        @Override
        public void onClick(View widget) {
            // here you can use w (linkWord)
        }
    };
    link[i-1].setSpan(cs[i-1], 0, linkWord.length(), 0);
    txt.append(link[i-1]);
    try{
        txt.append(Html.fromHtml(devDevFull[1]));
    }
    catch(Exception e){}
}

Jacob Phillips · Answer 1 · 2012-04-03T17:54:57.330

45

This should do the trick. Just change your edittext's text in the OnClickListener. It may be able to be reduced but this should work.

private void foo() {
    SpannableString link = makeLinkSpan("click here", new View.OnClickListener() {          
        @Override
        public void onClick(View v) {
            // respond to click
        }
    });

    // We need a TextView instance.        
    TextView tv = new TextView(context);   

    // Set the TextView's text     
    tv.setText("To perform action, ");

    // Append the link we created above using a function defined below.
    tv.append(link);

    // Append a period (this will not be a link).
    tv.append(".");

    // This line makes the link clickable!
    makeLinksFocusable(tv);
}

/*
 * Methods used above.
 */

private SpannableString makeLinkSpan(CharSequence text, View.OnClickListener listener) {
    SpannableString link = new SpannableString(text);
    link.setSpan(new ClickableString(listener), 0, text.length(), 
        SpannableString.SPAN_INCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE);
    return link;
}

private void makeLinksFocusable(TextView tv) {
    MovementMethod m = tv.getMovementMethod();  
    if ((m == null) || !(m instanceof LinkMovementMethod)) {  
        if (tv.getLinksClickable()) {  
            tv.setMovementMethod(LinkMovementMethod.getInstance());  
        }  
    }  
}

/*
 * ClickableString class 
 */

private static class ClickableString extends ClickableSpan {  
    private View.OnClickListener mListener;          
    public ClickableString(View.OnClickListener listener) {              
        mListener = listener;  
    }          
    @Override  
    public void onClick(View v) {  
        mListener.onClick(v);  
    }        
}

edited Apr 03 '12 at 17:54

answered Apr 02 '12 at 02:21

Jacob Phillips

8,841
3
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Thank you for your answer. I'm sorry for may be stupid question, but what is the ClickableString() class? – lubart Apr 02 '12 at 10:06
I just added it. I used a modified version of [this answer](http://stackoverflow.com/a/5681946/884522) to a similar question – Jacob Phillips Apr 02 '12 at 19:16
Thank you! But it does not work :( I have an error on line `mListener.onClick(v);` in ClickableString class: `The method onClick(DialogInterface, int) in the type DialogInterface.OnClickListener is not applicable for the arguments (View)` and I don't know how to rectify it. Have you any ideas. Thank you anyway! – lubart Apr 02 '12 at 21:38
Solved! Thank you for idea! I used simple ClickableSpan() instead your ClickableString() and it's work fine! – lubart Apr 02 '12 at 23:05
You have to use `View.OnClickListener` rather than `DialogInterface.OnClickListener`. Please accept as answer :) – Jacob Phillips Apr 02 '12 at 23:24
Yes, I tried use `View.OnClickListener` but something was wrong. I used ClickableSpan() instead ClickableString() and it's helped. Thank you! – lubart Apr 02 '12 at 23:39
@JacobPhillips one little problem man. When you click the link it moves a little like it was "changed to visited" in a web page. getting smaller may be. Have a solution for that ? – MSaudi Dec 20 '14 at 19:24

score 18 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 18 '14 at 09:50

Better approach is

   SpannableString ss = new SpannableString("Android is a Software stack");
    ClickableSpan clickableSpan = new ClickableSpan() {
        @Override
        public void onClick(View textView) {
            startActivity(new Intent(MyActivity.this, NextActivity.class));
        }
    };
    ss.setSpan(clickableSpan, 22, 27, Spanned.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE);
//where 22 and 27 are the starting and ending index of the String. Now word stack is clickable 
// onClicking stack it will open NextActiivty

    TextView textView = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.hello);
    textView.setText(ss);
    textView.setMovementMethod(LinkMovementMethod.getInstance());

have a look at http://stackoverflow.com/a/9982588/3496570 and http://stackoverflow.com/a/22006998/3496570 — Zar E Ahmer, Jun 24 '15 at 12:12

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 13 '18 at 09:53

You can use below code;

 SpannableString myString = new SpannableString(Html.fromHtml("Please "+"<font color=\"#F15d36\"><u>"+"login"+"</u></font>" +" or "+ "<font color=\"#F15d36\"><u>"+"sign up"+ "</u></font>"+" to begin your YupIT experience"));

        ClickableSpan clickableSpan = new ClickableSpan() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View textView) {
                Toast.makeText(getContext(),"dfsgvdfs",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            }
        };

        ClickableSpan clickableSpan1 = new ClickableSpan() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View textView) {
                Toast.makeText(getContext(),"dfsgvdfs",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            }
        };

        myString.setSpan(clickableSpan,6,12,Spanned.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE);
        myString.setSpan(clickableSpan1,15,23,Spanned.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE);

        myString.setSpan(new ForegroundColorSpan(Color.parseColor("#F15d36")),6, 12, Spannable.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE);
        myString.setSpan(new ForegroundColorSpan(Color.parseColor("#F15d36")),15,23, Spannable.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE);


        tvFound.setMovementMethod(LinkMovementMethod.getInstance());
        tvFound.setText(myString);

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 17 '15 at 16:27

To make it full answer with mixing answers;

private void textAreaInit()
{
    String str = "<a href='#'>Link 1</a> and <a href='#'>Link2</a> is here.";

    TextView tv = mConfirmText;  
    String[] devFull = str.split("<a href='#'>");


    tv.append(Html.fromHtml(devFull[0]));

    SpannableString[] link = new SpannableString[devFull.length-1];

    ClickableSpan[] cs = new ClickableSpan[devFull.length-1];
    String linkWord;
    String[] devDevFull = new String[2];

    for(int i=1; i<devFull.length; i++)
    {
        //obtaining 'clear' link
        devDevFull = devFull[i].split("</a>");
        link[i-1] = new SpannableString(devDevFull[0]);
        linkWord = devDevFull[0];
        final String a = linkWord;
        cs[i-1] = new ClickableSpan()
        { 
            private String w = a;
            @Override
            public void onClick(View widget) {

                if(w.equals("Link 1"))
                {
                    Intent intent = new Intent(PrintPropertiesActivity.this, ViewerAcivity.class);
                    intent.putExtra("title", "Link1");
                    intent.putExtra("uri", "link1");
                    intent.putExtra("type", "1");
                    startActivity(intent);
                }
                else
                {
                    Intent intent = new Intent(PrintPropertiesActivity.this, ViewerAcivity.class);
                    intent.putExtra("title", "Link2");
                    intent.putExtra("uri", "link2");
                    intent.putExtra("type", "2");
                    startActivity(intent);
                }
            }
        };
        link[i-1].setSpan(cs[i-1], 0, linkWord.length(), 0);
        tv.append(link[i-1]);
        try{
            tv.append(Html.fromHtml(devDevFull[1]));
        }
        catch(Exception e){}
    }


    makeLinksFocusable(tv);
}

private void makeLinksFocusable(TextView tv) {
    MovementMethod m = tv.getMovementMethod();  
    if ((m == null) || !(m instanceof LinkMovementMethod)) {  
        if (tv.getLinksClickable()) {  
            tv.setMovementMethod(LinkMovementMethod.getInstance());  
        }  
    }  
}

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 02 '12 at 01:11

0

The best workaround I know is to create your own Button class. You could make the Button have a transparent background so that only the text is seen by the user. Then when the Button is pressed down change the TextColor and TextStyle of the button to be a darker color and underlined. This will work exactly as a link does. You can then use startActivity to go to the appropriated activity. You should not use hyperlinks to connect to other activities within your application.

answered Apr 02 '12 at 01:11

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

5,711
8
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Thank you for your answer, but I can not use Button. Text inside my TextView is not static and I can not know where my "link" will appear on the next time. Text comes from DB and I need to mark my linkWord in some way. I'm using tag... – lubart Apr 02 '12 at 01:18

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 02 '12 at 01:14

0

My personal opinion would be to make a second textview containing the text that you want to be your link. Then you could do your action in the onClick of this second textView . Also as zzzzzzzzzzz stated above, you could choose to change the font properties of that text to whatever you want once it has been clicked.

answered Apr 02 '12 at 01:14

testingtester

528
4
11

1

Thank you for your answer, but I can not divide my TextView for few peaces, I need one hole TextView... – lubart Apr 02 '12 at 01:21
In order to really make an inner-Application link (which is what you want if I understand correctly), I think the only way to do it is call the OnClick method and I don't think that is possible to do on a specific part of a textview. Best of luck with it though – testingtester Apr 02 '12 at 01:29

clickable word inside TextView in android

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