Coding Android Apps

✍ Scribed by Margaret Kozak Polk

• Publisher: Chapman and Hall/CRC
• Year: 2024
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 309
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

As Android apps continue to grow in popularity and an associated job market emerges, the ability to develop software and applications for Android smartphones will only grow more relevant in the foreseeable future. Compiled from materials used in over a decade of teaching undergraduate and graduate students majoring in computer science and information technology, this book is a hands-on, step-by-step guide to coding Android apps that have been rigorously tested.

KEY FEATURES

• Each chapter begins with a list of student learning outcomes that can be used for assessment purposes and syllabus construction.

• The mechanics of Android app creation is presented in a very detailed, step-by-step progression, with accompanying screenshots and code explanations.

• New topics are introduced chapter-by-chapter in a very logical and gradational instructional manner.

• Very detailed exercises are provided at the end of each chapter and can be used for class activities and as homework assignments. Each chapter includes multiple exercises of varying difficulty.

• Video lessons are available as supplementary resources for each chapter to quickly illustrate in a demonstrative and visual manner the Java and XML code and Android Studio development actions covered in the chapter.

This book is particularly appealing for students of mobile apps development courses offered in computer science and information technology departments, as well as information systems disciplines within business schools, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
1. Introduction
Why Study Android App Coding?
About This Book
Overview of the Chapter Topics
References
2. Lift Off with Android Native Apps
Setting Up the Launch Pad for Android Studio Development
Creating Your First Android Studio Project
Running the Android App
Using the AVD to Set Up an Emulator
Important Notes on the Emulator
Running Your App on a Physical Android Device
Android Studio Emulator Device Orientation
Android Studio App Editing Orientation
Changing Android Emulator Orientation
Closing an App to Return to the Welcome Screen
Navigating Android Versions, Code Names, and API Levels
Exercises
3. First Image Impressions and Launcher Icons
Background Images
ImageView Widgets
Customizing an App Launcher Icon
Design Issues
Exercises
4. Externalizing Resources: Strings, Colors, and Sizes
Overview of Externalized Resources
Externalizing String Resources
Externalizing Color Resources
Externalizing Size Alias Dimension Resources
Overview of Styles and Themes
Screen Design Issues
What’s Next?
Exercises
5. Interacting with Users via Keyboard and Buttons
Screen Elements for Basic User Interaction
Adding Input Capability to Our Screen Layout
Adding Buttons to the Layout
Java Gives Life to Your Buttons
Connecting a Button Click Event to Java Code
Coding the Java onClick Method
Mobile Screen Design Issues
Exercises
6. More on Layouts and Living without Constraints
Designing for Different Screen Characteristics
Designing Layouts for Smallest Width
Designing Specifically for Portrait and Landscape Modes
Designing with Different Image Sizes
Designing with Various Values Subfolders
The Linear Layout
The ScrollView Container
The Table Layout
Design Issues and Considerations
Exercises
7. Improving the UI with Selection Inputs and Dynamic Content
Activating a Spinner Widget
Setting Up the String Array for the Spinner Static Options
Connecting the String Array to the Spinner Control in the Layout
Retrieving the User Selection from the Spinner Control at Runtime
Tuning in with Radio Buttons
Defining a Radio Button Group in Android
Identifying Each Radio Button That Belongs to a Group
Java Statements Required to Determine Which Radio Button Has Been Selected
Opting in with Checkboxes
Including a Checkbox UI Element in a Screen Layout
Recognizing a Checkbox Selection in the Java Code
Working with Image Buttons
Dynamically Altering Screen Content Beyond Text
Modifying the Visibility Property of a Screen Component
Modifying the Source File Property of a Screen Image Component
When Different Buttons Share the Same Method
Generating Selection Input Options Dynamically
Design Considerations
Exercises
8. Apps with Multiple Activities
The Android Activity and Creating Activities
Activities and the Manifest File
The Lifecycle of an Activity
Moving between Activities within an App
Passing Information between Two Activities within an App
Passing Scalar Information between Activities
Passing a Java Array of Information to an Activity
Additional Considerations
Exercises
9. Saving App Data with Shared Preferences
What Is Persistent Storage?
Saving and Retrieving Android Shared Preferences
Shared Preferences API and the Editor Class
Retrieving Information from Shared Preferences
Working with Stored Shared Preferences
Saving Shared Preferences as String Values
Saving an Array of Values as Shared Preferences
Shared Preferences Code Example
Design Considerations
Exercises
10. Android Native Databases as Persistent Storage
Android Native Databases
Overview of SQLite Databases in Android
Installing a Database within an App
Creating a Database within an App
Creating a New Table within an SQLite Database
Adding Records to an SQLite Database Table
The Advantages of a “try/catch” Structure and Remember to Close
Accessing the Data in an SQLite Database
Opening an Existing Database
Retrieving Data from a Database Table
Removing Records from an SQLite Database
Loading a Spinner Widget with Database Information
Design Considerations
Exercises
11. Navigation Drawers and Implementing Fragments
Introduction to Navigation Drawer Activities
Anatomy of a Navigation Drawer App
Customizing the Navigation View
Customizing the Header Layout of the Navigation View
Customizing the Menu Specification of the Navigation View
Introduction to Fragments and Their Relation to the MainActivity
The Navigation User Interface
Customizing the Content of the Fragments
Modifying the “Home” Fragment to Serve as a “Welcome” in Our Sample App
Modifying the “Gallery” Fragment to “Add a Book” in Our Sample App
Modifying the “Slideshow” Fragment to List Books in the Database in Our App
Adding Drawer Menu Items and Corresponding Fragments
The Floating Action Button
Design Issues
Exercises
12. Tabbed Apps, Styles, and Themes
Introduction to Bottom Navigation Activities
Anatomy of a Bottom Navigation App
Customizing the Fragments and Checking Their Management
The Navigation User Interface
Customizing the Content of the Fragments
Adding Tab Menu Items and Corresponding Fragments
Further Customization – Styles and Themes
Applying a Spinner Style
The Application of a Theme
Design Issues
Exercises
13. Hybrid Apps
Introduction to WebView
Embedding WebView Content within an App
WebView Client to Control WebView Experience
Apps with Google Maps
Customizing Map Properties
Exercises
14. Media and Communication
Incorporating Audio within an App
Providing Video Content within an App
Sending a Text Message from within an App
Establishing a Telephone Session within an App
Exercises
Index

✦ Subjects

Android; Android Programming; Android Application Development; Mobile Programming; Java Programming