How can I concatenate static strings with XML string resources?

Question

I'm trying to combine a static "hard coded" string with one referenced from strings.xml for string array items.

The goal is to have a dynamic metrics list where the number is the same for all languages, but the metrics text value may change by language, something like this:

<string-array name="interval_labels">
    <item>30 @string/second</item>
    <item>1 @string/minute</item>
    <item>5 @string/minute</item>
    <item>10 @string/minute</item>
    <item>15 @string/minute</item>
    <item>30 @string/minute</item>
    <item>60 @string/minute</item>
</string-array>

Right now, if I remove the numbers before the @string/... references, it works well (as mentioned here), but I was wondering whether there is a way to retrieve the referenced string and concatenate it to the "hard coded" one.

stackoverflow.com/a/2865276/1085128 seems to indicate that it is at least almost possible. Possibly even fully possible. — mako
– mako, Commented Dec 31, 2013 at 19:22
By defining an XML entity it's possible. I used this answer: stackoverflow.com/questions/3656371/… — Andrew
– Andrew, Commented Nov 2, 2015 at 2:18

CommonsWare · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-20 18:39:36Z

6

Sorry, no such syntax is supported by Android resource files.

answered Nov 20, 2011 at 18:39

CommonsWare

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2 Comments

Tõnis Pool Over a year ago

if it's so, it's sad, guess I'll have to move the digits to strings.xml as well.

Andrew Over a year ago

Using XML entities it is possible to reference the same string multiple times in an Android xml file like strings.xml. See my answer below.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:16:18Z

1

Using XML entities it's possible.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE resources [
  <!ENTITY mintues "minutes">
  <!ENTITY minute "minute">
  <!ENTITY seconds "seconds">
]>

<resources>
  <string-array name="interval_labels">
    <item>30 &seconds;</item>
    <item>1 &minute;/item>
    <item>5 &minutes;</item>
    <item>10 &minutes;</item>
    <item>15 &minutes;</item>
    <item>30 &minutes;</item>
    <item>60 &minutes;</item>
  </string-array>
</resources>

I used this answer: dynamic String using String.xml?

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:16

CommunityBot

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answered Nov 2, 2015 at 2:23

Andrew

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Comments

Jonathan Twite · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-31 08:18:45Z

-1

There is a way of sort-of getting this effect, by defining the string resource with a place holder and using String.format() style overload of getResourses().getString() in the code behind:

In string.xml

<string name="secs">%1$d seconds</string>

In activity_layout.xml

<TextView android:id="@+id/secs_label" />

In TheActivity.java

((TextView)findViewByID(R.id.secs_label)).setText(getResources().getString(R.string.secs, 25));

answered Jul 31, 2015 at 8:18

Jonathan Twite

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