I would like to have a way to reference the project's manifest version number in the main part of the code. What I have been doing up until now is to link the version number in a String XML file to the manifest (@string/Version). What I would like to do is to do it the other way around, link a string XML variable to the version in the manifest. The reason? I'd like to only have to change the version number in one location, the manifest file. Is there any way to do this? Thanks!
8 Answers
There is not a way to directly get the version out, but there are two work-arounds that could be done.
The version could be stored in a resource string, and placed into the manifest by:
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="com.somepackage" android:versionName="@string/version" android:versionCode="20">
One could create a custom view, and place it into the XML. The view would use this to assign the name:
context.getPackageManager().getPackageInfo(context.getPackageName(), 0).versionName;
Either of these solutions would allow for placing the version name in XML. Unfortunately there isn't a nice simple solution, like android.R.string.version
or something like that.
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16a little note to 1.: it's working but I think it's discouraged since I get a warning telling me
The android:versionName cannot be a resource url, it must be a literal string
– Gerrit-KCommented Apr 23, 2013 at 10:44 -
1What I did is leave the manifest version name untouched (but update it whenever a new release) and use the string.xml to store the value that I'll be using across the app. Commented Sep 16, 2013 at 23:39
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1For
AndroidStudio
, the manifestversionName
is override by the one set inbuild.gradle
file Commented Mar 22, 2016 at 11:32
You can use the versionName
in XML resources, such as activity layouts. First create a string resource in the app/build.gradle
with the following snippet in the android
node:
applicationVariants.all { variant ->
variant.resValue "string", "versionName", variant.versionName
}
So the whole build.gradle
file contents may look like this:
apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
android {
compileSdkVersion 23
buildToolsVersion '24.0.0 rc3'
defaultConfig {
applicationId 'com.example.myapplication'
minSdkVersion 15
targetSdkVersion 23
versionCode 17
versionName '0.2.3'
jackOptions {
enabled true
}
}
applicationVariants.all { variant ->
variant.resValue "string", "versionName", variant.versionName
}
buildTypes {
release {
minifyEnabled false
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
}
}
productFlavors {
}
compileOptions {
sourceCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
}
}
dependencies {
compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs')
testCompile 'junit:junit:4.12'
compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:23.3.0'
compile 'com.android.support:design:23.3.0'
compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:23.3.0'
}
Then you can use @string/versionName
in the XML. Android Studio will mark it red, but the app will compile without issues. For example, this may be used like this in app/src/main/res/xml/preferences.xml
:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<PreferenceScreen xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<PreferenceCategory
android:title="About"
android:key="pref_key_about">
<Preference
android:key="pref_about_build"
android:title="Build version"
android:summary="@string/versionName" />
</PreferenceCategory>
</PreferenceScreen>
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3
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3
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2I am using the latest and still works for me. I use this and several other variables like this. @k2col what error do u get while compiling? Pls post ur gradle code Commented Nov 23, 2016 at 15:49
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4
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2@ArunElectra it is cannot resolve symbol. but it allows run and generate apk. it is just the marking of error.– A_rmasCommented Apr 13, 2017 at 7:27
IF you are using Gradle you can use the build.gradle file to programmatically add value to the xml resources at compile time.
Example Code extracted from: https://medium.com/@manas/manage-your-android-app-s-versioncode-versionname-with-gradle-7f9c5dcf09bf
buildTypes {
debug {
versionNameSuffix ".debug"
resValue "string", "app_version", "${defaultConfig.versionName}${versionNameSuffix}"
}
release {
resValue "string", "app_version", "${defaultConfig.versionName}"
}
}
now use @string/app_version
as needed in XML
It will add .debug
to the version name as describe in the linked article when in debug mode.
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1
I solved this issue by extending the Preference class.
package com.example.android;
import android.content.Context;
import android.preference.Preference;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
public class VersionPreference extends Preference {
public VersionPreference(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
super(context, attrs);
String versionName;
final PackageManager packageManager = context.getPackageManager();
if (packageManager != null) {
try {
PackageInfo packageInfo = packageManager.getPackageInfo(context.getPackageName(), 0);
versionName = packageInfo.versionName;
} catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
versionName = null;
}
setSummary(versionName);
}
}
}
Then in my preferences XML:
<PreferenceScreen xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<com.example.android.VersionPreference android:title="Version" />
</PreferenceScreen>
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Oops. I must have been thinking Preference XML based on another comment. Commented Nov 24, 2013 at 18:44
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Nevertheless, I will just copy and paste his answer anyway. Commented Jun 11, 2015 at 8:24
I use BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME.toString();
. What's the difference between that and getting it from the packageManager?
No XML based solutions have worked for me, sorry.
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8BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME is already a string, no need to call toString() on it. Commented Apr 4, 2016 at 19:52
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There are cases when calling this in your project may get different result from what you would expect. For example if you use an android submodule in your project and you call it from the code of the submodule it will reference to build config of the submodule which may have different version. Or if you call it from the code of your project you may reference by mistake to build config of your submodule and get the same result. Just be careful and double check that you reference to a proper package of the build config.– MikeLCommented Oct 5, 2016 at 19:55
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difference is BuilConfig is provided by Gradle whereas getting it at runtime is by PackageManager (OS) Commented Jan 24, 2020 at 17:58
You can't use it from the XML.
You need to extend the widget you are using in the XML and add the logic to set the text using what's mentioned on Konstantin Burov's answer.
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2we can use it. please check my answer. I am using it in my app Commented Apr 7, 2016 at 6:48
Easiest solution is to use BuildConfig
.
I use BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME
in my application.
You can also use BuildConfig.VERSION_CODE
to get version code.
Late to the game, but you can do it without @string/xyz
by using ?android:attr
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="?android:attr/versionName"
/>
<!-- or -->
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="?android:attr/versionCode"
/>
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11I use like this:
<Preference android:title="Version" android:summary="?android:attr/versionName" ></Preference>
, but show as?16843292
.What's wrong?– SugeCommented Sep 26, 2013 at 9:17 -
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doesn't work; returns funny number which @Suge pointed out above– pepanCommented Apr 3, 2017 at 21:34
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doesnot work at all and returns random value as previously posted– A_rmasCommented Apr 4, 2017 at 8:33