Anko Commons – Intents

Contents

• Using Anko Intent helpers in your project
• Intent builder functions
• Useful Intent callers

Using Anko Intent helpers in your project

Intent helpers are inside the anko-commons artifact. Add it as a dependency to your build.gradle:

dependencies {
    implementation "org.jetbrains.anko:anko-commons:$anko_version"
}

Intent builder functions

In general, you have to write a couple of lines to start a new Activity. And it requires you to write an additional line for each value you pass as an extra. For example, this is a code for starting an Activity with extra ("id", 5) and a special flag:

val intent = Intent(this, SomeOtherActivity::class.java)
intent.putExtra("id", 5)
intent.setFlag(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP)
startActivity(intent)

Four lines is too much for this. Anko offers you an easier way:

startActivity(intentFor<SomeOtherActivity>("id" to 5).singleTop())

If you don't need to pass any flags, the solution is even easier:

startActivity<SomeOtherActivity>("id" to 5)

If you want to put more than one parameter, just split it with comma.

startActivity<SomeOtherActivity>(
    "id" to 5,
    "city" to "Denpasar"
)

Useful Intent callers

Anko has call wrappers for some widely used Intents:

Goal	Solution
Make a call	makeCall(number) without tel:
Send a text	sendSMS(number, [text]) without sms:
Browse the web	browse(url)
Share some text	share(text, [subject])
Send an email	email(email, [subject], [text])

Arguments in square brackets ([]) are optional. Methods return true if the intent was sent.