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"Cannot resolve method getResources" when trying to execute getResources in non-activity method using method widely advocated here

I have been trying to use getResources in a non-activity class. I found some advice on how to do so here. To use one of the suggested ways, by Lilzilala, (there are multiple, but mostly suggest the same thing), I have created a special class, used this to specify the resources as "res", and then instantiated this class using "new" in a line which invokes "getResources".
However, I'm getting a "cannot resolve method getResources" error on "getResources". I'm a bit of a noob, but don't know why this is happening. From what I can tell, this error happens when there simply isn't a resource with that name available. Which makes me think maybe Resources doesn't contain getResources() by default?
class executeTrimmer<Resdefine> {
public class ResDefine {
private Resources res;
public ResDefine(Resources res)
{
this.res = res;
}}
Bitmap img1 = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(new ResDefine(getResources()),
R.drawable.bmpname);
}
EDIT - following suggestions that I add context, I have tried this:
class executeTrimmer<Resdefine> {
private static Context context;
public executeTrimmer(Context context){
this.context = context;
}
public class ResDefine {
private Resources res;
public ResDefine(Resources res)
{
this.res = res;
}}
Bitmap img1 = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(new ResDefine(executeTrimmer.context.getResources),
R.drawable.bmpname);
But this still brings up error "cannot resolve symbol getResources". I've tried multiple different ways to pass context to it, and consistently faced the same error.

As you can see in the official documentation, "getResources" is Context's method, therefore you can't call it out from nowhere, neither statically. This method requires a context instance.
In your case you must at least pass a context to your class to be able to invoke it as next:
context.getResources()
I think you got confused from seen it being directly called inside Activities without a prefixed context, but as all Activities are actually a context, this is why there is no prefix.
To clarify. When called inside an activity, this:
getResources()
is the same as this:
this.getResources()
where the prefix "this." refers to the activity, which in turn is a context by itself.
On the other hand your code should be like next, without the ResDefine class. And notice that the decodeResource call is required to be inside a method and not at class level scope (this is not allowed in Java). And in fact you don't even need to use a context, so pass instead the Resources instance from the caller's class which is supposed to hold the context:
public class executeTrimmer {
private final Resources res;
public executeTrimmer(final Resources res) {
this.res= res;
}
public void loadBitmap()
Bitmap img1 = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(this.res, R.drawable.bmpname);
........
}
}
And for the caller, next a very naive example, so may get an idea:
public class MainActivity extends Activity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(#Nullable final Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
new executeTrimmer(this.getResources()).loadBitmap();
}
}

Unable to find Context for getExternalFilesDir() function in Android Studio

So, I am trying to write text to a file in Android Studio. I have the following code:
public void sampleFunction() {
File file = new File(getExternalFilesDir(null), "sample-file.txt");
}
The issue is that the method getExternalFilesDir(null) cannot be resolved. After doing some research I have noted that I need to provide the Context class. Such as:
public void sampleFunction(Context c) {
File file = new File(c.getExternalFilesDir(null), "equation_history.xml");
}
And when I called sampleFunction, I would simply pass in the current Context:
sampleFunction(this);
This normally would work, however, I need to call this function inside a setOnClickListener function for a Button. For example:
Button b_go = findViewById(R.id.b_go);
b_go.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View view) {
Functions.sampleFunction(this);
}
});
So the return value for this is android.view.View.OnClickListener rather than android.content.Context.
How might I get around this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Instead of passing "this" as an argument try calling getApplicationContext() or if you are in fragment just call getActivity().

What is often done is that a Context myContext variable is declared in the class, then onCreate, you populate it with myContext = this; Then, in any listener or Async Task, you can use myContext.getExternalFilesDir(null)

File storageDir = getActivity().getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES);

Wrong 1st argument type. Found: 'com.example.sunshine.FetchData', required: 'android.content.Context'

I guess this question is more about understanding context and how to use it properly.
After having googled and "stackoverflowed" a lot I could not find the answer.
Problem:
when using DateUtils.formatDateTime I cannot use "this" as a context. The error message is as described in the title.
Application Info:
This is a simple weather app retrieving weather information via JSON and displaying it on the screen.
Activities:
- MainActivity.java
- FetchData.java
MainActivity: displaying the info
FetchData: getting JSON info from the API, formatting it and sending it back to MainActivity
I am using DateUtils.formatDateTime in the FetchData.java activity and using "this" as a context does not work.
As from my understanding Context provided the "environment" (?) of where the method is being called.
Why is the "environment" of FetchData not valid?
What content should be provided instead?
Help is much appreciated.
Thank you :)
Code:
private ArrayList<String> getWeatherDataFromJson(String forecastJsontStr) throws JSONException {
ArrayList<String> dailyWeatherInfo = new ArrayList<>();
int dataCount;
DateUtils tempDate = new DateUtils();
JSONObject weatherData = new JSONObject(forecastJsontStr);
JSONArray threeHourWeatherData = weatherData.getJSONArray(JSON_LIST);
dataCount = weatherData.getInt("cnt");
JSONObject tempJSONWeatherData;
for (int i = 0; i < dataCount; i++) {
tempJSONWeatherData = threeHourWeatherData.getJSONObject(i);
tempDate.formatDateTime(this,tempJSONWeatherData.getLong("dt"),
DateUtils.FORMAT_SHOW_DATE | DateUtils.FORMAT_SHOW_WEEKDAY |
DateUtils.FORMAT_ABBREV_ALL);
[more code here]
return dailyWeatherInfo;
}
Edit: I just realized I left out an important detail, namely this activity extends AsyncTask. After some further research apparently you provide the context bei adding WeakReference and then adding context in the constructor.
I added the following code:
private WeakReference<Context> contextWeakReference;
public FetchData (Content context) {
contextWeakReference = new WeakReference<>();
}
tempDate.formatDateTime(contextWeakReference.get(),tempJSONWeatherData.getLong("dt"),
DateUtils.FORMAT_SHOW_DATE | DateUtils.FORMAT_SHOW_WEEKDAY |
DateUtils.FORMAT_ABBREV_ALL);
This made the error disappear but I still don't understand why "this" doesn't work.

I am using DateUtils.formatDateTime in the FetchData.java activity and
using "this" as a context does not work. As from my understanding
Context provided the "environment" (?) of where the method is being
called.
You're incorrect, Context is Android context which is (from documentation):
Interface to global information about an application environment. This
is an abstract class whose implementation is provided by the Android
system. It allows access to application-specific resources and
classes, as well as up-calls for application-level operations such as
launching activities, broadcasting and receiving intents, etc.
DateUtils.formatDateTime() needs Context as one of its parameter. So, you need to pass a context.
Android Activity is sub class of Context, so you can use this (which refer to itself) as the context like the following:
public class MyActivity extends Activity {
...
protected void doSomething() {
// this refer to the MyActivity instance which is a Context.
DateUtils.formatDateTime(this, ...);
}
...
}
You need to pass the Context for every class that is not a Context subclass.
You can't use this in AsyncTask because it's not a Context subclass. So, you need to pass the Context using WeakReference to avoid Context leaking, like the following:
private class AsyncTaskRunner extends AsyncTask<String, String, String> {
private WeakReference<Context> contextWeakReference;
public FetchData (Content context) {
contextWeakReference = new WeakReference<>();
}
private void doSomething() {
// We have the context from the WeakReference
Context context = contextWeakReference.get();
DateUtils.formatDateTime(context, ...);
}
}
Last, you don't need to create a DateUtils object when calling DateUtils.formatDateTime(), so this isn't necessary:
DateUtils tempDate = new DateUtils();
tempDate.formatDateTime(...);
You can directly call it because it's a static method:
DateUtils.formatDateTime(...);

tempDate.formatDateTime(this,tempJSONWeatherData.getLong("dt"), instead of this you can pass context of application, this refers on class FetchData

android: Use openOrCreateDatabase from within non activity class

I am creating a new class for database, the first function is to access the database
the problem is that I always get error on MODE_PRIVATE
I tried to pass the context as parameter but still shows error
anyone know how to access the database from a non activity class
public class DB {
public void OpenDB(Context ctx, SQLiteDatabase dataB)
{
dataB = openOrCreateDatabase("Schlogger", ctx.MODE_PRIVATE,null);
}
}

Change
dataB = openOrCreateDatabase("Schlogger", ctx.MODE_PRIVATE,null);
to
dataB = ctx.openOrCreateDatabase("Schlogger", ctx.MODE_PRIVATE,null);
openOrCreateDatabase is a method of Context class so you need a object of Context to call it.

use context to open databse ctx.openOrCreateDatabase("Schlogger", ctx.MODE_PRIVATE,null);

getContentResolver in Separate Class

I need a class to get the artists, albums and tracks on the device, which I will then use JNI to call upon.
At the moment, in its barebones, the following causes a crash.
public class AndroidMediaLibray extends Activity {
public void getArtists() {
getContentResolver();
}
}
How do I get this to not crash?

The problem you have, is that you need to call getContentResolver() on a Context. If you call it in an Activity, you automatically call it on the Context of the Activity. But you (probably) never really start AndroidMediaLibrary. Please refer to the documentation of activities. If you want to have the DB call in an extra class, you may have a look at the following code. I have created a class with static methods. I just need to pass the context of my given Activity to that class. In your case that class might look like this:
public class AndroidMediaLibrary {
public static List<String> getArtists(Context context){
ArrayList<String> retVal = new ArrayList<String>();
ContentResolver resolver = context.getContentResolver();
// some more stuff here..
return retVal;
}
}
You may call that function from your MainActivity with:
List<String> myValues = DBUtils.someFunction(MainActivity.this);