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Handler and thread/runnable

Can someone tell me why this doesn't work? I am trying to figure out how to use thread/runnable. Thread doesnt do much but just to loop and let the main thread know to update the text. I dont know what I missed, the centertext doesnt update. Thanks so much.
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
TextView centerText;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
Toolbar toolbar = findViewById(R.id.toolbar);
setSupportActionBar(toolbar);
final SysTimeObj sysTimeObj = new SysTimeObj();
centerText = findViewById(R.id.centerText);
Handler stHandler = new Handler(getMainLooper()){
#Override
public void handleMessage(#NonNull Message msg) {
super.handleMessage(msg);
centerText.setText("thread updated");
}
};
startThread(sysTimeObj, stHandler);
}
public void startThread(SysTimeObj sysTimeObj, Handler handler){
clockThread rc = new clockThread(sysTimeObj, handler);
Thread t1 = new Thread(rc);
t1.start();
}
}
public class clockThread implements Runnable {
//private String sysTime;
private Handler handler;
SysTimeObj sysTimeObj;
public clockThread(SysTimeObj sysTimeObj, Handler mHandler){
//sysTime = GregorianCalendar.getInstance().getTime().toString();
this.sysTimeObj = sysTimeObj;
handler = mHandler;
}
#Override
public void run() {
sysTimeObj.setTime();
handler.postDelayed(this, 100);
}
}

You want to do something on the Main/UI Thread after a certain amount of time ? On Android, you don't need a new thread for that.
The Main Thread has a message queue that you can Post to. That message queue is emptied on a regular basis. Posted messages can be configured to be executed at a later time (which is what you seem to want).
To post messages, you need to create a Handler for the target thread. This Handler will let you send messages to that thread. Then, Post a Runnable to that thread using one of the posting methods availlable (here, postDelayed).
You'll end with something like this :
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private TextView yourTextView;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
yourTextView = findViewById(R.id.yourTextView);
Handler handler = new Handler(getMainLooper());
handler.postDelayed(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
yourTextView.setText("Updated after 100 ms");
}
}, 100);
}
}
If threads is really what you want, I suggest you look at AsyncTasks. You might also want to look at the official documentation about Process and Threads on Android Developpers.

How can i run a button automatically every second until de if condition be true?

I need that a button can run automatically every 1-2 seconds, and, when the if condition (that i have in the method which is used by the button) is fulfilled, this function must be stopped.
I've tried this but it wasn't what i wanted because with this code the button only runs one time:
new Handler().postDelayed(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
Consulta.performClick();
}
}, 1000);
onClick of my button:
public void consultaBD(View view)
{
DB db = new DB(getApplicationContext(),null,null,1);
String buscar = text_view.getText().toString();
String[] datos;
datos=db.buscar_reg(buscar.trim());
db.infraccion(buscar.trim());
if(datos[2] =="Encontrado")
{
App.matricula=buscar;
startActivity(new Intent(getApplicationContext(), MatriculasActivity.class));
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),datos[2],Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
else
{
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),datos[2],Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}

Another method would be to use Timers to initiate the button click every x seconds. However, in this answer I'll stick with the method you're using. Your handler appears to be incorrect, try something like this instead:
Replace your handler with:
private Handler handler = new Handler();
private Runnable runnable = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
Consulta.performClick();
handler.postDelayed(this, 1000);
}
};
And initiate it with: (where 1000 is the time (in milliseconds) between each execution)
handler.postDelayed(runnable, 1000);
UPDATE:
You have also requested that the event is fired when the text inside of a textbox is changed. To do this, you need to create a new event listener (make sure you replace field1 with the actual reference to your textbox):
field1.addTextChangedListener(new TextWatcher() {
#Override
public void onTextChanged(CharSequence s, int start,
int before, int count) {
/* Add the Handler Call here */
handler.postDelayed(runnable, 1000);
}
});

whatever context I understood, here is the raw code which may help you.
Handler handler = new Handler();
//initialize this method once by either clicking on button or as the activity starts
void checkAndPerformClick(boolean conditionFulfilled) {
if (conditionFulfilled) {
handler.removeCallbacksAndMessages(null);
return;
}
handler.postDelayed(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
Consulta.performClick();
checkAndPerformClick(datosEqualsEncontrado());
}
}, 1000);
}
boolean datosEqualsEncontrado() {
// apply your logic here as the name suggests
return false;
}

How Can I Stop Runnable Into 2 different Acivity with in Android?

I need to delete a value from SharedPreferences after 5 minutes or when the user finished to do something . So when I add that value I start this:
Activity A
Handler handler = new Handler();
handler.postDelayed(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
mySharedPreferences.removeValue(mContext, Utils.MY_VALUE);
}
}, Utils.TIME_BEFORE_DELETE);
and in the case users finished all I do this:
Activity B
mySharedPrefernces.removeValue(mContext, Utils.MY_VALUE);
But how can I stop the Handle into second activity?? Or is there another way to do it??

you can you boolean variable if you want to cancel this.
create public static boolean to check if the task is cancelled or not.
public static boolean isCanceled = false;
Use this in run() method
Handler handler = new Handler();
handler.postDelayed(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
if (!isCanceled)
mySharedPreferences.removeValue(mContext, Utils.MY_VALUE);
}
}, Utils.TIME_BEFORE_DELETE);
if you want to cancel then set:
isCanceled = true;

Runnable run = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
mySharedPreferences.removeValue(mContext, Utils.MY_VALUE);
}
};
Handler handler = new Handler();
handler.postDelayed(run, Utils.TIME_BEFORE_DELETE);
//to dismiss pending runnable
handler.removeCallbacks(run);

A better way to do: Example code
publc static final Handler handler = new Handler();
public static final Runnable runnable = new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
Log.d("Runnable","Handler is working");
if(i == 5){ // just remove call backs
handler.removeCallbacks(this);
Log.d("Runnable","ok");
} else { // post again
i++;
handler.postDelayed(this, 5000);
}
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
};
//now somewhere in a method
b1.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
public void onClick(View v) {
handler.removeCallbacks(runnable);
handler.postDelayed(runnable, 5000);
}
});

You can use handler.removeCallbacksAndMessages(null);. More information link
In this case you can use service with sticky flags. So you start service with intent "start_handler" and start handler also. When you need cancel handler you send the intent to stop handler and service. Or when time is passed and handler calls your code you should also stop service.
Using service with sticky flag provides possibility restoring handler. Also you need add some logic saving time when handler was run for correct restoring handler.

For that you can't use direct Runnable inside handler, you need to take one instance of it then you can do this like below,
Runnable myRunnable = new Runnable(){};
Then assign this in handler
handler.postDelayed(myRunnable);
And on no need use below line
handler.removeCallbacks(myRunnable);

new Handler().postDelayed(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
//add your code hare
finish();
}
}, 10000);
by using this way you can stop your runnable in a fix time

Calling FindViewById from Handler thread - NullPointerException

So, I am trying to implement a simple timer in my application wherein I increment the MM:SS display every one second.
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_game);
handler = new Handler();
Runnable runnable = new GameActivity();
handler.postDelayed(runnable, 5000); //Start Incrementing timer after 5s.
}
#Override
public void run() {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
TextView timeView = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.textView1);
String time = (String) timeView.getText();
if (TimerUtilities.convertMSToSeconds(time) < R.integer.TimeLimit)
{
time = TimerUtilities.incrementOne(time);
timeView.setText(time);
timeView.postInvalidate();
handler.postDelayed(new GameActivity(), 1000);
}
else
{
time = TimerUtilities.incrementOne(time);
timeView.setText(time);
}
}
When I looked at the logcat output - I am getting a null pointer exception in the findViewById line of the overridden run method.
So could the problem because of reading/updating UI from the handler thread. If so, is there an alternative way for me to do this ?

The run method is being called on the new GameActivity that you created. The setContentView method never gets called on it so it doesn't have any views. You probably wanted to call
handler.postDelayed(this, 5000);
instead of creating a new activity.

Why the thread behaves this way in my example?

Can someone explain to me 2 things about the thread code that I finally made almost working the way it should. I want to do a periodic task in the background every x seconds and be able to stop and start it at will. I coded that based on the examples I found, but I'm not sure if I made it in the right way. For the purpose of debugging, the task is displaying a time with custom showTime().
public class LoopExampleActivity extends Activity {
TextView Napis, Napis2;
Button button1,button_start,button_stop;
Handler handler = new Handler();
Boolean tread1_running = true;
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
Napis = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.textView1);
Napis2 = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.textView2);
button1 = (Button) findViewById(R.id.button1);
button_stop = (Button) findViewById(R.id.button_stop);
button_start = (Button) findViewById(R.id.button_start);
button_stop.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick (View v) {
tread1_running = false;
}
});
button_start.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick (View v) {
tread1_running = true;
}
});
thread.start();
}// endof onCreate
final Runnable r = new Runnable()
{
public void run()
{
handler.postDelayed(this, 1000);
showTime(Napis2);
}
};
Thread thread = new Thread()
{
#Override
public void run() {
try {
while(tread1_running) {
sleep(1000);
handler.post(r);
}
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
};
}
Now the questions are:
1)Will my thread quit forever if I stop it with the stop button?
2)Why can't I start it again with the start_button? If I add the tread.start() in a button, will it crash?
3) I tried a second version when I let the thread run and put a condition into the handler. The only way I can get it to work is to loop conditionaly in the handler by adding an
if (thread1_running) {
handler.postDelayed(this, 2000);
showTime(Napis2);
}
And changing the condition in a thread start to while (true) but then I have an open thread that is running all the time and I start and stop it in a handler, and it posts more and more handlers.
So, finally I get to the point it looks like that:
final Runnable r = new Runnable()
{
public void run()
{
if (thread1_running) handler.postDelayed(this, 1000);
showTime(Napis2);
}
};
Thread thread = new Thread()
{
#Override
public void run() {
try {
while(true) {
sleep(1000);
if (thread1_running) handler.post(r);
}
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
};
Is the proper way to do that is to start and stop a whole thread? Or that is the best way?

The best way to achieve something like that would be, in my humble opinion, to postDelayed(Runnable, long).
You could do something like this. Class definition:
private Handler mMessageHandler = new Handler();
private Runnable mUpdaterRunnable = new Runnable() {
public void run() {
doStuff();
showTime(Napis2);
mMessageHandler.postDelayed(mUpdaterRunnable, 1000);
}
};
And control true run/stop like this:
To start:
mMessageHandler.postDelayed(mUpdaterRunnable, 1000);
And to stop:
mMessageHandler.removeCallbacks(mUpdaterRunnable);
It's much much simpler, in my humble opinion.

Threads a described by a state machine in java.
When a thread get outs of its run method, it enters in the stopped state and can't be restarted.
You should always stop a thread by getting it out of its run method as you do, it s the proper way to do it.
If you want to "restart the thread", start a new instance of your thread class.
You should better encapsulate your thread and its running field. It should be inside your thread class and the class should offer a public method to swich the boolean. No one cares about your datastructure, hide them. :)
You should consider using runOnUIThread for your runnable, its much easier to use than handlers.