Implementing Action Bar using ActionBarCompat support library in Android

We know that, action bar is implemented in Android 3.0 ( Honeycomb or API Level 11) on wards.

But we can implement action bar in pre Honycomb versions upto API Level 7 using ActionBarCompat library available with Android support library revision 18.

In this article, we will see how to implement action bar in pre honeycomb versions using ActionBarCompat support library.

This application is developed in Eclipse 4.2.0 with ADT plugin 22.0.4

1. Create new Android application project

Application Name : ActionBarCompatDemo

Project Name : ActionBarCompatDemo

Package Name : in.wptrafficanalyzer.actionbarcompatdemo

Minimum Required SDK : API 8 : Android 2.2 ( Froyo )

Target SDK : API 17 : Android 4.2 ( Jelly Bean )

2. Setup ActionBarCompat library in Eclipse

Please refer the article titled “Android – Setting up ActionBarCompat support library in Eclipse”

3. Add reference to ActionBarCompat library

Figure 1 : Add reference to ActionBarCompat support library

4. Update the file AndroidManifest.xml

Note : As shown in the highlighted line 15,  the activity that implements the action bar should apply the style Theme.AppCompat or Theme.AppCompat.Light or Theme.AppCompat.DarkActionBar

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="in.wptrafficanalyzer.actionbarcompatdemo"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0" >

    <uses-sdk
        android:minSdkVersion="8"
        android:targetSdkVersion="17" />

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat" >
        <activity
            android:name="in.wptrafficanalyzer.actionbarcompatdemo.MainActivity"
            android:label="@string/app_name" >
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>
</manifest>

5. Update the class MainActivity in the file src/in/wptrafficanalyzer/actionbarcompatdemo/MainActivity.java

Note : As shown in the highlighted line7, the activity should extend the class ActionBarActivity.

package in.wptrafficanalyzer.actionbarcompatdemo;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.Menu;

import android.support.v7.app.ActionBarActivity;
public class MainActivity extends ActionBarActivity{

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
        // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
        getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu);
        return true;
    }
}

6. Screenshot of the application

Figure 2 : Android application with ActionBar is shown

7. Download Source code

Implementing Action Bar using ActionBarCompat support library in Android 564.88 KB

Download Full Source Code

How to hire me?

I am George Mathew, working as software architect and Android app developer at wptrafficanalyzer.in

You can hire me on hourly basis or on project basis for Android applications development.

For hiring me, please mail your requirements to info@wptrafficanalyzer.in.

My other blogs
store4js.blogspot.com

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Tags: action bar, actionbarcompat