Bill Farmer

Android Recent Files

There are several parts to this - creating the list of files, saving the list in the preferences, restoring the list on startup and creating the list in the menu.

    // onCreate
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

        SharedPreferences preferences =
            PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(this);

        // Create a map of scroll positions by file name
        Set<String> pathSet = preferences.getStringSet(PREF_PATHS, null);
        pathMap = new HashMap<String, Integer>();

        if (pathSet != null)
            for (String path : pathSet)
                pathMap.put(path, preferences.getInt(path, 0));

        removeList = new ArrayList<String>();

        // ...
    }

The android preference system only allows a list of strings to be stored as a set, so the last modified date of each file is used below to order the list. The code also saves the scroll position of each file using the file name as a key. The remove list is used to remove old entries.

Baked Tomatoes

On a holiday staying at the Atlantic Hotel, St Mary’s there seemed to be a different breakfast chef nearly every day. One of them had a novel way of preparing tomatoes for an English breakfast.

Ingredients

• Tomatoes
• Oregano
• Olive oil

Method

1. Take the stems off the tomatoes and place them upside down in a baking tin. They should be stable upside down.
2. Cut a cross in the bottom of each one, put a few drops of oil on each one and sprinkle over some oregano. The oregano sticks if you put the oil on first.
3. Put the tin in a medium oven and bake until they are done.
4. Serve with breakfast, sausages, pork chops or whatever you fancy.

Fried Whole Mushrooms

Just a more interesting way of preparing mushrooms than chopping them up.

Ingredients

• Mushrooms
• Olive oil

Method

1. Keep the mushrooms whole, even if they have long stems. Put some oil in a skillet over a medium heat and place the mushrooms cap down in the pan with the stems sticking up.
2. Add a couple of drops of oil to the inside of the cap of each mushroom.
3. When the caps are browned tip them on their sides or turn them over depending on the length of the stems.
4. When done serve on toast or however you like your mushrooms.

Android Text Search

The Android guide for Search Overview is oriented towards searching external content rather than text. There is a mention of Using the Search Dialog. However all the bits you need are there. To get a search dialog in the toolbar that pops up when needed, you need a seach item in the menu. It should be the first item, unless there is a good reason otherwise.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<menu
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  <item
      android:id="@+id/search"
      android:showAsAction="ifRoom|collapseActionView"
      android:title="@string/search"
      android:actionViewClass="android.widget.SearchView"
      android:icon="@drawable/ic_action_search" />

The search dialog will still pop up if the search item is in the menu rather than the toolbar. The dialog pops up and collapses all by itself in response to user interaction without any developer code. To implement the search, you need an OnQueryTextListener, which is called by the SearchView.

Corned Beef Chili

This is an instant meal ideal for taking as part of a grub kit on holiday for when you arrive. I know you are not supposed to put red beans in chili, but you never get offered it without. I know you are supposed to make chili with chopped steak, not mince, let alone corned beef. A meal for four.

Ingredients

• Tin of corned beef
• Tin of red beans
• Tin of chopped tomatoes
• Packet of chili mix
• Olive oil

Method

1. Warm up a large skillet over a gentle heat with some olive oil and add the corned beef, breaking it up into chunks
2. When the corned beef has warmed through, add the chili mix and the tin of tomatoes
3. Stir gently, drain the tin of red beans and add to the pan
4. Allow to simmer, stirring to prevent sticking, until well heated through
5. Meanwhile, cook a pot of boiled rice
6. Serve with the rice and possibly some mango chutney