How to get String Array from arrays.xml file

I am just trying to display a list from an array that I have in my arrays.xml. When I try to run it in the emulator, I get a force close message.

If I define the array in the java file

String[] testArray = new String[] {"one","two","three","etc"};

it works, but when I use

String[] testArray = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.testArray);

it doesnt work.

Here is my Java file:

package com.xtensivearts.episode.seven;

import android.app.ListActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;

public class Episode7 extends ListActivity {
 String[] testArray = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.testArray);
 
 /** Called when the activity is first created. */
 @Override
 protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {

  super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

  // Create an ArrayAdapter that will contain all list items
  ArrayAdapter<String> adapter;
  
  /* Assign the name array to that adapter and 
     also choose a simple layout for the list items */ 
  adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(
    this,
    android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1,
    testArray);
  
  // Assign the adapter to this ListActivity
  setListAdapter(adapter);
 }

 
}

Here is my arrays.xml file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  
<resources>  
  <array name="testArray">  
    <item>first</item>  
    <item>second</item>  
    <item>third</item>  
    <item>fourth</item>  
    <item>fifth</item>  
  </array>
</resources>

You can't initialize your testArray field this way, because the application resources still aren't ready.

Just change the code to:

package com.xtensivearts.episode.seven;

import android.app.ListActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;

public class Episode7 extends ListActivity {
    String[] mTestArray;

    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    
        // Create an ArrayAdapter that will contain all list items
        ArrayAdapter<String> adapter;

        mTestArray = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.testArray);    

        /* Assign the name array to that adapter and 
        also choose a simple layout for the list items */ 
        adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(
            this,
            android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1,
            mTestArray);

        // Assign the adapter to this ListActivity
        setListAdapter(adapter);
    }
}

Your array.xml is not right. change it to like this

Here is array.xml file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  
<resources>  
    <string-array name="testArray">  
        <item>first</item>  
        <item>second</item>  
        <item>third</item>  
        <item>fourth</item>  
        <item>fifth</item>  
   </string-array>
</resources>

Your XML is not entirely clear, but arrays XML can cause force closes if you make them numbers, and/or put white space in their definition.

Make sure they are defined like No Leading or Trailing Whitespace

You can also get the string array from xml as ArrayList by the following code

xml array:

    <string-array name="testArray">  
        <item>first</item>  
        <item>second</item>  
        <item>third</item>  
        <item>fourth</item>  
        <item>fifth</item>  
   </string-array>

kotlin code:

val stringArray: ArrayList<String> =  resources.getStringArray(R.array.testArray).toList() as ArrayList<String>