The last preliminary step is to create a template crime report that can be configured with the specific crime’s details. Because you will not know a crime’s details until runtime, you must use a format string with placeholders that can be replaced at runtime. Here is the format string you will use:
%1$s! The crime was discovered on %2$s. %3$s, and %4$s
%1$s, %2$s, etc. are placeholders that expect string arguments.
In code, you will call getString(…) and pass in the format string and four other strings in the order in which they should replace the placeholders.
First, in strings.xml, add the strings shown in Listing 15.6.
Listing 15.6 Adding string resources (res/values/strings.xml)
<resources>
...
<string name="crime_suspect_text">Choose Suspect</string>
<string name="crime_report_text">Send Crime Report</string>
<string name="crime_report">%1$s!
The crime was discovered on %2$s. %3$s, and %4$s
</string>
<string name="crime_report_solved">The case is solved</string>
<string name="crime_report_unsolved">The case is not solved</string>
<string name="crime_report_no_suspect">there is no suspect.</string>
<string name="crime_report_suspect">the suspect is %s.</string>
<string name="crime_report_subject">CriminalIntent Crime Report</string>
<string name="send_report">Send crime report via</string>
</resources>
In CrimeFragment.kt, add a function that creates four strings and then pieces them together and returns a complete report.
Listing 15.7 Adding a getCrimeReport() function (CrimeFragment.kt)
private const val REQUEST_DATE = 0
private const val DATE_FORMAT = "EEE, MMM, dd"
class CrimeFragment : Fragment(), DatePickerFragment.Callbacks {
...
private fun updateUI() {
...
}
private fun getCrimeReport(): String {
val solvedString = if (crime.isSolved) {
getString(R.string.crime_report_solved)
} else {
getString(R.string.crime_report_unsolved)
}
val dateString = DateFormat.format(DATE_FORMAT, crime.date).toString()
var suspect = if (crime.suspect.isBlank()) {
getString(R.string.crime_report_no_suspect)
} else {
getString(R.string.crime_report_suspect, crime.suspect)
}
return getString(R.string.crime_report,
crime.title, dateString, solvedString, suspect)
}
companion object {
...
}
}
(Note that there are multiple DateFormat classes. Make sure you import android.text.format.DateFormat.)
Now the preliminaries are complete, and you can turn to implicit intents.