How to start with ActionBar in Android?

With Android 3.0 Google eliminated the need of hardware menu button which is replaced by Action Bars.

Here is a quick example on how to use ActionBars.

First create a new project and name it ActionBarExample.

Now create a folder named “menu” in res folder and create a new XML file inside it named “action_bar_menu.xml”.

action_bar_menu.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
    <item android:id="@+id/menuitem1" android:showAsAction="ifRoom" android:title="Test1"></item>
    <item android:id="@+id/menuitem2" android:showAsAction="ifRoom" android:title="Test2"></item>
</menu>

Now the java code for implementing this ActionBar.

MainActivity.java

package com.example.actionbarexample;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.MenuInflater;
import android.view.MenuItem;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class MainActivity extends Activity {
	@Override
	  public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {   
	    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
	    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
	  }

	  @Override
	  public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
	    MenuInflater inflater = getMenuInflater();
	    inflater.inflate(R.menu.action_bar_menu, menu);
	    return true;
	  }

	  @Override
	  public boolean    onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
	    switch (item.getItemId()) {
	    case R.id.menuitem1:
	      Toast.makeText(this, "Test 1 Clicked", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
	      break;
	    case R.id.menuitem2:
	      Toast.makeText(this, "Test 2 Clicked", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
	      break;

	    default:
	      break;
	    }

	    return true;
	  }
	} 

As there is enough space in the ActionBar otherwise you may see the Overflow menu or you have to use the Option menu button on your phone.

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