How To Pick Image From Gallery in Android App
- By Viral Patel on May 3, 2012
Since few days I am working on an Android app and learning all the nitty gritty of its APIs. I will share few How-to stuffs that we frequently require in Android.
To start with let us see how to integrate Image Gallery with your App. Consider a requirement, you want your app user to select Image from the Gallery and use that image to do some stuff. For example, in Facebook app you can select Picture from your phone and upload directly to your profile.
Let us create an example with following requirement:
- First screen shows user with and Image view and a button to loan Picture.
- On click of “Load Picture” button, user will be redirected to Android’s Image Gallery where she can select one image.
- Once the image is selected, the image will be loaded in Image view on main screen.
So lets start.
Step 1: Create Basic Android Project in Eclipse
Create a Hello World Android project in Eclipse. Go to New > Project > Android Project. Give the project name as ImageGalleryDemo and select Android Runtime 2.1 or sdk 7.
Once you are done with above steps, you will have a basic hello world Android App.
Step 2: Change the Layout
For our demo, we need simple layout. One Image view to display user selected image and one button to trigger Image gallery.
Open layout/main.xml in your android project and replace its content with following:
File: res/layout/main.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<ImageView
android:id="@+id/imgView"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"></ImageView>
<Button
android:id="@+id/buttonLoadPicture"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="0"
android:text="Load Picture"
android:layout_gravity="center"></Button>
</LinearLayout>
So our Android’s app UI is very simple, One LinearLayout to organize Image view and Button linearly. Note that the id of Image view is imgView and that of Button is buttonLoadPicture.
Step 3: Android Java Code to trigger Image Gallery Intent
We now need to write some Java code to actually handle the button click. On click of buttonLoadPicture button, we need to trigger the intent for Image Gallery.
Thus, on click of button we will trigger following code:
Intent i = new Intent( Intent.ACTION_PICK, android.provider.MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI); startActivityForResult(i, RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE);
Note how we passed an integer RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE to startActivityForResult() method. This is to handle the result back when an image is selected from Image Gallery.
So the above code will trigger Image Gallery. But how to retrieve back the image selected by user in our main activity?
Step 4: Getting back selected Image details in Main Activity
Once user will select an image, the method onActivityResult() of our main activity will be called. We need to handle the data in this method as follows:
@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
if (requestCode == RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE && resultCode == RESULT_OK && null != data) {
Uri selectedImage = data.getData();
String[] filePathColumn = { MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA };
Cursor cursor = getContentResolver().query(selectedImage,
filePathColumn, null, null, null);
cursor.moveToFirst();
int columnIndex = cursor.getColumnIndex(filePathColumn[0]);
String picturePath = cursor.getString(columnIndex);
cursor.close();
// String picturePath contains the path of selected Image
}
Note that method onActivityResult gets called once an Image is selected. In this method, we check if the activity that was triggered was indeed Image Gallery (It is common to trigger different intents from the same activity and expects result from each). For this we used RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE integer that we passed previously to startActivityForResult() method.
Final Code
Below is the final code of ImageGalleryDemoActivity class.
package net.viralpatel.android.imagegalleray;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.database.Cursor;
import android.graphics.BitmapFactory;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.provider.MediaStore;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.ImageView;
public class ImageGalleryDemoActivity extends Activity {
private static int RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE = 1;
@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
Button buttonLoadImage = (Button) findViewById(R.id.buttonLoadPicture);
buttonLoadImage.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(View arg0) {
Intent i = new Intent(
Intent.ACTION_PICK,
android.provider.MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI);
startActivityForResult(i, RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE);
}
});
}
@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
if (requestCode == RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE && resultCode == RESULT_OK && null != data) {
Uri selectedImage = data.getData();
String[] filePathColumn = { MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA };
Cursor cursor = getContentResolver().query(selectedImage,
filePathColumn, null, null, null);
cursor.moveToFirst();
int columnIndex = cursor.getColumnIndex(filePathColumn[0]);
String picturePath = cursor.getString(columnIndex);
cursor.close();
ImageView imageView = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.imgView);
imageView.setImageBitmap(BitmapFactory.decodeFile(picturePath));
}
}
}
Screen shots of Android app
First screen: Lets user to trigger Image Gallery
User can select an image from Image Gallery
Once user selects an image, the same will be displayed on our main activity
Download Source Code
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05-25 23:00:57.952: E/AndroidRuntime(2157): java.lang.RuntimeException: Failure delivering result ResultInfo{who=null, request=1, result=-1, data=Intent { dat=content://media/external/images/media/23 }} to activity {com.frux.base64/com.frux.base64.galley}: java.lang.NullPointerException
error dude
Hi, In which Line you getting NullPointerException? Also try the demo app that I have attached in your device. Check if you getting same error.
at the setting the imageview setImageBitmap,
Heres my code hope that you can help me thx in advance!
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { // TODO Auto-generated method stub super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); Intent intent = new Intent(); intent.setType("image/*"); intent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT); startActivityForResult(Intent.createChooser(intent, "Select Picture"), RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE); } @Override protected void onActivityResult(final int requestCode, final int resultCode, final Intent imageReturnedIntent) { // TODO Auto-generated method stub super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, imageReturnedIntent); switch(requestCode) { case RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE: if(resultCode == RESULT_OK) { Uri uri = imageReturnedIntent.getData(); String[] projection = {MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA}; Cursor cursor = getContentResolver().query(uri, projection, null, null, null); cursor.moveToFirst(); int columnIndex = cursor.getColumnIndex(projection[0]); String filePath = cursor.getString(columnIndex); cursor.close(); Bitmap image = BitmapFactory.decodeFile(filePath); ImageView im = (ImageView)findViewById(R.id.imagev); im.setImageBitmap(image); } } }Kevin, the way you are triggering Image Gallery is different from what I specified. I am using Intent.ACTION_PICK intent. Can you use the exact code snippet given in above example to trigger the Image Picker.
still got an error
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); // TODO Auto-generated method stub Intent i = new Intent( Intent.ACTION_PICK, android.provider.MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI); startActivityForResult(i, RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE); } @Override protected void onActivityResult(final int requestCode, final int resultCode, final Intent data) { // TODO Auto-generated method stub super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data); if (requestCode == RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE && resultCode == RESULT_OK && null != data) { Uri selectedImage = data.getData(); String[] filePathColumn = { MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA }; Cursor cursor = getContentResolver().query(selectedImage, filePathColumn, null, null, null); cursor.moveToFirst(); int columnIndex = cursor.getColumnIndex(filePathColumn[0]); String picturePath = cursor.getString(columnIndex); cursor.close(); ImageView imageView = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.imagev); imageView.setImageBitmap(BitmapFactory.decodeFile(picturePath)); } }hey viral can u please send me a code for access images from sqlite db store in sdcard….???
Hi Viral, Your code is working perfectly, thank you. but i wondered if there is anyway to redirect the image to a different xml layout. I want to access the gallery from main.xml but load it into main2.xml. Thanks
Hi Dendrox, I am not sure if I got your requirement clear. I would create an Activity that loads main2.xml and triggers that via Intent from Mainactivity. Also you can pass the image path as extra in intent. Not sure if this would help you.
can you pls identify the error.. thx a lot
I cannot figure out the issue with the given data
Could you check if the Demo project is working in your android device? Also try to add few Logcat (Log.d();) statements in your code. You might be able to figure out where exactly you getting null object.
hi, this tutorial is working! i have problems in storing the loaded image into sqlite. i browsed through net and found it need to be stored in bitmap or blob? hope u will give a helping hand. Appreciate.
Been searching for this for a long time.Works perfectly.Thanks a lot.
so useful Tutorial.it works fine.
Thanks
Dear Viral,
Please pos the tutorial which guides how to get started with Android application means from how to add plugins where from we get plugins etc.
Thanx in advance
hi Viral, actually i got error that Resource not found Exception, at line where we are converting columnIndex to string and get path of that gallery image, i can open gallery and when i select image force close is pop up, and got error, can u help why its happen
Thanks. works cool. But when I do the following xml code, it doesn’t work as expected. Can you please let me know why?
the method captureImg is not called. To verify, I have a toast to display when the method is called.
public void chooseImg(View view) { Toast.makeText(this, "Choose Image from Gallery", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); Intent chimg = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT); chimg.setType("image/*"); startActivityForResult(chimg,CHOOSE_IMAGE_REQUEST_CODE); }Can be some information if you can help me here.
I use android:onClick on the ImageView and not on the button I want user to click on the Image to choose an image. I have defined it clickable, it is being clicked, but the method is not being called. Can you help me here>?
xml code
Hey this code is pretty cool
But the only problem I have is
“The images I take from camera of my application does not display by this image picker”
What I’m going to achieve is snap a photo from my application and let user to brows the image folder through your code but it won’t display any of my newly taken images and worst of all it wont display that specific folder I saved those images (/sdcard/DCIM/myFolder)
but all files display in eclipse file explorer
Even i remove the device and checked the images or folder is not there
Hi Jayanga
I have same problem as is yours. Have you found a solution yet? Please let me know if you have found a solution.
Many thanks
Thx for the code, it works. however when I convert the image to byte[] using theImage.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.JPEG, 10, baos) and store in sqllite db. Later when i read and display I see lot of space – on top and botton of the image. Why is this extra space coming?
I imported n ran the sample but on clickijng the load buttin it tells no media Found.. how do i load images into the media?????????can sm 1 teme quicky????????
I have only one error in:
public void onClick(View arg0) {
The method onClick(View) of type new View.OnClickListener(){} must override a superclass method
How to resolve ?
when i am clicking load picture button it showing that (No Media Found)
i want code for android that save the images in sqlite database
If I want to choose the picture from only one folder. How can I specific the path or uri of folder to get images.
my application failed when my device rotate… the imageview disappears …. Pls someone can help me!!!
Thanks
excellent!! it helped me for my way…… than q…
the same problem than Jorge, the application failed when my device rotate !
imageView disappears and the load button come back and the activity start again…
Any advices for fixing that bug ? (I’m testing it on Xperia mini Pro)
Pb solved:
U have to write – android:configChanges=”orientation” – in the Manifest of your activity
Gallery opens but Image is not being displayed. No error as well. Just the main activity page is displayed.
when i pick an image,
it shows “browser history is empty”
will you please help me with it?
Hi Viral, I have added below to my apps manifest file
this helps me goto Gallery , selet an image and my app name would be shown in Share
but I am unable to send this selected image to my app. Can you please help me
Note:I am not opening Gallery from my app but open Gallery and send an image to my open
Hi Viral,
Your Code Works perfectly fine.
Can you tell me how to assign that image picked to be an xml layout’s-background?
I tried converting the bitmap to drawable but got null pointer exception or sometimes even memory out of bounds exception. Can you tell me how to do that?
Please tell me how can we save the image(from Gallery) on the server.
I will right away seize your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me recognize so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Viral, good tutorial. Any idea if there is a way to understand the camera capacity in Android devices?
Perfect piece of code. Thanks.
i wan’t to show specific folder, why cannot be show?
Please someone can help me!!! Thankssss…
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_PICK) intent.setDataAndType( Uri.parse("file:/"+ Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()+"/DCIM/MySpecificFolder/"),"image/*"); startActivityForResult(intent, RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE);I follow this tutorial. How can i get image size. I want to select the image of 300 X 300. where should i put this condition so that user should be restricted to select only the images having 300X300 dimensions? reply plz.
Regards
Qadir Hussain
Thank u so much .this tutorial is very helpful.
But ,Can you plz tell me ,that how i can create gallery programitically and how i can store all images in that gallery.
Thank you so much! Great tutorial! Ciao
As I can make it work in a file that is not principal activity?
Thank you for such good tutorial.That tutorial is helpfull for me ………
hai… how to import image in gallary
Very Useful Post…
Can u have example for capture photo or select from existing or use avatar
Actually i am developing user profile apps so i want it…
hi… Thanks for article. Really helpful
Hi,
Thanks for posting the tutorial. It helped me a lot in my current project. However, I believe I have spotted an error. My native gallery collects images from the camera, downloaded applications and other applications that allow one to take images. If I tried to display an image from the camera gallery, it works perfectly. If I try to use an image from other application (eg Twitter) I get NullPointerExpception error (bummer). I logged out the location of the file(s)
working image –
not working image –
Any suggestions? Can we amend the code above so it could be used with any image regardless of its location?
Thank you in advance
The same problem. Need to find a universal solution for any path of images.
Apparantely, this code works if you try to pick the photos from camera. If the user has a picasa account and if you try to pick the photo from picasa albums (which also shows up in gallery), it throws a null pointer exception in im.setImageBitmap(image); because your filepath is null.the path of the picasa album is different from the path of camera (local) pictures. So, for people who are searching for it in future,here is the link which might be useful to you.
http://dimitar.me/how-to-get-picasa-images-using-the-image-picker-on-android-devices-running-any-os-version/