Take Snapshot of Application (Android)

On Launch

On Take Snap

Create new Android Project
Project Name: SnapApplication
//tested from 2.3.3 to current android sdk 
Build Target: Android 2.3.3   //or greater than that
Application Name: SnapApplication
Package Name: com.shaikhhamadali.blogspot.snapapplication
Create layout file: activity_take_snap

  1. create layout:

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".TakeSnap"
    android:id="@+id/rlTakeSnap"
    android:background="#123456" >

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btnTakeSnap"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_marginBottom="10dp"
        android:text="Take Snap"
         />

    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/imVShowSnap"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="380dp"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:background="#000000"
        android:padding="5dp"
        android:src="@drawable/sample_image" />

</RelativeLayout>

  2. code of activity:

package com.shaikhhamadali.snapapplication;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.Window;
import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.ImageView;
import android.widget.RelativeLayout;

public class TakeSnap extends Activity {
 //variables
 Button btnTakeSnap;
 ImageView imVShowSnap;
 RelativeLayout rlTakeSnap;
 @Override
 protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
  super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
  requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);
  setContentView(R.layout.activity_take_snap);
  //create instance of image view and button 
  btnTakeSnap=(Button)findViewById(R.id.btnTakeSnap);
  imVShowSnap=(ImageView)findViewById(R.id.imVShowSnap);
  //on button click take snapshot of application screen
  btnTakeSnap.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {

   @Override
   public void onClick(View v) {
    //create instance of Layout
    rlTakeSnap=(RelativeLayout)findViewById(R.id.rlTakeSnap);
    //Enable drawing cache to get bitmap from this view on calling getDrawingCache()
    rlTakeSnap.setDrawingCacheEnabled(true);
    //get bitmap from layout cached drawing and show in image view
    imVShowSnap.setImageBitmap(rlTakeSnap.getDrawingCache());
   }
  });

 }

 @Override
 public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
  // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
  getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.take_snap, menu);
  return true;
 }

}

This works on all devices but even then if you get null always then try this method:

public static Bitmap loadBitmapFromView(View v) {
     //get view width and height
     Bitmap b = Bitmap.createBitmap( v.getLayoutParams().width, v.getLayoutParams().height, Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888); 
     //create canvas instance and pass bitmap               
     Canvas c = new Canvas(b);
     v.layout(0, 0, v.getLayoutParams().width, v.getLayoutParams().height);
     //Draw Canvas on View
     v.draw(c);
     //return Generate bitmap
     return b;
}

  3. note that:

• It is necessary to setDrawingCacheEnabled(true) either you will get null in getDrawingCache().
• you can clear drawing cache by rlTakeSnap.setDrawingCacheEnabled(false);
• Learn about get GetDrawingCache

  4. conclusion:

• Some information about how to snapshot of Application.
• know what is Drawing Cache and how to get image as bitmap from view.

  5. About the post:

• The code seems to explain itself due to comments, but if you have any questions you can freely ask too!
•  Don’t mind to write a comment whatever you like to ask, to know,to suggest or recommend.
•  Hope you enjoy it!

  6. Source Code:

        you can download the source code here