Share intent option using Shortcut android

Question

By default iOS is providing "Share appname" option in the shortcut options,when the app is downloaded from the app store.

Refer the image below:

When clicked on it,it is opening the share intent in the phone menu screen itself,without redirecting to the app,where the user can share the app.

I want to implement this in android.

Here is what I have I tried so far:

<shortcut
        android:shortcutId="share_app"
        android:enabled="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_cart_active"
        android:shortcutShortLabel="@string/shortcut_share"
        android:shortcutLongLabel="@string/shortcut_share">
        <intent
            android:action="android.intent.action.send"
            android:targetPackage="com.example.android.internal"
            android:targetClass="" />
    </shortcut>

But this is not working,since I am not able to understand, what should be the targetClass over here.

EDIT: Nilesh`s answer almost worked,but the only problem that I am facing right now is,whenever I am clicking the share button from shortcut, the launcher activity is shown for a whisker of a second ,then the sharing intent chooser is showing up.Now when I am pressing the home button with the sharing options showing,the app is going to background.This should not happen.Any idea how to avoid this.

Answer 1

You can use App shortcuts

but the main disadavtange of this option is that it is available from Oreo and above version of android

Here is the sample code

Create a resource file: res/xml directory (Screenshot)

<shortcuts xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <shortcut
        android:enabled="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_share"
        android:shortcutDisabledMessage="@string/share_app"
        android:shortcutId="nilu"
        android:shortcutLongLabel="@string/share_app"
        android:shortcutShortLabel="@string/share_app">
        <intent
            android:action="android.intent.action.VIEW"
            android:targetClass="neel.com.demo.ShareActivity"
            android:targetPackage="neel.com.demo" />
        <categories android:name="android.shortcut.conversation" />
    </shortcut>
</shortcuts>

Now you need to register your shortcut in your manifest file under activity tag

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="neel.com.demo">

    <application
        android:allowBackup="false"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

        <activity android:name=".MainActivity" />

        <activity android:name=".ShareActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>

            <meta-data
                android:name="android.app.shortcuts"
                android:resource="@xml/shortcuts" />

        </activity>

    </application>

</manifest>

Now create a simple share acivity to share your app link

import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;

public class ShareActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_home);

        Intent sendIntent = new Intent();
        sendIntent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
        sendIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT,
                "Hey check out my app at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=neel.com.demo");
        sendIntent.setType("text/plain");
        startActivity(sendIntent);
        finish();
    }
}

OUTPUT

When user long press on app icon your shortcut will display like below image

after click of shortcut

UPDATE use android:excludeFromRecents="true" in your ShareActivity

<application
    android:allowBackup="false"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
    android:supportsRtl="true"
    android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

    <activity android:name=".MainActivity" />

    <activity
        android:name=".ShareActivity"
        android:excludeFromRecents="true">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>

        <meta-data
            android:name="android.app.shortcuts"
            android:resource="@xml/shortcuts" />

    </activity>

</application>