Insert Data Into The Firebase Database In Android Apps

Introduction

Android is one of the most popular operating systems for mobile. Firebase is the most popular backend for Android. Firebase is the emerging technology in mobile Application development. Firebase is more secure and it is a Cloud based platform. It provides the loT of Services to make your Application very efficient in a secure manner. It is easy to track Crash Report and maintain your data in the Cloud. I will show you how to insert the data into Firebase database in Android apps, using an Android Studio.

Requirements

• Android Studio.
• Firebase account.
• Little bit XML and Java knowledge.
• Android emulator (or) an Android mobile.
• Stable internet connection.
• Download link (Android Studio)

Steps should be followed are given below.

Carefully follow my steps to insert the data into Firebase database in Android apps, using an Android Studio and I have included the source code given below.

Step 1

Open an Android Studio and start the new project.

Step 2

Put the Application name and the company domain. If you wish to use C++ to code the project, mark the Include C++ support, followed by clicking Next.



Step 3

Select an Android minimum SDK. Afterwards, you need to choose the minimum SDK. It will show an approximate percentage of people, using that SDK, followed by clicking Next.

Step 4

Choose Empty activity, followed by clicking Next.

Step 5

Put the activity name and layout name. Android Studio basically takes Java class name is what you provide for the activity name, and click Finish.



Step 6

Connect your Application to your Firebase account.

Step 7

This app contains the insert data module, so you need to connect to the real-time database. Click Add the real-time database to your app.



Step 8

It will make some changes to your gradle module. Click Accept changes.



Step 9

Go to activity_main.xml, followed by clicking Text bottom. This XML file contains the designing code for an Android app. In the activity_main.xml, copy and paste the code given below.

Activity_main.xml code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/activity_main"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">


    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editTextName"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:hint="Enter name" />

    <Spinner
        android:id="@+id/spinnerGenres"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@id/editTextName"
        android:entries="@array/genres"></Spinner>

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/buttonAddArtist"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@id/spinnerGenres"
        android:text="Add" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@id/buttonAddArtist"
        android:padding="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
        android:text="Artists"
        android:textAlignment="center"
        android:textAppearance="@style/Base.TextAppearance.AppCompat.Large" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView1"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@id/textView"
        android:text="Tap on an Artist to add and view tracks"
        android:textAlignment="center" />

    <ListView
        android:id="@+id/listViewArtists"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView1"></ListView>

</RelativeLayout>

Step 10

Create new activity_artist.xml file (File ⇒ New ⇒Activity⇒Empty_activity).

Go to activity_artist.xml subsequently click Text bottom. This XML file contains the designing code for an Android app. In activity_artist.xml, copy and paste the code given below.

activity_artist.xml code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/activity_artist"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    tools:context=".ArtistActivity">

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textViewArtist"
        android:padding="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
        android:textAlignment="center"
        android:textAppearance="@style/Base.TextAppearance.AppCompat.Large"
        android:textStyle="bold"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

    <EditText
        android:layout_below="@id/textViewArtist"
        android:id="@+id/editTextName"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:hint="Enter track name" />

    <LinearLayout
        android:orientation="horizontal"
        android:id="@+id/linearLayout"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@id/editTextName">

        <SeekBar
            android:layout_weight="1"
            android:id="@+id/seekBarRating"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:max="5"></SeekBar>

        <TextView
            android:text="1"
            android:id="@+id/textViewRating"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

    </LinearLayout>


    <Button
        android:id="@+id/buttonAddTrack"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@id/linearLayout"
        android:text="Add" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@id/buttonAddTrack"
        android:padding="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
        android:text="Tracks"
        android:textAlignment="center"
        android:textAppearance="@style/Base.TextAppearance.AppCompat.Large" />

    <ListView
        android:id="@+id/listViewTracks"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView"></ListView>

</RelativeLayout>

Step 11

Create new layout_artist_list.xml file (File ⇒ New ⇒Activity⇒Empty_activity). In the layout_artist_list.xml, copy and paste the code given below.

layout_artist_list.xml code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical" android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <TextView
        android:text="Atif Aslam"
        android:textAppearance="@style/Base.TextAppearance.AppCompat.Large"
        android:id="@+id/textViewName"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

    <TextView
        android:text="Rock"
        android:textAppearance="@style/Base.TextAppearance.AppCompat.Medium"
        android:id="@+id/textViewGenre"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content" />


</LinearLayout>

Step 12

Create new update_dialogue.xml file (File ⇒ New ⇒Activity⇒Empty_activity). In the update_dialogue.xml, copy and paste the code given below.

update_dialogue.xml code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:padding="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin">


    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editTextName"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:hint="Enter name" />

    <Spinner
        android:id="@+id/spinnerGenres"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@id/editTextName"
        android:entries="@array/genres"></Spinner>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:orientation="horizontal">

        <Button
            android:id="@+id/buttonUpdateArtist"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="1"
            android:text="Update" />

        <Button
            android:id="@+id/buttonDeleteArtist"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="1"
            android:text="Delete" />

    </LinearLayout>


</LinearLayout>

Step 13

In the MainActivity.java, copy and paste the code given below. Java programming is the backend language for an Android. Do not replace your package name, else an app will not run.

MainActivity.java code

package ganeshannt.insertdata;

import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AlertDialog;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.text.TextUtils;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.AdapterView;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.ListView;
import android.widget.Spinner;
import android.widget.Toast;

import com.google.firebase.database.DataSnapshot;
import com.google.firebase.database.DatabaseError;
import com.google.firebase.database.DatabaseReference;
import com.google.firebase.database.FirebaseDatabase;
import com.google.firebase.database.ValueEventListener;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    public static final String ARTIST_NAME = "net.simplifiedcoding.firebasedatabaseexample.artistname";
    public static final String ARTIST_ID = "net.simplifiedcoding.firebasedatabaseexample.artistid";

    EditText editTextName;
    Spinner spinnerGenre;
    Button buttonAddArtist;
    ListView listViewArtists;

    //a list to store all the artist from firebase database
    List<Artist> artists;

    //our database reference object
    DatabaseReference databaseArtists;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        //getting the reference of artists node
        databaseArtists = FirebaseDatabase.getInstance().getReference("artists");

        //getting views
        editTextName = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.editTextName);
        spinnerGenre = (Spinner) findViewById(R.id.spinnerGenres);
        listViewArtists = (ListView) findViewById(R.id.listViewArtists);

        buttonAddArtist = (Button) findViewById(R.id.buttonAddArtist);

        //list to store artists
        artists = new ArrayList<>();


        //adding an onclicklistener to button
        buttonAddArtist.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                //calling the method addArtist()
                //the method is defined below
                //this method is actually performing the write operation
                addArtist();
            }
        });

        //attaching listener to listview
        listViewArtists.setOnItemClickListener(new AdapterView.OnItemClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onItemClick(AdapterView<?> adapterView, View view, int i, long l) {
                //getting the selected artist
                Artist artist = artists.get(i);

                //creating an intent
                Intent intent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), ArtistActivity.class);

                //putting artist name and id to intent
                intent.putExtra(ARTIST_ID, artist.getArtistId());
                intent.putExtra(ARTIST_NAME, artist.getArtistName());

                //starting the activity with intent
                startActivity(intent);
            }
        });

        listViewArtists.setOnItemLongClickListener(new AdapterView.OnItemLongClickListener() {
            @Override
            public boolean onItemLongClick(AdapterView<?> adapterView, View view, int i, long l) {
                Artist artist = artists.get(i);
                showUpdateDeleteDialog(artist.getArtistId(), artist.getArtistName());
                return true;
            }
        });


    }

    private void showUpdateDeleteDialog(final String artistId, String artistName) {

        AlertDialog.Builder dialogBuilder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);
        LayoutInflater inflater = getLayoutInflater();
        final View dialogView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.update_dialog, null);
        dialogBuilder.setView(dialogView);

        final EditText editTextName = (EditText) dialogView.findViewById(R.id.editTextName);
        final Spinner spinnerGenre = (Spinner) dialogView.findViewById(R.id.spinnerGenres);
        final Button buttonUpdate = (Button) dialogView.findViewById(R.id.buttonUpdateArtist);
        final Button buttonDelete = (Button) dialogView.findViewById(R.id.buttonDeleteArtist);

        dialogBuilder.setTitle(artistName);
        final AlertDialog b = dialogBuilder.create();
        b.show();


        buttonUpdate.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                String name = editTextName.getText().toString().trim();
                String genre = spinnerGenre.getSelectedItem().toString();
                if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(name)) {
                    updateArtist(artistId, name, genre);
                    b.dismiss();
                }
            }
        });


        buttonDelete.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {

                deleteArtist(artistId);
                b.dismiss();
            }
        });
    }

    private boolean updateArtist(String id, String name, String genre) {
        //getting the specified artist reference
        DatabaseReference dR = FirebaseDatabase.getInstance().getReference("artists").child(id);

        //updating artist
        Artist artist = new Artist(id, name, genre);
        dR.setValue(artist);
        Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Artist Updated", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        return true;
    }

    private boolean deleteArtist(String id) {
        //getting the specified artist reference
        DatabaseReference dR = FirebaseDatabase.getInstance().getReference("artists").child(id);

        //removing artist
        dR.removeValue();

        //getting the tracks reference for the specified artist
        DatabaseReference drTracks = FirebaseDatabase.getInstance().getReference("tracks").child(id);

        //removing all tracks
        drTracks.removeValue();
        Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Artist Deleted", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

        return true;
    }

    @Override
    protected void onStart() {
        super.onStart();
        //attaching value event listener
        databaseArtists.addValueEventListener(new ValueEventListener() {
            @Override
            public void onDataChange(DataSnapshot dataSnapshot) {

                //clearing the previous artist list
                artists.clear();

                //iterating through all the nodes
                for (DataSnapshot postSnapshot : dataSnapshot.getChildren()) {
                    //getting artist
                    Artist artist = postSnapshot.getValue(Artist.class);
                    //adding artist to the list
                    artists.add(artist);
                }

                //creating adapter
                ArtistList artistAdapter = new ArtistList(MainActivity.this, artists);
                //attaching adapter to the listview
                listViewArtists.setAdapter(artistAdapter);
            }

            @Override
            public void onCancelled(DatabaseError databaseError) {

            }
        });
    }


    /*
    * This method is saving a new artist to the
    * Firebase Realtime Database
    * */
    private void addArtist() {
        //getting the values to save
        String name = editTextName.getText().toString().trim();
        String genre = spinnerGenre.getSelectedItem().toString();

        //checking if the value is provided
        if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(name)) {

            //getting a unique id using push().getKey() method
            //it will create a unique id and we will use it as the Primary Key for our Artist
            String id = databaseArtists.push().getKey();

            //creating an Artist Object
            Artist artist = new Artist(id, name, genre);

            //Saving the Artist
            databaseArtists.child(id).setValue(artist);

            //setting edittext to blank again
            editTextName.setText("");

            //displaying a success toast
            Toast.makeText(this, "Artist added", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        } else {
            //if the value is not given displaying a toast
            Toast.makeText(this, "Please enter a name", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        }
    }
}

Step 14 

Create new Artist.java file (File ⇒ New ⇒Java class). In the Artist.java, copy and paste the code given below.

Artist.java code

package ganeshannt.insertdata;

import com.google.firebase.database.IgnoreExtraProperties;

@IgnoreExtraProperties
public class Artist {
    private String artistId;
    private String artistName;
    private String artistGenre;

    public Artist(){
        //this constructor is required
    }

    public Artist(String artistId, String artistName, String artistGenre) {
        this.artistId = artistId;
        this.artistName = artistName;
        this.artistGenre = artistGenre;
    }

    public String getArtistId() {
        return artistId;
    }

    public String getArtistName() {
        return artistName;
    }

    public String getArtistGenre() {
        return artistGenre;
    }
}

Step 15 

Create new ArtistActivity.java file (File ⇒ New ⇒Java class). In the ArtistActivity.java, copy and paste the code given below.

ArtistActivity.java code

package ganeshannt.insertdata;

import android.content.Intent;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.text.TextUtils;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.ListView;
import android.widget.SeekBar;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.widget.Toast;

import com.google.firebase.database.DataSnapshot;
import com.google.firebase.database.DatabaseError;
import com.google.firebase.database.DatabaseReference;
import com.google.firebase.database.FirebaseDatabase;
import com.google.firebase.database.ValueEventListener;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class ArtistActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    Button buttonAddTrack;
    EditText editTextTrackName;
    SeekBar seekBarRating;
    TextView textViewRating, textViewArtist;
    ListView listViewTracks;

    DatabaseReference databaseTracks;

    List<Track> tracks;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_artist);

        Intent intent = getIntent();

        /*
        * this line is important
        * this time we are not getting the reference of a direct node
        * but inside the node track we are creating a new child with the artist id
        * and inside that node we will store all the tracks with unique ids
        * */
        databaseTracks = FirebaseDatabase.getInstance().getReference("tracks").child(intent.getStringExtra(MainActivity.ARTIST_ID));

        buttonAddTrack = (Button) findViewById(R.id.buttonAddTrack);
        editTextTrackName = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.editTextName);
        seekBarRating = (SeekBar) findViewById(R.id.seekBarRating);
        textViewRating = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.textViewRating);
        textViewArtist = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.textViewArtist);
        listViewTracks = (ListView) findViewById(R.id.listViewTracks);

        tracks = new ArrayList<>();

        textViewArtist.setText(intent.getStringExtra(MainActivity.ARTIST_NAME));

        seekBarRating.setOnSeekBarChangeListener(new SeekBar.OnSeekBarChangeListener() {
            @Override
            public void onProgressChanged(SeekBar seekBar, int i, boolean b) {
                textViewRating.setText(String.valueOf(i));
            }

            @Override
            public void onStartTrackingTouch(SeekBar seekBar) {

            }

            @Override
            public void onStopTrackingTouch(SeekBar seekBar) {

            }
        });

        buttonAddTrack.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                saveTrack();
            }
        });
    }

    @Override
    protected void onStart() {
        super.onStart();

        databaseTracks.addValueEventListener(new ValueEventListener() {
            @Override
            public void onDataChange(DataSnapshot dataSnapshot) {
                tracks.clear();
                for (DataSnapshot postSnapshot : dataSnapshot.getChildren()) {
                    Track track = postSnapshot.getValue(Track.class);
                    tracks.add(track);
                }
                TrackList trackListAdapter = new TrackList(ArtistActivity.this, tracks);
                listViewTracks.setAdapter(trackListAdapter);
            }

            @Override
            public void onCancelled(DatabaseError databaseError) {

            }
        });
    }

    private void saveTrack() {
        String trackName = editTextTrackName.getText().toString().trim();
        int rating = seekBarRating.getProgress();
        if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(trackName)) {
            String id  = databaseTracks.push().getKey();
            Track track = new Track(id, trackName, rating);
            databaseTracks.child(id).setValue(track);
            Toast.makeText(this, "Track saved", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            editTextTrackName.setText("");
        } else {
            Toast.makeText(this, "Please enter track name", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        }
    }
}

Step 16 

Create new ArtistList.java file (File ⇒ New ⇒Java class). In the ArtistList.java, copy and paste the code given below.

ArtistList.java code

package ganeshannt.insertdata;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.TextView;

import java.util.List;

public class ArtistList extends ArrayAdapter<Artist> {
    private Activity context;
    List<Artist> artists;

    public ArtistList(Activity context, List<Artist> artists) {
        super(context, R.layout.layout_artist_list, artists);
        this.context = context;
        this.artists = artists;
    }


    @Override
    public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {
        LayoutInflater inflater = context.getLayoutInflater();
        View listViewItem = inflater.inflate(R.layout.layout_artist_list, null, true);

        TextView textViewName = (TextView) listViewItem.findViewById(R.id.textViewName);
        TextView textViewGenre = (TextView) listViewItem.findViewById(R.id.textViewGenre);

        Artist artist = artists.get(position);
        textViewName.setText(artist.getArtistName());
        textViewGenre.setText(artist.getArtistGenre());

        return listViewItem;
    }
}

Step 17 

Create new Track.java file (File ⇒ New ⇒Java class). In Track.java, copy and paste the code given below.

Track.java code

package ganeshannt.insertdata;

import com.google.firebase.database.IgnoreExtraProperties;

@IgnoreExtraProperties
public class Track {
    private String id;
    private String trackName;
    private int rating;

    public Track() {

    }

    public Track(String id, String trackName, int rating) {
        this.trackName = trackName;
        this.rating = rating;
        this.id = id;
    }

    public String getTrackName() {
        return trackName;
    }

    public int getRating() {
        return rating;
    }
}

Step 18 

Create new TrackList.java file (File ⇒ New ⇒Java class). In the TrackList.java, copy and paste the code given below.

TrackList.java code

package ganeshannt.insertdata;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.TextView;

import java.util.List;

public class TrackList extends ArrayAdapter<Track> {
    private Activity context;
    List<Track> tracks;

    public TrackList(Activity context, List<Track> tracks) {
        super(context, R.layout.layout_artist_list, tracks);
        this.context = context;
        this.tracks = tracks;
    }


    @Override
    public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {
        LayoutInflater inflater = context.getLayoutInflater();
        View listViewItem = inflater.inflate(R.layout.layout_artist_list, null, true);

        TextView textViewName = (TextView) listViewItem.findViewById(R.id.textViewName);
        TextView textViewRating = (TextView) listViewItem.findViewById(R.id.textViewGenre);

        Track track = tracks.get(position);
        textViewName.setText(track.getTrackName());
        textViewRating.setText(String.valueOf(track.getRating()));

        return listViewItem;
    }
}

Step 19

Run the Application, followed by choosing Virtual Machine. Click OK.

Deliverables

Here, we need to successfully insert the data into Firebase in an Android app, using an Android Studio, which is created and executed.









Now, check Firebase database.



The data was added successfully in Firebase database.