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Android Implementing Designs for Android Adding Push Notifications from Parse.com Setting Up Push Notifications

Posted by Kevin Haube
Kevin Haube
12,265 Points

App Crash on Push Test?

Here's my error:

10-08 15:14:50.751    5984-5984/com.example.kevin.ribbit E/AndroidRuntime﹕ FATAL EXCEPTION: main
    Process: com.example.kevin.ribbit, PID: 5984
    java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start receiver com.parse.ParsePushBroadcastReceiver: java.lang.NullPointerException
            at android.app.ActivityThread.handleReceiver(ActivityThread.java:2567)
            at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1800(ActivityThread.java:161)
            at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1341)
            at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
            at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:157)
            at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5356)
            at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
            at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
            at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1265)
            at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1081)
            at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
     Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
            at com.parse.ParsePushBroadcastReceiver.getSmallIconId(ParsePushBroadcastReceiver.java:253)
            at com.parse.ParsePushBroadcastReceiver.getNotification(ParsePushBroadcastReceiver.java:335)
            at com.parse.ParsePushBroadcastReceiver.onPushReceive(ParsePushBroadcastReceiver.java:143)
            at com.parse.ParsePushBroadcastReceiver.onReceive(ParsePushBroadcastReceiver.java:104)
            at android.app.ActivityThread.handleReceiver(ActivityThread.java:2552)
            at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1800(ActivityThread.java:161)
            at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1341)
            at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
            at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:157)
            at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5356)
            at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
            at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
            at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1265)
            at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1081)
            at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)

... and here's my Application class ...

package com.example.kevin.ribbit;

import android.app.Application;

import com.example.kevin.ribbit.ui.MainActivity;
import com.parse.Parse;
import com.parse.ParseInstallation;
import com.parse.PushService;
import com.parse.ParseAnalytics;

/**
 * Created by Kevin on 9/13/2014.
 */
public class RibbitApplication extends Application {

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();
        Parse.initialize(this,
                "okogqsYV6QQBCfrRL5AoXhIDyf2oF3cETc27NKXt",
                "tBNDXSecUxoZYUmGI36vqZsybiJxZGqMnmXhiYRo"
        );
        ParseInstallation.getCurrentInstallation().saveInBackground();
    }

}

I honestly have no clue what it could be. Everything in the manifest is set correctly, and to match the package name of my app. It's not registering my device as a reciever for push notifications on Parse, as it doesn't show up when i try to send one via Parse.

4 Answers

Daniel Schmidt
Daniel Schmidt
1,683 Points
Daniel Schmidt
Daniel Schmidt
1,683 Points

You can also use Parse 1.7. There are just a few changes you need to make.

First, to fix the error directly caused by issuing the push from the Parse backend you need to declare a notification icon for the Parse push in your Manifest. For the ribbit application, add 

        <meta-data android:name="com.parse.push.notification_icon"
            android:resource="@drawable/ic_launcher"/>

just before the closing application-Tag.

Issuing another push from the backend now will give you a push notification as you expect. So far so good. Clicking the push will result in an app crash again. To fix this you need to remove the now deprecated call PushService.setDefaultPushCallback(...) and add your own Receiver class. I did this in the *.util package just as the following:

public class Receiver extends ParsePushBroadcastReceiver {

    @Override
    public void onPushOpen(Context context, Intent intent) {
        Intent i = new Intent(context, MainActivity.class);
        i.putExtras(intent.getExtras());
        i.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
        context.startActivity(i);
    }
}

Next, change the default Parse receiver to the one just created:

  • Go to your Manifest file.

  • Locate the <receiver android:name="com.parse.ParsePushBroadcastReceiver">

  • replace the whole <receiver android:name="com.parse.ParsePushBroadcastReceiver"> ... </receiver> - Tag with 

        <receiver
            android:name="your.package.name.utils.Receiver"
            android:exported="false" >
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="com.parse.push.intent.RECEIVE" />
                <action android:name="com.parse.push.intent.DELETE" />
                <action android:name="com.parse.push.intent.OPEN" />
            </intent-filter>
        </receiver>

Now a click on the Push notification leads to your inbox as intended. Hope this helps.

SO pointed me at this. See original post here.

Kevin Haube
Kevin Haube
12,265 Points

I'll give it a try!

John Corser
John Corser
5,660 Points
John Corser
John Corser
5,660 Points

Awesome, works great! It was unclear in your post though that you have to delete the entire <receiver android:name="com.parse.ParsePushBroadcastReceiver">...</receiver> block and replace it with the new one.

Daniel Schmidt
Daniel Schmidt
1,683 Points
Daniel Schmidt
Daniel Schmidt
1,683 Points

Glad it helped! - Edited the answer to make it more clear, that the whole Tag has to be replaced!:)

Liam Hales
Liam Hales
356 Points
Liam Hales
Liam Hales
356 Points

Thanks dude this really helped me out! :)

Harry James
Harry James
14,780 Points
Harry James
Harry James
14,780 Points

Ben Jakuben - I recommend you add this answer to the Teacher's Notes as, I can understand a lot of people will have this problem when using the latest version of Parse :)

Also, thanks Daniel Schmidt for the solution! I have set this as the Best Answer for this post instead as, it has helped out more users (Proven by the number of ratings!).

Shariq Shaikh
Shariq Shaikh
13,945 Points
Shariq Shaikh
Shariq Shaikh
13,945 Points

the last video of the course uses the out dated code that your method has us discard, could you provide a work around for adding a new Push icon?

stephen fontein
stephen fontein
605 Points

Daniel Schmidt Hey thanks for the code, I am having trouble getting it working, I am using Parse 1.7.1 but I don't think that is the problem I made a new java class Reciver and put what you have in it and deleted the PushService.setDefaultPushCallback(...) line from MyApplication.java class

And then this is what I have in my androidManifest.xml

<service android:name="com.parse.PushService" /> <receiver android:name="com.parse.ParseBroadcastReceiver"> <intent-filter> <action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED" /> <action android:name="android.intent.action.USER_PRESENT" /> </intent-filter> </receiver> <receiver android:name="com.spencerfontein.ueat.Receiver" android:exported="false" > <intent-filter> <action android:name="com.parse.push.intent.RECEIVE" /> <action android:name="com.parse.push.intent.DELETE" /> <action android:name="com.parse.push.intent.OPEN" /> </intent-filter> </receiver> <receiver android:name="com.parse.GcmBroadcastReceiver" android:permission="com.google.android.c2dm.permission.SEND"> <intent-filter> <action android:name="com.google.android.c2dm.intent.RECEIVE" /> <action android:name="com.google.android.c2dm.intent.REGISTRATION" />

            <category android:name="com.spencerfontein.ueat" />
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>

But when I send pushes not I don't receive them do I need to add something back to MyApplicaiton. java?

If I add this line back to MyApplication.java it works?

"PushService.setDefaultPushCallback(this, MainActivity.class);"

But you said to delete this line?

I also wasn't sure what you meant by "add your own Receiver class. I did this in the *.util" where is *.util?

Thanks for your help :)

Harry James Liam Hales Ben Jakuben Kevin Haube

Sam McDavid
Sam McDavid
20,242 Points
Sam McDavid
Sam McDavid
20,242 Points

This same method also works with Parse 1.8.0. However, I did have to go to the installations table and remove all of the records and uninstall the app from the device before this method worked.

Figured I would share since I imagine some other developers may have issues as well.

Good Luck!

Kevin Nguyen
Kevin Nguyen
77 Points

<meta-data android:name="com.parse.push.notification_icon" android:resource="@drawable/ic_launcher"/>

I added that line to my file..when I start it back up again it does not even send me a push like you described

Help! Harry James Daniel Schmidt

Harry James
Harry James
14,780 Points
Harry James
Harry James
14,780 Points

Hey Kevin Nguyen!

It looks like you've missed out the <meta-data tag from the code above - go ahead and add this in and continue with the steps Daniel has discussed here and it should fix your problem.

If you have any more problems though, give me a shout :)

Jacob Bergdahl
Jacob Bergdahl
29,118 Points
Jacob Bergdahl
Jacob Bergdahl
29,118 Points

This is an amazing reply, however I just want to note that those who don't want to do all of this don't have to! This merely sets a test push notification. In later videos on this course, Ben will walk over steps on how to make push notifications in the manner that they are to be used with the app, and none of this is necessary for those steps.

Kevin Hackett
Kevin Hackett
10,441 Points
Kevin Hackett
Kevin Hackett
10,441 Points

Thanks Daniel. Excellent guide :) Still works with Parse 1.10.1.jar

Liam Hales
Liam Hales
356 Points
Liam Hales
Liam Hales
356 Points

In Parse 1.8.0 I don't get the error anymore when clicking the notification to bring me to my inbox and i am still using the deprecated call PushService.setDefaultPushCallback(...). Maybe its worth a try updating Parse to 1.8.0 as the above answer doesn't give me the notification rotate animation in the notification bar for some reason, still a very good answer tho Daniel Schmidt!

Kevin Haube
Kevin Haube
12,265 Points
Kevin Haube
Kevin Haube
12,265 Points

Simply put, Parse 1.7.0 doesn't work with Push. At least not without major changes in code. I reverted back to Parse 1.5.1 and it's fine.

Kevin Nguyen
Kevin Nguyen
77 Points

How did you got back to 1.5.1?

haunguyen
haunguyen
14,985 Points
haunguyen
haunguyen
14,985 Points

@ stephen fontein

Leave the line PushService.setDefaultPushCallback(this, MainActivity.class); as is, don't delete it, it was probably a mistake in the instruction.

The line android:name="com.spencerfontein.ueat.Receiver" is just the path to your Receiver class file.

If you created the Receiver file and put it inside the "com.spencerfontein.ueat.utils" package, then the location of the file is android:name="com.spencerfontein.ueat.utils.Receiver", if you put the file inside the root package, then your original code is correct.