Android Question [Solved] Foreground service and notifications

Roger C · Mar 16, 2019

Hi all,

I have services that needs to be running all the time. Or rather wake up with StartServiceAt.

I used this code at first...

B4X:

Service.AutomaticForegroundMode = Service.AUTOMATIC_FOREGROUND_ALWAYS

The problem is that it gives a notification sound/vibration every time I start the app.

So I tried this...

B4X:

Service.AutomaticForegroundMode = Service.AUTOMATIC_FOREGROUND_NEVER 
lock.PartialLock

' And in Service_Destroy:
lock.ReleasePartialLock
CancelScheduledService(Me)

This works. No sound or vibration at startup.
But is this a correct way to do it?
Will this service never be killed?

I know the forgroundservice in the first example must give a notificaton since it's Foreground and I don't mind the icon showing. I will use notifications myself in the app BUT I don't want the phone to vibrate and give a sound every time the app starts.

Erel · Mar 17, 2019

Roger C said:
But is this a correct way to do it?

No. The app will crash if the service starts while the app is in the background (on Android 8+ devices).

You can set it to NEVER but you must call Service.StartForeground yourself.

Background task example: Background location tracking

Roger C · Mar 17, 2019

Thanks Erel!
Great support.

Edited:
***
But it still makes a Bing and vibrates when I start the app...
Isn't it possible to get rid of that?
***

So this code should work and the service will 'never' die? And it should be started at every 30 minutes?
With a visible notification in status bar?

B4X:

Sub Service_Create
    Service.AutomaticForegroundMode = Service.AUTOMATIC_FOREGROUND_NEVER
    lock.PartialLock
End Sub

Sub Service_Start (StartingIntent As Intent)
    Service.StartForeground(nid, CreateNotification("..."))
    StartServiceAt(Me, DateTime.Now + 30 * DateTime.TicksPerMinute, True)
End Sub

Sub Service_Destroy
    lock.ReleasePartialLock
    Service.StopAutomaticForeground
    CancelScheduledService(Me)
End Sub

Sub CreateNotification (Body As String) As Notification
    Dim notification As Notification
    notification.Initialize2(notification.IMPORTANCE_LOW)
    notification.Icon = "TrainClock36x36"
    notification.SetInfo("Tracking location", Body, Main)
    Return notification
End Sub

Erel · Mar 17, 2019

Roger C said:
So this code should work and the service will 'never' die? And it should be started at every 30 minutes?

Each thread should focus on a one specific question.

Roger C said:
notification.Initialize2(notification.IMPORTANCE_LOW)

Notification with low importance shouldn't make any sound by default. Try to set Notification.Sound = False and Notification.Vibrate = False.

Roger C · Mar 17, 2019

Yeeeessssss!

Haha, so easy. Thanks!!!!
Now it's silent.
(This was on a SONY Xperia, Android 6.0.1
Tested with other importances, all made sounds)

And new thread for my other question above:
https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/services-not-killed.103814/

LucaMs · Jan 13, 2020

Roger C said:
But it still makes a Bing and vibrates when I start the app...
Isn't it possible to get rid of that?

Roger C said:

B4X:

Sub Service_Start (StartingIntent As Intent)
   Service.StartForeground(nid, CreateNotification("..."))

I tested that you can write:

B4X:

Sub Service_Start (StartingIntent As Intent)
   Service.StartForeground(0, Null)

to avoid the first unwanted notification.

(however, I found "many" other problems ? )

Android Question [Solved] Foreground service and notifications

Roger C

Active Member

Erel

B4X founder

Roger C

Active Member

Erel

B4X founder

Roger C

Active Member

LucaMs

Expert

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