How to remove PreferenceCategory programmatically?

Question

I need to remove a PreferenceCategory programmatically. I could remove the individual preferences with the following code but I need to remove (disable) whole PreferenceCategory as well.

PreferenceScreen preferenceScreen = getPreferenceScreen(); EditTextPreference etp = (EditTextPreference) preferenceScreen.findPreference("pref22"); ((PreferenceGroup) findPreference("prefcat")).removePreference(etp); 

Edit: Here's the working code for a PreferenceCategory "prefcat" and a child preference "pref22":

PreferenceScreen preferenceScreen = getPreferenceScreen(); EditTextPreference etp = (EditTextPreference) preferenceScreen.findPreference("pref22");  PreferenceGroup preferenceGroup = (PreferenceGroup) findPreference("prefcat"); if (preferenceGroup != null) {     preferenceGroup.removePreference(etp);     preferenceScreen.removePreference(preferenceGroup); } 

Answer 1

you can hide a category by getting reference to PreferenceScreen:

I your xml :

<PreferenceScreen  xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"  android:key="@string/preferenceScreen">  //set all you values //Preference, PreferenceCategory and/or CheckBoxPreference  </PreferenceScreen> 

in you string.xml : don't forgot to set this new string

 <string name="preferenceScreen" translatable="false">preferenceScreen</string> 

in you code:

preferenceScreen = (PreferenceScreen) findPreference(getResources().getString(R.string.preferenceScreen)); 

and then remove the category from your PreferenceScreen :

myCategory = (PreferenceCategory) findPreference(getResources().getString(R.string.my_category)); myPreferenceScreen.removePreference(myCategory); 

Answer 2

Don't load the PreferenceCategory in the first place.

If you are defining your preferences in Java, don't create the PreferenceCategory.

If you are defining your preferences in XML, use three XML files:

1. One for stuff before this magic category
2. One for the magic category
3. One for stuff after this magic category

In situations where you want the category, load all three XML files. In situations where you do not want the category, load only the first and third XML files.