launch containing app from iOS8 Custom Keyboard

Question

I want to launch my containing app.

I tried using URL schemes.

The URL scheme launched the app from other places - so the problem is not there.

Looks like this object is nil:

   self.extensionContext

thus i can't run this method:

[self.extensionContext openURL:url completionHandler:nil];

Can I launch my app? Do URL Schemes work in a custom keyboard?

thanks!

Answer 1

Try this code

    UIResponder* responder = self;
    while ((responder = [responder nextResponder]) != nil)
    {
        NSLog(@"responder = %@", responder);
        if([responder respondsToSelector:@selector(openURL:)] == YES)
        {
            [responder performSelector:@selector(openURL:) withObject:[NSURL URLWithString:urlString]];
        }
    }

Answer 2

To answer MY OWN question:

In an iOS8 custom keyboard, the extensionContext object is nil, thus I can't use it to launch the containing app.

The workaround I came up with is:

1. create a url scheme for your app
2. add a UIWebView to your inputView
3. load the url scheme for your containing app in the webview

I'm not sure if Apple will allow this to happen, but it works now.