Search Dialog is not called onSearchRequested()

Question

I have been stuck on this for a little while now. I have looked at other answers on SO but they did not help me solve my problem.

My problem is that the search dialog is not invoked by onSearchRequested(). I am not able to figure out what is going on with my search...

The relevant code is as below...

Manifest

<activity
    android:name=".SearchableActivity"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:launchMode="singleTop" >
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEARCH" />
    </intent-filter>
    <meta-data
        android:name="android.app.searchable"
        android:resource="@xml/searchable" />
</activity>

/res/xml/searchable.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<searchable xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:hint="@string/search_hint" >

</searchable>

I have the string resources defined in strings.xml.

SearchableActivity class

public class SearchableActivity extends ListActivity {

    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { 
          super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); 
          Log.d("SEARCH", "HERE");
          handleIntent(getIntent()); 
       } 

       public void onNewIntent(Intent intent) { 
          setIntent(intent); 
          handleIntent(intent); 
       } 

       public void onListItemClick(ListView l, View v, int position, long id) { 
          // call the appropriate detail activity
       } 

       private void handleIntent(Intent intent) { 
          if (Intent.ACTION_SEARCH.equals(intent.getAction())) { 
             String query = intent.getStringExtra(SearchManager.QUERY); 
             doSearch(query); 
          } 
       }    

       private void doSearch(String queryStr) { 
           Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), queryStr, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
       } 

}

The piece of code in the activity that is invoking the search...

@Override
public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
    if(item.getTitle().equals("Search")) {
        Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Search = "+onSearchRequested(), Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        return onSearchRequested();
    } else {
        return false;
    }
}

onSearchRequested() is returning true. But the SearchableActivity is not called. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you very much.

---

UPDATED

Never mind! I figured it out!

The solution was to move the meta-data outside the activity tag and inside the application tag. Have added below as an answer for those who run into this problem.

Thanks.

Answer 1

You need to declare FULL path to Search activity

<meta-data
          android:name="android.app.default_searchable"
          android:value="com.example.search.SearchableActivity" />

Answer 2

You don't have to move meta-data outside activity tag unless you want every activity in your application to provide the search dialog. The reason it probably didn't work for you is because you put meta-data to wrong activity and moving it outside resolved the problem.

Do not confuse ResearchActivity with Activity that calls it like this:

    <activity
        android:name=".SearchableActivity"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_searchable"
        android:launchMode="singleTop">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.app.default_searchable"
            android:value=".SearchableActivity" />
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEARCH" />
        </intent-filter>
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.app.searchable"
            android:resource="@xml/searchable" />
    </activity>

It gives no error, but doesn't work. Working example:

<application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:theme="@style/Theme.AppTheme">
    <activity
        android:name=".MainActivity"
        android:label="@string/app_name">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>

        <meta-data
            android:name="android.app.default_searchable"
            android:value=".SearchableActivity" />
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name=".SearchableActivity"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_searchable"
        android:launchMode="singleTop">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEARCH" />
        </intent-filter>
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.app.searchable"
            android:resource="@xml/searchable" />
    </activity>
</application>

MainActivity is the activity that provides search dialog(it can be also search widget) and SearchableActivity is activity starting after user requests search and onSearchRequested() is invoked.