Own sync adapter for Android?

Question

The press release of Android 2.0 states that the new release supports sync adapters so that emails and calendars cannot only be synced with gmail and exchange. However, there is no information available online how to write such a sync adapter. Has anyone tried it and some example code available?

Solution 1

These two articles by Sam Steele (January 23rd, 2010) are about the implementation of the last.fm sync adapter. Do not miss the second part and the opensource projects that are mentioned at the end of the articles.

• http://www.c99.org/2010/01/23/writing-an-android-sync-provider-part-1/
• http://www.c99.org/2010/01/23/writing-an-android-sync-provider-part-2/
• https://github.com/c99koder/lastfm-android/
• https://github.com/c99koder/AndroidSyncProviderDemo

Solution 2

This article, http://ericmiles.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/connecting-the-dots-with-android-syncadapter/, is a great, albeit brief overview of creating a sync adapter and getting it to play nice within the Android framework.

Solution 3

Simple basic explanation by Adam Pullen (last updated May 13, 2011). The article consists of two parts and contains the ShowMyAccountAuthenticator example project.

• http://www.finalconcept.com.au/article/view/android-account-manager-step-by-step
• http://www.finalconcept.com.au/article/view/android-account-manager-step-by-step-1
• http://www.finalconcept.com.au/uploads/files/showmyaccountauthenticator.zip

Solution 4

I'm still learning myself, but this thread should help you understand a little bit.

http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg64769.html

Solution 5

The article of Kyle Miller (March 10, 2012) summarizes how to get started with the SampleSyncAdapter project contained in the SDK samples. He describes how you can add an account for the app in the system settings of your phone. Basically, he explains how the classes AuthenticationService, Authenticator and AuthenticatorActivity are used to handle the server authentication using a token. At the end of the article are some words about authenticator.xml, syncadapter.xml and contacts.xml.

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