android: how do i open another app from my app?

How to see if Intent is available:

  1. Try calling Intent and deal with ActivityNotFoundException if it isn’t available

    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
    intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
    
    try {
        startActivity(intent);
    } 
    catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
        Toast.makeText(OpenPdf.this, 
            "No Application Available to View PDF", 
            Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
    

    or

  2. Query the Package Manager to see if it is ahead of time:

    PackageManager packageManager = getPackageManager();
    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.setType("application/pdf");
    
    List list = packageManager.queryIntentActivities(intent,
        PackageManager.MATCH_DEFAULT_ONLY);
    
    if (list.size() > 0) {
        intent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
        startActivity(intent);
    }
    

How to pass parameters to an application or know its capabilities:

  1. List of Available Intents for Google Applications
  2. List of Intents by 3rd parties @ OpenIntents

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