Flutter: Access data from InheritedWidgets without context? - dart

I see that I can access InheritedWidgets inside the build() method like this: final inheritedWidget = ChronoApp.of(context); but what if I want to access it somewhere else, say in initState() which has no context. How would I do this?

What I found to work for me is getting the parent context and using it in the didChangeDependencies() function that is called after initState. Like this
#override
// TODO: implement context
BuildContext get context => super.context;
#override
void didChangeDependencies() {
bloc = LoginBlocProvider.of(context);
bloc.isAuthenticated.listen((bool value) {
setState(() {
isLoading = false;
});
if (value) {
Navigator.push(context, MaterialPageRoute(
builder: (BuildContext context) => HomeScreen()
));
}
});
super.didChangeDependencies();
}
From de didChangeDependencies() docs:
This method is also called immediately after initState. It is safe to
call BuildContext.inheritFromWidgetOfExactType from this method.
I'm still trying to fully understand this feature but this is what worked for me

According to this docs context should be available in initState using the context getter.
https://docs.flutter.io/flutter/widgets/State/context.html
The framework associates State objects with a BuildContext after creating them with StatefulWidget.createState and before calling initState.

Related

Correct Flutter widget sequence to pull data on app load

I am running into an issue with flutter when I try to read data from local storage when the app loads.
I have an inherited widget that holds authentication information for the current user. When the app loads I want to look into local storage for session tokens. If the session tokens exist I would like to update the inherited widget with this information.
My screens are dynamic. If it knows the user is authenticated it takes them to the requested screen, otherwise it takes them to the register screen.
The issue I am running into is that I cannot update the inherited widget's state from an initState() method from a widget that depends on the inherited widget (My router widget)
How can I read from local storage when the app loads and update the inherited widget?
Error when running app:
flutter: ══╡ EXCEPTION CAUGHT BY WIDGETS LIBRARY ╞═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
flutter: The following assertion was thrown building _InheritedAuthContainer:
flutter: inheritFromWidgetOfExactType(_InheritedAuthContainer) or inheritFromElement() was called before
flutter: RootState.initState() completed.
flutter: When an inherited widget changes, for example if the value of Theme.of() changes, its dependent
flutter: widgets are rebuilt. If the dependent widget's reference to the inherited widget is in a constructor
flutter: or an initState() method, then the rebuilt dependent widget will not reflect the changes in the
flutter: inherited widget.
flutter: Typically references to inherited widgets should occur in widget build() methods. Alternatively,
flutter: initialization based on inherited widgets can be placed in the didChangeDependencies method, which
flutter: is called after initState and whenever the dependencies change thereafter.
Router Widget (Root)
class Root extends StatefulWidget {
#override
State createState() => RootState();
}
class RootState extends State<Root> {
static Map<String, Widget> routeTable = {Constants.HOME: Home()};
bool loaded = false;
bool authenticated = false;
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
if (!loaded) {
AuthContainerState data = AuthContainer.of(context);
data.isAuthenticated().then((authenticated) {
setState(() {
authenticated = authenticated;
loaded = true;
});
});
}
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return MaterialApp(
initialRoute: '/',
onGenerateRoute: (routeSettings) {
WidgetBuilder screen;
if (loaded) {
if (authenticated) {
screen = (context) => SafeArea(
child: Material(
type: MaterialType.transparency,
child: routeTable[routeSettings.name]));
} else {
screen = (conext) => SafeArea(
child: Material(
type: MaterialType.transparency, child: Register()));
}
} else {
screen = (context) => new Container();
}
return new MaterialPageRoute(
builder: screen,
settings: routeSettings,
);
});
}
}
Inherited Widget method that checks for auth and updates itself which triggers a rerender of my router widget
Future<bool> isAuthenticated() async {
if (user == null) {
final storage = new FlutterSecureStorage();
List results = await Future.wait([
storage.read(key: 'idToken'),
storage.read(key: 'accessToken'),
storage.read(key: 'refreshToken'),
storage.read(key: 'firstName'),
storage.read(key: 'lastName'),
storage.read(key: 'email')
]);
if (results != null && results[0] != null && results[1] != null && results[2] != null) {
//triggers a set state on this widget
updateUserInfo(
identityToken: results[0],
accessToken: results[1],
refreshToken: results[2],
firstName: results[3],
lastName: results[4],
email: results[5]
);
}
}
return user != null && (JWT.isActive(user.identityToken) || JWT.isActive(user.refreshToken));
}
Main
void main() => runApp(
EnvironmentContainer(
baseUrl: DEV_API_BASE_URL,
child: AuthContainer(
child: Root()
)
)
);
What is a correct way of checking local storage on app load and updating the inherited widget that holds this information?
Actually you cannot access InheritedWidget from an initState method. Instead try accessing it from didChangeDependencies.
Example:
#override
void didChangeDependencies() {
super.didChangeDependencies();
if (!loaded) {
AuthContainerState data = AuthContainer.of(context);
data.isAuthenticated().then((authenticated) {
setState(() {
authenticated = authenticated;
loaded = true;
});
});
}
}
Another way would be to schedule the data fetch in initState with SchedulerBinding. You can find the docs here
SchedulerBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
// your login goes here
});
Note: remember the didChangeDependencies will be called whenever the state or dependencies of any parent InheritedWidget changes. Please look at the docs here.
Hope this helps!
While the answer by #hemanth-raj is correct, I would actually advocate a slightly different way of doing this. Instead of constructing the AuthContainer with no data, you could actually do the user session loading before you construct your widgets and pass the data in directly. This example uses the scoped_model plugin to abstract away the inherited widget boilerplate (which I highly recommend over writing inherited widgets manually!) but is otherwise pretty similar to what you've done.
Future startUp() async {
UserModel userModel = await loadUser();
runApp(
ScopedModel<UserModel>(
model: userModel,
child: ....
),
);
}
void main() {
startup();
}
This is more or less what I do in my app and I haven't had any problems with it (although you'd probably want to put in some error handling if there's any chance of loadUser failing)!
This should made your userState code much cleaner =).
And an FYI, what I've done in my UserModel is have a bool get loggedIn => ... that knows which information needs to be in there to tell whether the user is logged in or not. That way I don't need to track it separately but I still get a nice simple way to tell from outside the model.
Do like this as example given in this :
void addPostFrameCallback(FrameCallback callback) {
// Login logic code
}
Schedule a callback for the end of this frame.
Does not request a new frame.
This callback is run during a frame, just after the persistent frame callbacks (which is when the main rendering pipeline has been flushed). If a frame is in progress and post-frame callbacks haven't been executed yet, then the registered callback is still executed during the frame. Otherwise, the registered callback is executed during the next frame.
The callbacks are executed in the order in which they have been added.
Post-frame callbacks cannot be unregistered. They are called exactly once.

flutter bloc pattern navigation back results in bad state

I have a problem/question regarding the bloc plattern with flutter.
Currently, i am starting my app like this
class _MyAppState extends State<MyApp> {
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return BlocProvider(
bloc: MyBloc(),
child: MaterialApp(
title: "MyApp",
home: MyHomePage(),
routes: {
'/homePage': (context) => MyHomePage(),
'/otherPage': (context) => OtherPage(),
'/otherPage2': (context) => OtherPage2(),
...
},
));
So that i can retrieve/access myBloc like
myBloc = BlocProvider.of(context) as MyBloc;
and the data represented by the state like
BlocBuilder<MyBlocEvent, MyObject>(
bloc: myBloc,
builder: (BuildContext context, MyObject myObject) {
....
var t = myObject.data;
....
myBloc.onFirstEvent();
...
};
wherever i need it.
MyBloc is implemented like this:
abstract clas MyBlocEvent {}
class FirstEvent extends MyBlocEvent {}
class SecondEvent extends MyBlocEvent {}
class MyBloc extends Bloc<MyBlocEvent , MyObject>
void onFirstEvent()
{
dispatch(FirstEvent());
}
void onSecondEvent()
{
dispatch(SecondEvent());
}
#override
Stream<MyObject> mapEventToState( MyObject state, MyBlocEvent event) async* {
if (event is FirstEvent) {
state.data = "test1";
}
else if (event is SecondEvent) {
state.otherData = 5;
}
yield state;
}
The problem i now have, is that as soon as i change on of the state values and call
Navigator.pop(context)
to go back in the current stack, i can't change anything is the state anymore because the underlying stream seems to be closed. It fails with the message:
Another exception was thrown: Bad state: Cannot add new events after calling close"
Now this only happens after i call pop. If i only push new screens i can happily change the state data without any problems.
Am i doing something wrong regarding the Navigation here or is there something else i didn't catch regarding flutter or the bloc pattern itself?
Bad state: Cannot add new events after calling close
This error means that you are calling add on a StreamController after having called close:
var controller = StreamController<int>();
controller.close();
controller.add(42); // Bad state: Cannot add new events after calling close
It is likely related to you calling close inside the dispose method the "wrong" widget.
A good rule of thumb is to never dispose/close an object outside of the widget that created it. This ensure that you cannot use an object already disposed of.
Hope this helps in your debugging.
The navigation of the app depends on your widget designs.
I use stateless widgets and render the view using bloc's data.
Whenever i navigate to another page, i would pop the current widget and navigate to the next widget.
The next stateless widget declare the bloc,
then in your subsequent stateless widgets should contain calls like MyBloc.dispatch(event(param1: value1, param2: value2));
In MyBloc, you need to set the factory of your state that contains final values;
#override
Stream<MyObject> mapEventToState( MyObject state, MyBlocEvent event) async* {
if (event is FirstEvent) {
// set it in the state, so this code is omitted
// state.data = "test1";
// add this
yield state.sampleState([], "test1");
}
else if (event is SecondEvent) {
// state.otherData = 5;
yield state.sampleState([], 5);
} else {
yield state.sampleState([], null);
}
The MyObjectState needs to be setup like this,
class MyObjectState {
final List<Bar> bars;
final String Foo;
const MyObjectState(
{this.bars,
this.foo,
});
factory MyObjectState.sampleState(List<Bar> barList, String value1) {
return MyObjectState(bars: barList, foo: message);
}
}
So that the stateless widget can use the bloc like this
MyBloc.currentState.sampleState.foo
You can try run Felix Angelov's flutter project.
Login Flow Example

Flutter Upgrade: After updating latest version of flutter previous function not working

I have tried this function in flutter version v0.5.1 and it is working fine, no issue. After I have updated to the latest version v0.8.4 I get the exception below.
ExcceptionDatainheritFromWidgetOfExactType(_LocalizationsScope) was
called before ProfileScreen.initState() completed.
When an inherited widget changes, for example if the value of Theme.of() changes, its dependent widgets are rebuilt. If the dependent widget's reference to the inherited widget is in a constructor or an initState() method, then the rebuilt dependent widget will not reflect the changes in the inherited widget.
Typically references to to inherited widgets should occur in widget build() methods. Alternatively, initialization based on inherited widgets can be placed in the didChangeDependencies method, which is called after initState and whenever the dependencies change thereafter.
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
makeRequest();
}
Future<DataModel> makeRequest() async {
_onLoading();
http.Response response = await http.get(Uri.encodeFull(getProfile),
headers: {"Accept": "application/json"});
/// json data calling.....
}
void _onLoading() {
if (loadCheck) {
showDialog(
context: context,
barrierDismissible: false,
builder: (BuildContext context) {
return new Dialog(
// progress dialog calling );
}
);
} else {
Navigator.pop(context);
}
}
You need the context from
#override Widget build(BuildContext context) {
....
....
makeRequest()
method paste after Widget build... and pass parameter (context) into parenthesis like this
makeRequest(context)
and again
_onLoading(context)
and use
showDialog(
context: context, //The context from Widget Build(BuildContext context)...
It is a common problem if you use Provider and InitState.

Is there a way to load async data on InitState method?

I'm a looking for a way to load async data on InitState method, I need some data before build method runs. I'm using a GoogleAuth code, and I need to execute build method 'till a Stream runs.
My initState method is:
#override
void initState () {
super.initState();
_googleSignIn.onCurrentUserChanged.listen((GoogleSignInAccount account) {
setState(() {
_currentUser = account;
});
});
_googleSignIn.signInSilently();
}
I will appreciate any feedback.
You can create an async method and call it inside your initState
#override
void initState () {
super.initState();
WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_){
_asyncMethod();
});
}
_asyncMethod() async {
_googleSignIn.onCurrentUserChanged.listen((GoogleSignInAccount account) {
setState(() {
_currentUser = account;
});
});
_googleSignIn.signInSilently();
}
As of now using .then notation seems to work:
// ...
#override
initState() {
super.initState();
myAsyncFunction
// as suggested in the comment
// .whenComplete() {
// or
.then((result) {
print("result: $result");
setState(() {});
});
}
//...
Method 1 : You can use StreamBuilder to do this. This will run the builder method whenever the data in stream changes.
Below is a code snippet from one of my sample projects:
StreamBuilder<List<Content>> _getContentsList(BuildContext context) {
final BlocProvider blocProvider = BlocProvider.of(context);
int page = 1;
return StreamBuilder<List<Content>>(
stream: blocProvider.contentBloc.contents,
initialData: [],
builder: (context, snapshot) {
if (snapshot.data.isNotEmpty) {
return ListView.builder(itemBuilder: (context, index) {
if (index < snapshot.data.length) {
return ContentBox(content: snapshot.data.elementAt(index));
} else if (index / 5 == page) {
page++;
blocProvider.contentBloc.index.add(index);
}
});
} else {
return Center(
child: CircularProgressIndicator(),
);
}
});
}
In the above code StreamBuilder listens for any change in contents, initially its an empty array and shows the CircularProgressIndicator. Once I make API call the data fetched is added to contents array, which will run the builder method.
When the user scrolls down, more content is fetched and added to contents array which will again run builder method.
In your case only initial loading will be required. But this provides you an option to display something else on the screen till the data is fetched.
Hope this is helpful.
EDIT:
In your case I am guessing it will look something like shown below:
StreamBuilder<List<Content>>(
stream: account, // stream data to listen for change
builder: (context, snapshot) {
if(account != null) {
return _googleSignIn.signInSilently();
} else {
// show loader or animation
}
});
Method 2: Another method would be to create an async method and call it from you initState() method like shown below:
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
asyncMethod();
}
void asyncMethod() async {
await asyncCall1();
await asyncCall2();
// ....
}
Create anonymous function inside initState like this:
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
// Create anonymous function:
() async {
await _performYourTask();
setState(() {
// Update your UI with the desired changes.
});
} ();
}
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
asyncInitState(); // async is not allowed on initState() directly
}
void asyncInitState() async {
await yourAsyncCalls();
}
Previous Answer!!
You can set a Boolean value like loaded and set it to true in your listen function and make your build function return your data when loaded is set to true otherwise just throw a CircularProgressIndicator
Edited --
I would not suggest calling setState in a method you call in initState. If the widget is not mounted while the setState is called (as the async operation completes) an error will be reported. I suggest you use a package after_layout
Take a look at this answer for better understanding setState in initState : https://stackoverflow.com/a/53373017/9206337
This post will give you an idea to know when the app finishes the build method. So that you can wait for your async method to setState after widget is mounted : https://stackoverflow.com/a/51273797/9206337
You can create an async method and call it inside your initState
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
asyncMethod(); ///initiate your method here
}
Future<void> asyncMethod async{
await ///write your method body here
}
Per documentation at https://pub.dev/packages/provider
initState() {
super.initState();
Future.microtask(() =>
context.read<MyNotifier>(context).fetchSomething(someValue);
);
}
Sample code:
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
asyncOperation().then((val) {
setState(() {});
print("success");
}).catchError((error, stackTrace) {
print("outer: $error");
});
//or
asyncOperation().whenComplete(() {
setState(() {});
print("success");
}).catchError((error, stackTrace) {
print("outer: $error");
});
}
Future<void> asyncOperation() async {
await ... ;
}
As loading or waiting for initial state is a (generally) aone off event FutureBuilder would seem to be a good option as it blocks once on an async method; where the async method could be the loading of json config, login etc. There is an post on it [here] in stack.(Flutter StreamBuilder vs FutureBuilder)
How about this?
#override
void initState() {
//you are not allowed to add async modifier to initState
Future.delayed(Duration.zero,() async {
//your async 'await' codes goes here
});
super.initState();
}
initState() and build cannot be async; but in these, you can call a function that is async without waiting for that function.
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
_userStorage.getCurrentUser().then((user) {
setState(() {
if (user.isAuthenticated) {
Timer.run(() {
redirectTo();
});
}
});
});
}
void redirectTo() {
Navigator.push(context,
MaterialPageRoute(builder: (BuildContext context) => new ShopOrders()));
}
I would strongly suggest using a FutureBuilder. It takes care of executing the async function and building the widget according to the result!
Here's a link to a short intro video and the documentation.
Code Example:
Future<void> initControllers() async {
for (var filePath in widget.videoFilePaths) {
var val = VideoPlayerController.file(File(filePath));
await val.initialize();
controllers.add(val);
}
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
FutureBuilder(
future: initControllers(),
builder: (context, snapshot) {
if (snapshot.connectionState == ConnectionState.done) {
return YourWidget();
} else {
return const ProgressIndicator();
}
},
));}
Tried all suggestions, none would keep my build from starting after the async method that I need in initState() finish, except one: the trick of having a a bool variable in the State class (let's call it _isDataLoaded) that is initialized to false upon definition, set to true inside a setState() that is invoked when the async function finishes inside initState(). In the build, condition a CircleProcessIndicator() or your Widget depending on the value of this variable.
I know it's dirty because it could break the build, but honestly nothing else that would make more sense -such as running super.initState() upon completion of the async function- has worked for me.
I came here because I needed to fetch some files from FTP on program start. My project is a flutter desktop application. The main thread download the last file added to the FTP server, decrypts it and displays the encrypted content, this method is called from initState(). I wanted to have all the other files downloaded in background after the GUI shows up.
None of the above mentioned methods worked. Constructing an Isolate is relatively complex.
The easy way was to use the "compute" method:
move the method downloading all files from the FTP out of the class.
make it an int function with an int parameter (I do not use the int parameter or the result)
call it from the initState() method
In that way, the GUI shows and the program downloads the files in background.
void initState() {
super.initState();
_retrieveFileList(); // this gets the first file and displays it
compute(_backgroundDownloader, 0); // this gets all the other files so that they are available in the local directory
}
int _backgroundDownloader(int value) {
var i = 0;
new Directory('data').createSync();
FTPClient ftpClient = FTPClient('www.guckguck.de',
user: 'maxmusterman', pass: 'maxmusterpasswort');
try {
ftpClient.connect();
var directoryContent = ftpClient.listDirectoryContent();
// .. here, fileNames list is reconstructed from the directoryContent
for (i = 0; i < fileNames.length; i++) {
var dirName = "";
if (Platform.isLinux)
dirName = 'data/';
else
dirName = r'data\';
var filePath = dirName + fileNames[i];
var myDataFile = new File(filePath);
if (!myDataFile.existsSync())
ftpClient.downloadFile(fileNames[i], File(filePath));
}
} catch (err) {
throw (err);
} finally {
ftpClient.disconnect();
}
return i;
I have used timer in initState
Timer timer;
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
timer = new Timer.periodic(new Duration(seconds: 1), (Timer timer) async {
await this.getUserVerificationInfo();
});
}
#override
void dispose() {
super.dispose();
timer.cancel();
}
getUserVerificationInfo() async {
await someAsyncFunc();
timer.cancle();
}

How do I update a placeholder image with an async image?

I'm using a manager class to either pull images from a cache or make a network request. I'm using a placeholder image. What's the best way to replace that placeholder image when the proper image is retrieved?
final ItemManager _manager;
final Item _item;
var _itemImage =
new Image.asset('assets/images/icons/ic_placeholder.png');
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
_loadImage();
return new Container(
child: _itemImage,
);
}
_loadImage() async {
var file = await _manager.itemImageForImageUrl(_item.imageUrl);
_stickerImage = new Image.file(file);
}
The FutureBuilder class is designed for cases like this. I would modify _loadImage to return the image instead of setting a member variable. Then you can get rid of initState and modify your build() method as follows:
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return new FutureBuilder(
future: _loadImage(),
builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot<Image> image) {
if (image.hasData) {
return image.data; // image is ready
} else {
return new Container(); // placeholder
}
},
);
}
As an aside, you should never mutate member variables of your State without calling setState. Your build function won't be called and this is something that the linter will eventually complain about (as soon as we implement it). But FutureBuilder is a much better fit for your use case because you won't have to worry about what happens if your State is disposed by the time the image finishes loading.
I'd recommend using flutter_image "to load images from the network with a retry mechanism."
You can pair it with a placeholder like this:
new FadeInImage(
placeholder: _itemImage,
image: new NetworkImageWithRetry('https://example.com/img.jpg'),
),

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