IssueTracker

Created a system overlay of TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT from a Service with the flags FLAG_NOT_TOUCH_MODAL and FLAG_WATCH_OUTSIDE_TOUCH set, expecting to be able to retrieve location information for touches outside of overlay bounds. INSIDE the activity the service was started from, touch events are fired and event locations are reported as they should. However, OUTSIDE the activity (ex. on the home screen), outside touches do return ACTION_OUTSIDE events, but location data is missing (getX, getY, getRawX, and getRawY all return 0) no matter where the touch occurs. See following example:


public class OverlayExampleService extends Service {

        private View layerView;
        private WindowManager.LayoutParams wParams;
        private WindowManager wm;
        Animation anim = null;
       
        @Override
        public void onCreate() {
                super.onCreate();
               
                wParams = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
                    150, 150, //Arbitrary size
                    WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT,
                    WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE|WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_TOUCH_MODAL|WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_WATCH_OUTSIDE_TOUCH,
                     PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT); //TODO: NOT_FOCUSABLE needed?

                wm = (WindowManager) getSystemService(WINDOW_SERVICE);
                LayoutInflater inflater = (LayoutInflater) getSystemService(LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE);
               
                layerView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.overlay, null);
       
                layerView.setOnTouchListener(new OnTouchListener() {
                       
                        @Override
                        public boolean onTouch(View v, final MotionEvent event) {
                               
                                System.out.println("LayerView event loc: " + event.getX() + ", " + event.getY());
                                System.out.println("Raw event loc: " + event.getRawX() + ", " + event.getRawY());

                                return false;
                        }
                });
       
                // Add layout to window manager
                wm.addView(layerView, wParams);
        }
       
    @Override
    public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startID) {
        return START_STICKY;
    }
   
    @Override
    public void onDestroy() {
        if (wm == null)  wm = (WindowManager) getSystemService(WINDOW_SERVICE);
        wm.removeView(layerView);
       
        wParams = null;
        layerView = null;
       
        super.onDestroy();
    }

        @Override
        public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
                return null;
        }

}

------------------------------------------

public class OverlayExampleActivity extends Activity implements OnCheckedChangeListener{

        @Override
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
                super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
               
                setContentView(R.layout.activity);
                ((CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.checkBox)).setOnCheckedChangeListener(this);
        }

        @Override
        public void onCheckedChanged(CompoundButton buttonView, boolean isChecked) {
                Intent serviceIntent = new Intent(this, OverlayExampleService.class);
               
                if (isChecked)  startService(serviceIntent);
                else  stopService(serviceIntent);
        }
       
}

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From docs (http://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams.html#FLAG_WATCH_OUTSIDE_TOUCH):

"Window flag: if you have set FLAG_NOT_TOUCH_MODAL, you can set this flag to receive a single special MotionEvent with the action MotionEvent.ACTION_OUTSIDE for touches that occur outside of your window. Note that you will not receive the full down/move/up gesture, only the location of the first down as an ACTION_OUTSIDE."

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Similar reports:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14076710/android-4-2-action-outside-motionevent-x-and-y-return-0-outside-of-own-applicati

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22041604/why-does-action-outside-return-0-everytime-on-kitkat-4-4-2

------------------------------------

I tested the above code on Android 4.4 (Motorola Droid Razr Maxx) and received the buggy behavior. I also tested on 4.1.2 (Motorola Droid Razr) and DID get location data as I should. So, based on the SO question above, it seems the problem only affects 4.2+.

Also, attached adb bugreport output.