Introduction To Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)

FCM

As everyone knows the importance of push notification in apps, we will discuss FCM (Firebase Cloud Messaging) in this article.

Let’s see what the definition of FCM is.

Firebase Cloud Messaging is a powerful API that lets you deliver the messages reliably and independently of the platform you are developing on. With the help of FCM, you can send notification and message to your client’s app. We can send instant messages of up to 4KB in size.

Before moving ahead, we will summarize how we are going to implement it.

We are going to develop an Android app that will display the notification.
Setting up FCM.
Saving token ID generated from android device to server using web service developed in .net
Sending notification message from C# code.

Android app to display a notification

First, let us create a new Android Studio Project with an Empty Activity.

Once your project is loaded, click on "Firebase" from the Tools menu. With Android Studio 2.2, it is really easy to integrate Firebase into your project.

All the available features will get opened. Click "Cloud Messaging".

Click on "Set up Firebase Cloud Messaging".

Click on the "Connect to Firebase" button. A dialog will open.

Enter the project name and click on "Connect to Firebase".

Click on the button "Add FCM to your app" and you will see a dialog box.

Click on "Accept Changes".
Every device generates a unique token or device id to receive notifications. And for this, we have to create a class that will extend the class FirebaseInstanceIdService. So, we have created MyFirebaseInstanceIDService.java
To store the generated token in SharedPreferences, we have created SharedPrefManager.java in Singleton Pattern.
To actually receive the notification FirebaseMessagingService is used, so we will create MyFirebaseMessagingService.java.
We will edit the activity_main.xml file.
Also, we will edit the MainActivity.java file.
Also, edit the AndroidManifest.xml file.

MyFirebaseInstanceIDService.java

package com.infobytessolutions.sretailer;
/**
* Created by Nilesh on 05/12/2017.
*/
import android.util.Log;
import com.google.firebase.iid.FirebaseInstanceId;
import com.google.firebase.iid.FirebaseInstanceIdService;
public class MyFirebaseInstanceIDService extends FirebaseInstanceIdService {
private static final String TAG = "MyFirebaseIIDService";
@Override
public void onTokenRefresh() {
//Getting registration token
String refreshedToken = FirebaseInstanceId.getInstance().getToken();
//Displaying token on logcat
Log.d(TAG, "Refreshed token: " + refreshedToken);
//calling the method store token and passing token
storeToken(refreshedToken);
}
private void storeToken(String token) {
//saving the token on shared preferences
SharedPrefManager.getInstance(getApplicationContext()).saveDeviceToken(token);
}
}

SharedPrefManager.java

package com.infobytessolutions.sretailer;
/**
* Created by Nilesh on 05/12/2017.
*/
import android.content.Context;
import android.content.SharedPreferences;
public class SharedPrefManager {
private static final String SHARED_PREF_NAME = "FCMSharedPref";
private static final String TAG_TOKEN = "tagtoken";
private static SharedPrefManager mInstance;
private static Context mCtx;
private SharedPrefManager(Context context) {
mCtx = context;
}
public static synchronized SharedPrefManager getInstance(Context context) {
if (mInstance == null) {
mInstance = new SharedPrefManager(context);
}
return mInstance;
}
//this method will save the device token to shared preferences
public boolean saveDeviceToken(String token){
SharedPreferences sharedPreferences = mCtx.getSharedPreferences(SHARED_PREF_NAME, Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
SharedPreferences.Editor editor = sharedPreferences.edit();
editor.putString(TAG_TOKEN, token);
editor.apply();
return true;
}
//this method will fetch the device token from shared preferences
public String getDeviceToken(){
SharedPreferences sharedPreferences = mCtx.getSharedPreferences(SHARED_PREF_NAME, Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
return sharedPreferences.getString(TAG_TOKEN, null);
}
}

MyFirebaseMessagingService.java

package com.infobytessolutions.sretailer;
/**
* Created by Nilesh on 05/12/2017.
*/
import android.app.NotificationManager;
import android.app.PendingIntent;
import android.content.Context;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.media.RingtoneManager;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.support.v4.app.NotificationCompat;
import android.util.Log;
import com.google.firebase.messaging.FirebaseMessagingService;
import com.google.firebase.messaging.RemoteMessage;
import org.json.JSONException;
import org.json.JSONObject;
public class MyFirebaseMessagingService extends FirebaseMessagingService {
private static final String TAG = "MyFirebaseMsgService";
@Override
public void onMessageReceived(RemoteMessage remoteMessage) {
if (remoteMessage.getData().size() > 0) {
Log.e(TAG, "Data Payload: " + remoteMessage.getData().toString());
try {
JSONObject json = new JSONObject(remoteMessage.getData().toString());
// sendPushNotification(json);
sendNotification(json);
} catch (Exception e) {
Log.e(TAG, "Exception: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
}
private void sendNotification(JSONObject json) {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MainActivity.class);
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
Log.e(TAG, "Notification JSON " + json.toString());
try{
JSONObject data = json.getJSONObject("data");
String title = data.getString("title");
String message = data.getString("message");
String imageUrl = data.getString("image");
PendingIntent pendingIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(this, 0 /* Request code */, intent,
PendingIntent.FLAG_ONE_SHOT);
Uri defaultSoundUri= RingtoneManager.getDefaultUri(RingtoneManager.TYPE_NOTIFICATION);
NotificationCompat.Builder notificationBuilder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(this)
.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_launcher_background)
.setContentTitle(title)
.setContentText(message)
.setAutoCancel(true)
.setSound(defaultSoundUri)
.setContentIntent(pendingIntent);
NotificationManager notificationManager =
(NotificationManager) getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
notificationManager.notify(0 /* ID of notification */, notificationBuilder.build());
} catch (JSONException e) {
Log.e(TAG, "Json Exception: " + e.getMessage());
} catch (Exception e) {
Log.e(TAG, "Exception: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
}

activity_main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="@+id/activity_main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context=".MainActivity">
<EditText
android:id="@+id/editTextPhoneNo"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="@+id/buttonRegister"
android:hint="Enter Phone No"
android:inputType="phone" />
<Button
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:text="Register Device"
android:id="@+id/buttonRegister"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
</RelativeLayout>

MainActivity.java

package com.infobytessolutions.sretailer;
import android.app.ProgressDialog;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.StrictMode;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.View;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.widget.Toast;
import com.google.firebase.messaging.FirebaseMessaging;
import org.ksoap2.SoapEnvelope;
import org.ksoap2.serialization.SoapObject;
import org.ksoap2.serialization.SoapSerializationEnvelope;
import org.ksoap2.transport.AndroidHttpTransport;
import org.xmlpull.v1.XmlPullParserException;
import java.io.IOException;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity
implements View.OnClickListener {
//defining views
private Button buttonRegister ;
private TextView textViewToken;
private EditText editTextPhoneNo;
private ProgressDialog progressDialog;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
//getting views from xml
editTextPhoneNo= (EditText) findViewById(R.id.editTextPhoneNo);
buttonRegister = (Button) findViewById(R.id.buttonRegister);
//adding listener to view
buttonRegister.setOnClickListener(this);
onNewIntent(getIntent());
FirebaseMessaging.getInstance();
}
private void sendTokenToServer(){
progressDialog = new ProgressDialog(this);
progressDialog.setMessage("Registering Device...");
progressDialog.show();
final String token = SharedPrefManager.getInstance(this).getDeviceToken();
final String phoneNo = editTextPhoneNo.getText().toString();
if (token == null) {
progressDialog.dismiss();
Toast.makeText(this, "Token not generated", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
return;
}
String TAG = "Update token id";
String nameSpace="http://ws.mywebservice.com/";
String url="http://ws.mywebservice.com/WebService.asmx";
String SOAPACTION_getLandmark="http://ws.mywebservice.com/updateTokenID";
String method_name_getLandmark="updateTokenID";
// Allow internet
if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT > 9) {
StrictMode.ThreadPolicy policy = new StrictMode.ThreadPolicy.Builder()
.permitAll().build();
StrictMode.setThreadPolicy(policy);
}
SoapObject Request = new SoapObject(nameSpace,method_name_getLandmark);
Request.addProperty("phoneNo",phoneNo.trim());
Request.addProperty("TokenID",token);
// Create a envelope
SoapSerializationEnvelope envelope = new SoapSerializationEnvelope(
SoapEnvelope.VER12);
envelope.dotNet = true;
envelope.setOutputSoapObject(Request);
try {
AndroidHttpTransport transp = new AndroidHttpTransport(url);
transp.call(SOAPACTION_getLandmark, envelope);
SoapObject obj1 = (SoapObject) envelope.bodyIn;
// String obj2 =(String) obj1.getProperty(0);
Log.d("Token:----", obj1.toString());
// Log.d("OTP:----", obj1.getProperty(0).toString());
Log.d(TAG, "Token finished");
} catch (IOException e) {
Log.d(e.getMessage(), "Token");
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (XmlPullParserException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
progressDialog.dismiss();
}
@Override
public void onClick(View view) {
if (view == buttonRegister) {
//getting token from shared preferences
String token = SharedPrefManager.getInstance(this).getDeviceToken();
//if token is not null
if (token != null) {
//displaying the token
// textViewToken.setText(token);
sendTokenToServer();
} else {
//if token is null that means something wrong
textViewToken.setText("Token not generated");
}
}
}
}

AndroidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="com.infobytessolutions.sretailer">
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
<permission
android:name="${applicationId}.permission.C2D_MESSAGE"
android:protectionLevel="signature"/>
<uses-permission android:name="${applicationId}.permission.C2D_MESSAGE"/>
<application
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:label="@string/app_name"
android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:supportsRtl="true"
android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
<activity
android:name=".MainActivity"
android:label="@string/app_name"
android:theme="@style/AppTheme.NoActionBar">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<service
android:name=".MyFirebaseInstanceIDService">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.google.firebase.INSTANCE_ID_EVENT"/>
</intent-filter>
</service>
<service
android:name=".MyFirebaseMessagingService">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.google.firebase.MESSAGING_EVENT"/>
</intent-filter>
</service>
</application>
</manifest>

Setting up FCM in Firebase console

Go to Firebase console and create a new project.

Now, put your app name and select your country.

Now, click "Add Firebase to your Android app".

Now, you have to enter your project's package name and click on "Add App".

After this, you will get a google-services.json file by going to the Project Settings.
Go to the root level build.gradle file and add the following code.
1. buildscript {
2. repositories {
3. jcenter()
4. google()
5. }
6. dependencies {
7. classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:3.0.1'
8. //Add this line
9. classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:3.1.0'
10. }
11. }
12. allprojects {
13. repositories {
14. jcenter()
15. google()
16. }
17. }
18. task clean(type: Delete) {
19. delete rootProject.buildDir
20. }

Inside app level build.gradle file, make the following changes.
1. apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
3. android {
4. compileSdkVersion 26
5. defaultConfig {
6. applicationId "com.infobytessolutions.sretailer"
7. minSdkVersion 21
8. targetSdkVersion 26
9. versionCode 1
10. versionName "1.0"
11. testInstrumentationRunner "android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
12. }
13. buildTypes {
14. release {
15. minifyEnabled false
16. proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
17. }
18. }
19. }
21. dependencies {
22. implementation fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
23. implementation 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:26.1.0'
24. implementation 'com.android.support:support-v4:26.1.0'
25. implementation 'com.android.support:design:26.1.0'
26. implementation 'com.android.support.constraint:constraint-layout:1.0.2'
27. implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-messaging:10.2.1'
28. testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.12'
29. androidTestImplementation 'com.android.support.test:runner:1.0.1'
30. androidTestImplementation 'com.android.support.test.espresso:espresso-core:3.0.1'
31. compile files('libs/ksoap2-android-assembly-2.5.8-jar-with-dependencies.jar')
32. }
33. apply plugin: 'com.google.gms.google-services'

Now, sync your project.

Saving token ID generated from android device to server using web service developed in .net

If you have knowledge of creating a web service, then add the below code to it, else learn it by searching on Google because our main focus in this article is FCM.

We have table “Customers” with phoneNo and tokenID columns.
In my case, phone number values are already stored.
1. [WebMethod]
2. public void updateTokenID(string phoneNo, string TokenID) {
3. int count = db.Customers.Where(c => c.PhoneNo == phoneNo).Count();
4. Customer cust = db.Customers.FirstOrDefault(c => c.PhoneNo == phoneNo);
5. cust.TokenID = TokenID;
6. db.SubmitChanges();
7. }

To run web service properly in Android, you have to add ksoap2-android-assembly-2.5.8-jar-with-dependencies.jar in Android project.

Also, have a look at mainactivity.java file's sendTokenToServer() method where web service call is handled.

Sending notification message from C# code

Create a new C# project and add the following class and call it in any event like button.

public class FCMPushNotification {
public FCMPushNotification() {
// TODO: Add constructor logic here
}
public bool Successful {
get;
set;
}
public string Response {
get;
set;
}
public Exception Error {
get;
set;
}
public FCMPushNotification SendNotification(string _title, string _message, string _topic, string deviceId) {
FCMPushNotification result = new FCMPushNotification();
try {
result.Successful = true;
result.Error = null;
// var value = message;
string serverKey = "Your server key";
string senderId = "your sender id";
var requestUri = "https://fcm.googleapis.com/fcm/send";
WebRequest webRequest = WebRequest.Create(requestUri);
webRequest.Method = "POST";
webRequest.Headers.Add(string.Format("Authorization: key={0}", serverKey));
webRequest.Headers.Add(string.Format("Sender: id={0}", senderId));
webRequest.ContentType = "application/json";
var data = new {
to = deviceId, // this if you want to test for a single device
// to = "/topics/" + _topic, // this is for topic
priority = "high",
notification = new {
title = _title,
body = _message,
show_in_foreground = "True",
icon = "myicon"
}
};
var serializer = new JavaScriptSerializer();
var json = serializer.Serialize(data);
Byte[] byteArray = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(json);
webRequest.ContentLength = byteArray.Length;
using(Stream dataStream = webRequest.GetRequestStream()) {
dataStream.Write(byteArray, 0, byteArray.Length);
using(WebResponse webResponse = webRequest.GetResponse()) {
using(Stream dataStreamResponse = webResponse.GetResponseStream()) {
using(StreamReader tReader = new StreamReader(dataStreamResponse)) {
String sResponseFromServer = tReader.ReadToEnd();
result.Response = sResponseFromServer;
}
}
}
}
} catch (Exception ex) {
result.Successful = false;
result.Response = null;
result.Error = ex;
}
return result;
}
}

How to get server key and sender id

Go to Firebase Console and inside your project settings, go to Cloud Messaging tab.
You will find the Cloud Messaging Server Key here, copy it.

So that’s it. Though a few mobile phones will kill this notification when an application is killed. I am working on it too. Feel free to comment, I would like to guide you if you are stuck somewhere and also like to learn more from you guys.

4 Comments

Join the conversation! Your thoughts help the community grow.

Aric Campebll6y ago
Can this work for data messages to the client without the push notification? Thanks
Manoj Kumar6y ago
Very Nice Informative Article <a hre="https://www.computersciencejunction.in/2020/02/13/relational-algebra-in-dbms/">Relational Algebra in Dbms </a>
Edzio Auditore8y ago
Hi ' Nilesh ' , thank you for the tuto, i want to send notification from restful sevices webApi from asp.net app to my android app using FireBase, and this when i have for example in my database in sql Server some changes in some table ... any help appreciated thanks !!!
- Nilesh Sawardekar8y ago
  Is ur problem resolved?