Android: Manage contacts with lookup key

Question

Hi everybody,

I'm currently writing a application that allows to save drafts (using android version >= 2.0). Each draft is connected to a contact via the ContactsContract.Contacts.LOOKUP_KEY. My problem is that if I change the name of my contact the lookup key changes also. Is that the way this works?

So for what do I need a lookup key? I thought that the lookup key does never change and now it changes anyway. I'm confused about that behavior ...

Can someone explain to me how to link permanently to a contact? Should I use IDs instead of the lookup key?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

It is my understanding that the lookup key is a structured / hierarchical key. Hence strictly speaking it can change, but still be used to find your contact back (using the appropriate method, that is:

    Uri lookupUri = Uri.withAppendedPath(ContactsContract.Contacts.CONTENT_LOOKUP_URI, lookupKey);
    Uri res = ContactsContract.Contacts.lookupContact(getContentResolver(), lookupUri);

)