Compose Action Menu

This multi-platform library provides an easy-to-use action menu for Compose, since Compose doesn't offer this by default.

Features

• Icons (optional);
• Selectable/checkable items;
• Nested sub menus;
• Automatic overflow for items that don't fit the specified maximum;
• Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) since version 2, supporting Android, iOS, JVM (desktop) and JS/WASM (since version 3);
• Material 2 & 3 support (since version 3).

A web demo is available at https://jacobras.github.io/ComposeActionMenu/.

Installation

dependencies {
    implementation("nl.jacobras:compose-action-menu:3.0.0")
}

Version 3 and newer are built upon Material 3, whereas previous versions use Material 2. Expand this for migration instructions.

Migrating from v2 to v3

Compose Action Menu version 3 is built upon Material 3. The custom colour names have been changed.

2.x:

ActionMenu(
    items = listOf(/* items */),
    colors = DefaultActionMenuColors(
        dropdownIconTint = myContentColor,
        dropdownBackgroundColor = myOverflowContainerColor
    )
)

3.x:

ActionMenu(
    items = listOf(/* items */),
    colors = ActionMenuDefaults.colors(
        contentColor = myContentColor,
        overflowContainerColor = myOverflowContainerColor,
        overflowContentColor = myContentColor
    )
)

Version 2 and newer are available from Maven Central, whereas previous versions were distributed through JitPack. Expand this for migration instructions.

Migrating from v1 to v2

Compose Action Menu version 2 is built using KMP. Android-specific resource support is replaced with broader string + Painter support.

1.x:

RegularActionItem(
    titleResId = R.string.search,
    iconDrawable = R.drawable.search
)

2.x:

RegularActionItem(
    title = stringResource(R.string.search),
    icon = painterResource(R.drawable.search)
)

Compose version

Each version depends on specific Compose dependencies.

	Compose Multiplatform 1.6.11	Material 3
	Compose Multiplatform 1.5.1	Material 2
	Compose 1.4.3	Material 2
	Compose 1.3.3	Material 2
	Compose 1.1.0-rc01	Material 2

Usage

val toolbarActions = listOf(
    RegularActionItem(
        key = "search",
        title = stringResource(R.string.search),
        iconVector = Icons.Filled.Search,
        onClick = { /* TODO: Open search screen */ }
    )
)

TopAppBar(
    actions = { ActionMenu(items = toolbarActions) }
)

Supported item types

Several different type of actions can be used. These are all sub classes of ActionItem.

• Regular item: RegularActionItem;
• Checkable item: CheckableActionItem;
• Radio-toggleable item: RadioActionItem;
• Groups: GroupActionItem.

Creating a group

Is as simple as:

val subOption1 = RegularActionItem(key = "subOption1", /* ... */)
val subOption2 = RegularActionItem(key = "subOption2", /* ... */)
val subOption3 = RegularActionItem(key = "subOption3", /* ... */)

val group = GroupActionItem(
    key = "myGroup",
    title = stringResource(R.string.group_title),
    childOptions = listOf(subOption1, subOption2, subOption3)
)

Customisation

ActionMenu takes some parameters:

• maxNumberOfIcons Number of icons to show, including overflow menu icon (if needed);
• colors Optional color configuration. Usage: colors = ActionMenuDefaults.colors(...).

ActionItems can be customised too:

• Use iconVector or iconDrawable to show an icon next to the item's title;
• Set showAsAction to change if an item will be shown as an icon or in the overflow menu.

Testing

Every menu item has a test tag attached to it which is a combination of a "ActionMenu" prefix and the item's key. Example test usage:

// Menu configuration:
val item = RegularActionItem(key = "myKey", /* ... */)

// Test:
composeTestRule.onNodeWithTag("ActionMenu#myKey").performClick()

There's a reserved key for the overflow icon: "ActionMenu#overflow".

Sample apps

The repository contains two sample apps.

• Run Android: gradlew sample-app:installDebug
• Run Desktop: gradlew sample-desktop:run

Production example

My note taking app uses ComposeActionMenu:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.jacobras.notes