Question

How can I change TextView Style in android application to any design I prefer?

for exmaple in messaging: to show a message inside a balloon (like in iPhone inBox) .

thanks,

Answer 1

Answer for your question not only true for textview but other view in android.

You will need a new your-self class that extends view you need to change style.

for example:

public class NewTextView extends TextView{

  public NewTextView(){} //just constructor

  @Override
  public void onDraw(Canvas canvas){
  //this is a main method that do your work.
  //for example, you will draw a `baloon` like iPhone
  }

Here is an example code, that draw a straight line in each line of EditText (like you are typing in a paper). You can see this code and learning to do like it.

Again: to do this, you should has some knowledge about drawing in android (Canvas or OpenGL).

public class EditTextExtra extends EditText {
    private Rect Rect;
    private Paint Paint;

    public EditTextExtra (Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);
        Rect = new Rect();
        Paint = new Paint();
        Paint.setStyle(Paint.Style.FILL_AND_STROKE);
        Paint.setColor(Color.BLACK);       
    }

    @Override
    protected void onDraw(Canvas canvas) {

        int count = getHeight()/getLineHeight();
        if(getLineCount() > count){
            count = getLineCount();   // for long text with scrolling
        }
        Rect r = Rect;
        Paint paint = Paint;

        int baseline = getLineBounds(0, r); // first line

        for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
            canvas.drawLine(r.left, baseline + 1, r.right, baseline + 1, paint);
            baseline += getLineHeight(); // next line
        }
        super.onDraw(canvas);
    }
}