Question

I am having trouble applying a gradient background to a LinearLayout.

This should be relatively simple from what I have read but it just doesn’t seem to work. For reference sakes I am developing on 2.1-update1.

header_bg.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:shape="rectangle">
    <gradient
        android:angle="90"
        android:startColor="#FFFF0000"
        android:endColor="#FF00FF00"
        android:type="linear"/>
</shape>

main_header.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="50dip"
    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:background="@drawable/header_bg">
</LinearLayout>

If I change @drawable/header_bg to a color – e.g. #FF0000 it works perfectly fine. Am I missing something obvious here?

Answer 1

Ok I have managed to solve this using a selector. See code below:

main_header.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="50dip"
    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:background="@drawable/main_header_selector">
</LinearLayout>

main_header_selector.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item>
    <shape>
        <gradient
            android:angle="90"
            android:startColor="#FFFF0000"
            android:endColor="#FF00FF00"
            android:type="linear" />
    </shape>
</item>
</selector>

Hopefully this helps someone who has the same problem.