Question

I need to create interface that will look like “order”. So, there will be header data and then there will be details. I see it as all scrollable screen. But I’m not sure what the best way to bind details.

I can see how I can:

1. Create ListView and put header in first row – IMO UGLY code.

2. Create ListActivity, put header on top and ListView below – no good either since header won’t scroll.

3. I’m not sure HOW to do it but idea is to create main layout and put empty LinearLayout where details should be. Then create another Layout for details (just like I do for ListView). But I would load details and inflate those childs manually and then inject them into my LinearLayout.

Will that work? How else would you do something like that?

Thanks!

Answer 1

The simplest solution would be to add both a TextView and a ListView inside a RelativeLayout. You can actually replace the Textivew with any View (including a ViewGorup) you need.

See how to implement it in this tutorial: http://developer.android.com/resources/tutorials/views/hello-relativelayout.html

and check also Romain Guy’s posts for a nice comparison between LinearLayout and RelativeLayout (and good advise in general):

http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/02/android-layout-tricks-1.html

http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/02/android-layout-tricks-2-reusing-layouts.html

http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/03/android-layout-tricks-3-optimize-with.html

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Update

This is a (very simplified) way to create an expandable LinearLayout. Of course, instead of buttons, you will add some more interesting content…

• File MyCustomControl.java

.

package com.aleadam.test;

import android.content.Context;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.TextView;

public class MyCustomControl extends LinearLayout {
    Context context;
    Button upper, lower;
    TextView tv;

    public MyCustomControl(Context context) {
        super(context);
        this.context = context;
        expandLayout();
    }

    public MyCustomControl(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);
        this.context = context;
        expandLayout();
    }

    private void expandLayout() {
        setOrientation (VERTICAL);
        LayoutParams lp0 = new LayoutParams(
                 LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT);
        LayoutParams lp1 = new LayoutParams(
                 LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, 40);
        LayoutParams lp2 = new LayoutParams(
                 LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, 200);
        TextView tv = new TextView(context);
        tv.setText("The title goes here");

        upper = new Button(context);
        upper.setText("Click to show the other button");

        lower = new Button(context);
        lower.setText("Click to hide this button");
        lower.setVisibility(GONE);

        upper.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener () {
            public void onClick (View v) {
                lower.setVisibility(VISIBLE);               
            }
        });
        lower.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener () {
            public void onClick (View v) {
                v.setVisibility(GONE);              
            }
        });      

        this.addView(tv, lp0);
        this.addView(upper, lp1);
        this.addView(lower, lp2);
    }
}

• File Test.java

.

public class Test extends Activity {
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        inflateLayout();
    }
    public void inflateLayout() {
        ScrollView scr = new ScrollView (this);
        LinearLayout ll = new LinearLayout (this);
        ll.setOrientation(LinearLayout.VERTICAL);
        ll.addView (new MyCustomControl (this));
        ll.addView (new MyCustomControl (this));
        ll.addView (new MyCustomControl (this));
        ll.addView (new MyCustomControl (this));
        scr.addView(ll);
        setContentView (scr);
    }
}