Question

If I have a page whose layout is designated by XML code, but I want to possibly create a few radio buttons, say, in the middle, but decide that at runtime, how would I do it? I’m new to Android so I’m taking a stab in the dark. Would something like this work?

In the XML, add a LinearLayout to the middle of the page’s XML like this:

<LinearLayout android:id="@+id/LinLayBut"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

And then in the java something like this:

public void setupRadioButtons(){
    LinearLayout linLay;
    linLay = (LinearLayout) findViewById(R.id.LinLayBut);
    RadioGroup radGroup = new RadioGroup(this);
    RadioButton radBut = new RadioButton(this);
    radGroup.addView(radBut, 0);
    radGroup.setText("A button");

}

Answer 1

This is not an efficient way to build dynamic UI. You would be better off defining the optional layout in an XML file and then inflate it when you want to use it:

public void setupRadioButtons() {
    final LayoutInflater inflater =
        (LayoutInflater) getSystemService(Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE);

    LinearLayout buttons =
        (LinearLayout) inflater.inflate(R.layout.LinLayBut, null);

    LinearLayout mainLayout = (LinearLayout) findViewById(R.id.main);
    mainLayout.addView(buttons);
}

The above code assumes that the radio group and buttons are defined inside the LinearLayout with id LinLayBut and you main layout id is main.