Question

When my activity receives a new intent via onNewIntent, it updates the data of three Views, an ImageView, a TextView, and a VideoView. The problem is, the two other views just flash, then disappear when my VideoView comes on. After scattering a few breakpoints, I discovered that they appear when their content is set, but disappear when VideoView.onStart() is called in my MediaPlayer.onPrepared() method. I also have an AlertDialog show up when the menu button is pressed. After pressing the menu button, it shows up. I’m on Android API 9, as this is the API on the device I’m working on. I really need help, so I’d appreciate any advice.

Here’s the layout. I don’t think it’s the issue though:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:keepScreenOn="true" >

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/marquee"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
        android:ellipsize="marquee"
        android:focusable="false"
        android:marqueeRepeatLimit="marquee_forever"
        android:scrollHorizontally="true"
        android:singleLine="true"
        android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.Large"
        android:textColor="@android:color/white" >
    </TextView>

    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/image"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:layout_above="@id/marquee"
        android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_gravity="center_vertical" />

    <VideoView
        android:id="@+id/video"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_above="@+id/marquee"
        android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_alignWithParentIfMissing="true"
        android:layout_toLeftOf="@+id/image" />

</RelativeLayout>

Take note that the TextView is meant to be a marquee; it’s supposed to keep scrolling sideways, until it is disposed of. I discovered that when the text is too short for it to start the marquee, the TextView AND the ImageView disappear (as stated earlier, they appear for a split second, then disappear). However, when the text causes the marquee feature to activate, everything works.

CURRENTLY:

I got it to work by calling postInvalidateDelayed(500) on my ImageView and TextView after calling VideoView.start(). I think the start() method is causing the problem, and requires that other views call invalidate(). Also, for some reason, there needs to be a small delay in-between the call to start() and the call to invalidate().

Answer 1

I created a method, but it seems very bad:

private void startVideo() {
    this.videoView.start();
    if (this.imageView != null)
        this.imageView.postInvalidateDelay(500);
    if (this.textView != null)
        this.textView.postInvalidateDelay(500);
}

It works, but it makes me feel dirty.