Develop Reference

view sliding over layout

I have relative layout. Within which I have many views like edit text, text views and so on. I do lots of animations in that. Everything was perfectly fine. But at one point, I have a requirement.
It is the password page. Create and confirm password. Two edittexts one after another. If the password doesnt meet the requirement, a plain orange view should slide up with error message "Invalid password".
So I put create and confirm password in linear layout. The linear layout will slide up, letting user type in passwords. After validation, if there is an error, the linear layout should slide down and the plain view will slide up. I kept the view invisible and when required I made it visible and wrote the code to slide up. The same code works when I just use single edit text instead of linear layout. But it is not working when using linear layout. Am I doing something wrong?
Adding code to it. The code specific to this issue starts with till the end of coding
I declared linear layout as view and NOT VIEWGROUP.
EDIT: After doing analysis, I found that the view I am trying to slide up after sliding down the layout is hidden somewhere in the view hierarchy.
view.bringToFront() helps to bring the error view to the front and slides up.
But after that the problem is, after my linear layout slide down, the error view is not sliding up straight away. Because I am using bringToFront(), it displays the view first on the whole screen (with background color as orange) and then the sliding starts.
I am not sure whether it is correct but I fixed this issue like this.
no background color has been given to the view
I used errorView.bringToFront () and errorView.setVisibility(true) in the animationEnd() of a Layout slidingdown animation listener.
I defined sliding up animation for the errorView in the same animationEnd() of layout sliding down listener
In the animationStart() of errorView sliding up animation listener, I defined the background color of the errorView. Now its working as expected.
But let me know better way of doing this.
//Declaration
View greyView, orangeView, yellowView, blueView, orangeErrorView, letsGetStartedView, welcomeBckView, passwordMasterLayout, orangePwdErrorView;
TextView welcomeText,errorTextView, letsGetStartedTextView, welcomeBckTxtView, errorPwdMsg;
//Password Error Handling
orangePwdErrorView = v.findViewById(R.id.orangePasswordErrorView);
errorPwdMsg = (TextView) v.findViewById(R.id.errorPasswordMessage);
//Layout code
<LinearLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:id="#+id/sample_main_layout">
<FrameLayout
android:id="#+id/sample_content_fragment"
android:layout_weight="76.4"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0px" />
<FrameLayout
android:id="#+id/bottomPanel"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="23.6">
</FrameLayout>
</LinearLayout>
sample_content_fragment framelayout takes the below code
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<View
android:id="#+id/grey"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#58595B" />
<View
android:id="#+id/orange"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#F26724"
android:visibility="invisible" />
<View
android:id="#+id/yellow"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#FDB518"
android:visibility="invisible" />
<View
android:id="#+id/blue"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#1893D2"
android:visibility="invisible" />
<TextView
android:layout_width="260dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceLarge"
android:text="#string/welcome"
android:id="#+id/welcomeTextView"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:layout_marginTop="51dp"
android:textColor="#ffffff"
android:textSize="20dp"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:visibility="invisible"
/>
<ImageView
android:layout_height="60dp"
android:layout_width="60dp"
android:id="#+id/clinicloud_logo"
android:clickable="true"
android:src="#drawable/clinicloud_icon"
android:layout_marginRight="50dp"
android:layout_alignParentStart="true"
android:layout_marginStart="35dp"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:layout_marginBottom="40dp" />
<View
android:id="#+id/orangeErrorView"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#F26724"
android:visibility="invisible" />
<EditText
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="90dp"
android:inputType="textEmailAddress"
android:ems="10"
android:id="#+id/emailEditText"
android:text="#string/enter_email"
android:layout_gravity="center"
android:background="#f4f4f4"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:layout_alignParentStart="true"
android:visibility="invisible"/>
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
android:id="#+id/errorMessage"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/welcomeTextView"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:textColor="#ffffff"
android:visibility="invisible"/>
<!--UI components for welcome back page-->
<View
android:id="#+id/welcomeBackView"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#134F9F"
android:visibility="invisible" />
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="#string/welcome_back"
android:id="#+id/welcomeBackTxtView"
android:textColor="#ffffff"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/welcomeTextView"
android:layout_alignStart="#+id/clinicloud_logo"
android:textSize="20dp"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:visibility="invisible"/>
<EditText
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="90dp"
android:ems="10"
android:id="#+id/password"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/emailEditText"
android:layout_alignParentStart="true"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"
android:text="Password"
android:visibility="invisible"
android:background="#d2d1d1"
/>
<!--UI components for Let's get started page-->
<View
android:id="#+id/letsGetStartedView"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#5C3A91"
android:visibility="invisible" />
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Let&apos;s get started"
android:id="#+id/letsGetStartedTxtView"
android:textColor="#ffffff"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/welcomeTextView"
android:layout_alignStart="#+id/clinicloud_logo"
android:textSize="20dp"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:visibility="invisible"/>
<!--Linear layout to show the create and confirm password-->
<LinearLayout
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="180dp"
android:gravity="bottom"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/emailEditText"
android:layout_alignParentStart="true"
android:weightSum="1"
android:id="#+id/passwordMasterView"
android:visibility="invisible">
<EditText
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:inputType="text"
android:id="#+id/createPwd"
android:layout_weight="0.50"
android:background="#F4F4F4"
android:text="#string/create_password"
/>
<EditText
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:inputType="text"
android:id="#+id/confirmPwd"
android:layout_weight="0.50"
android:background="#E3E3E3"
android:text="#string/confirm_password" />
</LinearLayout>
<!-- To show password errors-->
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/orangePasswordErrorView"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#F26724"
android:visibility="invisible" />
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
android:id="#+id/errorPasswordMessage"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/welcomeTextView"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:textColor="#ffffff"
android:visibility="invisible"
/>
<!-- To show password errors-->
</RelativeLayout>
The java logic is in https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30523599/sliding-up-and-down-android
Please direct for any incorrect codings

I kept the view invisible and when required I made it visible and wrote the code to slide up.
I think you must do it in DialogFragment or custom AlertDialog that will be shown above your layout, if dont want to do this try envelop your RelativeLayout in FrameLayout and adding in it LinearLayout for example but visout your code difficult to say in what problem it is

You should consider using a library for the sliding panel, one that I've had excellent experiences with (and supports the functionality that your after) is umano's AndroidSlidingUpPanel. https://github.com/umano/AndroidSlidingUpPanel

Put a textview over Imageview in LinearLayout

I have stuck in some xml code and i hope you can help me out.
So here is what I need/what I have done by now.
I have 3 images of 650px width and I need them one below another while keeping aspect ratio.
I did that with the following code and it looks as it should. No problem here.
<LinearLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/ll"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:background="#3afa3f"
android:weightSum="3">
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/krk_history"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:background="#drawable/povjestkrka_vintage_yellow600" />
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:id="#+id/krk_frankopan"
android:background="#drawable/frankopan2_vintage_sundown600" />
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:id="#+id/krk_turizam"
android:background="#drawable/krk_turizam_vintage"/>
The problem is. I need to put three textviews in a left bottom corner of each image. Imagine it like image menu with text description on each image.
So, I can not use relative or frame layout because images won't play nicely with each other :) There is always a gap between or not aspect ration etc. I need weightsum.
Second, I can't hardcode the text on each image in photoshop because the app will be translated and text needs to change for each language.
I can have different images for each language but I am trying to avoid that.
Ah yea, one more last thing.
I tried to put entire linearlayout in relative layout and put the text between but the text appears beneath the image and I can't bring it upfront.
Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot,
Xsonz

just copy this :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical">
<FrameLayout android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:src="#drawable/ic_launcher" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="left|bottom"
android:padding="5dp"
android:text="Text 1" />
</FrameLayout>
<FrameLayout android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView2"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:src="#drawable/ic_launcher" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="left|bottom"
android:padding="5dp"
android:text="Text 2" />
</FrameLayout>
<FrameLayout android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView3"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:src="#drawable/ic_launcher" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView3"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="left|bottom"
android:padding="5dp"
android:text="Text 3" />
</FrameLayout>

Take three FrameLayout inside your LinearLayout and inside FrameLayout keep the ImageView and TextView.
Or Else You can use RelativeLayout and give dependency to Views

You can use frame layout inside linear layout. create imageview inside the linear layout and create textview in another frame layout below it.
<FrameLayout
android:id="#+id/frameLayout_image"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/krk_history"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:background="#drawable/povjestkrka_vintage_yellow600" />
</FrameLayout>
<FrameLayout
android:id="#+id/frameLayout_text"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="-5dp" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/text"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="string" />
</FrameLayout>

Something like this might work for you.
//your layout -> LinearLayout>
....
<RelativeLayout android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<ImageView android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/image1"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:background="#drawable/A1" />
<TextView android:id="#+id/textview1"
android:layout_margin="0dp"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="My Text"
android:layout_below="#id/image1"
android:layout_alignLeft="#id/image1" />
</RelativeLayout>
// end your LinearLayout
You can play with these parameters using Relative Layout Parameters android.com. The relative layout allows you to control the "relative" positioning between your elements.
You can lay your images out side by side, or in whatever fashion you wish.
Then you can adjust the text dynamically.

Android ListFragment: background under each item

I'd like to create a ListFragment in Android, and a background for each element, like this:
I'll want to set the width of theese background's from the code of my ListAdapter. I thought to create the list element's layout something like this:
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:minHeight="40dp"
android:id="#+id/surveyListRow_upperLayout"
android:layout_marginTop="7dp"
android:layout_marginBottom="7dp">
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_marginLeft="23dp"
android:layout_width="40dp"
android:layout_height="40dp"
android:id="#+id/surveyListRow_ringLayout"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_alignParentStart="true" />
<TextView
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:textColor="#color/textColor"
android:gravity="center"
android:id="#+id/surveyListRow_surveyName"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="55dp"
android:layout_marginRight="105dp"/>
<TextView
android:layout_width="80dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:textSize="18sp"
android:gravity="center"
android:id="#+id/surveyListRow_surveyPrize"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"/>
</RelativeLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:minHeight="57dp"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#FF0000"
android:layout_weight="30"/>
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="70"/>
</LinearLayout>
</RelativeLayout>
And I'll set the weight property of the LinearLayout's children, to set the background width.
My problem is, when the text in the width is too long (as you can see in the third element). Then the background isn't scales to the bottom of the element.
Can you help me, why? I've tried almost everything I can imagine.
Thanks!

Try to add this to your TextView
<TextView
...
android:ellipsize="end"
android:ems="2"
android:maxLines="2" />
This don't let your textview has more than two lines and put an ellipsis on the end.
Maybe this would be a solution.

How to hide all elements in a Layout in Android at once?

I'm developing an Android app in eclipse.
I have an XML which has 2 linear layouts next to each other. The left one has several buttons, which make content visible in the right. However, I would not only like these buttons to make specific content visible, but hide (setVisibility.GONE) all the other stuff in that layout. I have already tried removeAllViews, but this is not suitable for me since it deletes them. So my idea is to hide (set the visibility to gone) every single stuff, then make the ones I wish visible. The reason I ask this is that it takes too much time setting the visibility to gone for everything (24, actually) for all the 12 buttons.
Thanks in advance
Layout code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/alap"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<ScrollView
android:id="#+id/scrollView2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#+id/imageView3"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_below="#+id/imageView4" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="197dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/lewis" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/first"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="#string/first" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/second"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="#string/second" />
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView3"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:scaleType="center"
android:src="#drawable/cpr1" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView4"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:scaleType="center"
android:src="#drawable/epizodok" />
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/def"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#+id/imageView3"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/scrollView2"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/scrollView2"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:visibility="visible" >
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/image1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/lewis"
android:visibility="gone" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/image2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/ic_launcher"
android:visibility="gone" />
</LinearLayout>
</RelativeLayout>

Please try this...
<LinearLayout
android:id="+id/ll"
android:layout_width="197dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<!-- All content which you hide/show put here -->
</LinearLayout>
now in your class file you read this.
LinearLayout ll = (LinearLayout) findViewById(R.id.ll);
after that as per your requirement you hide/show this Layout with their all contents.
like:
For Hide.
ll.setVisibility(View.GONE);
For Show.
ll.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
when you hide/show LinearLayout all content with this Layout also hide/show automatically.

Simply, Just take another Linear Layout with vertical layout within your "def" Linear layout..Nd change its visibility as per your need.
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/def"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#+id/imageView3"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/scrollView2"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/scrollView2"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:visibility="visible" >
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/Subdef"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/image1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/lewis"
android:visibility="gone" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/image2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/ic_launcher"
android:visibility="gone" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

No need to hide views instead of that just use ViewFlipper concept.
Just declare view flipper in your xml file with your two linearlayouts like this
<Viewflipper android:id="#+id/myViewFlipper" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_width="match_parent">
<LinearLayout android:id="#+id/layout1" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_width="match_parent"></LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout android:id="#+id/layout2" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_width="match_parent"></LinearLayout>
</Viewflipper>
And get viewflipper reference in your java code like this
Viewflipper mFlipper = (Viewflipper)findViewById(R.id.myViewFlipper);
use mFlipper.showNext(), use mFlipper.showPrevious() methods to hide and show your layouts thats it.

Is there a way to offset a view from center?

I'm trying to possition my button not exactly in center, but let's say in the 2/5s of the screen height, I was looking for attribute unsuccessfully, so I tried this approach
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#drawable/background"
android:padding="20dp" >
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/flashlight_button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:layout_above="#+id/fakeView"
android:background="#null"
android:contentDescription="#string/flashlight_button_description"
android:src="#drawable/freeml_bright" />
<View
android:id="#+id/fakeView"
android:layout_width="10dp"
android:layout_height="10dp"
android:layout_centerInParent="true"
android:background="#FFAABB" />
</RelativeLayout>
However it does not work, even if I set margin on the fake view.
Padding attribute works, however as it is a big image and if I want it to start at 2/5ths of screen height, it covers the center point of screen, so if I use padding attribute it works but it pushes it away from center and does not allow it to cover it.
Alhough, I made it work using LinearLayout, which I wanted to avoid because there are more Views on top and bottom next to each other so it would lead to nested views using linear layout. Unfortunately I think its the only option.
It basically it uses another linear layout that fills the remaining space left unused by top and bottom views with height=0dp and weight=1 and sets its gravity to center.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:padding="20dp">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:gravity="center" >
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:contentDescription="#string/application_logo_description"
android:src="#drawable/mylight" />
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/settings_button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="right"
android:background="#null"
android:contentDescription="#string/settings_button_description"
android:src="#drawable/settings_button" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:gravity="center"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/flashlight_button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#null"
android:contentDescription="#string/flashlight_button_description"
android:src="#drawable/flashlight_button_selector" />
<View
android:id="#+id/fakeView"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_marginTop="60dp"
android:background="#FFAABB" />
</LinearLayout>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="bottom|center_horizontal"
android:contentDescription="#string/powered_by_description"
android:src="#drawable/powered_by" />
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/ad_button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="bottom|center_horizontal"
android:background="#null"
android:contentDescription="#string/ad_button_description"
android:src="#drawable/freeml" />
</LinearLayout>

Depending on the screen size of the target device, padding by X dp might move it more than just a fifth of the height.
You might have to code this movement yourself. However, nothing prevents you from doing:
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#drawable/background"
android:padding="20dp" >
<View
android:id="#+id/fakeView"
android:layout_width="10dp"
android:layout_height="10dp"
android:layout_centerInParent="true"
android:background="#FFAABB" />
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/flashlight_button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:layout_above="#+id/fakeView"
android:marginBottom="50dp"
android:background="#null"
android:contentDescription="#string/flashlight_button_description"
android:src="#drawable/freeml_bright" />
</RelativeLayout>

Don't use margin, use padding (top), like so:
<View
android:id="#+id/fakeView"
android:layout_width="10dp"
android:layout_height="10dp"
android:layout_centerInParent="true"
android:paddingTop="80dp"
android:background="#FFAABB" />
That should work, though I've not tested it!

try using attribute android:layout_toLeftOf="#+id/fakeView"