Develop Reference

Android Layout Weight Exactly Twice Of Others

I would like to simply divide a Linear Layout to 3 piece. I did something as in the code below. If I change the weight of second inner layout anything else than 2, it works. But if I change it to 2(two), the second inner layout doesn't appear in the design ?
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/Main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:background="#ffffff"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:gravity="center"
>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
>
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="2"
android:gravity="center"
>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/HomePageIcon"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:adjustViewBounds="true" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_weight="1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:paddingHorizontal="33dp"
android:paddingBottom="30dp"
>
</LinearLayout>

Use it like below height set to 0dp when orientation is vertical.
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/Main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:background="#ffffff"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:gravity="center"
>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:background="#color/colorAccent"
android:layout_weight="1"
>
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="2"
android:background="#color/background_dark"
android:gravity="center"
>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/HomePageIcon"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:adjustViewBounds="true" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_weight="1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:background="#color/colorPrimaryDark"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:paddingHorizontal="33dp"
android:paddingBottom="30dp"
>
</LinearLayout>

Use the Constraint Layout and forget the Linear and Relative layout.

Pls try this,
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/Main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:background="#ffffff"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:gravity="center"
>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
>
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:gravity="center"
>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/HomePageIcon"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:adjustViewBounds="true" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_weight="1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:paddingHorizontal="33dp"
android:paddingBottom="30dp"
>
</LinearLayout>

As you are using layout_weight that means your inner layouts will take the height as much as is available to it. So, in that case there is no need of using layout_height = "wrap_content" just change it to android:layout_height="0dp"
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/Main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#ffffff"
android:gravity="center"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:weightSum="4">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"></LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="2"
android:gravity="center">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/HomePageIcon"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:adjustViewBounds="true" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:paddingBottom="30dp"
android:paddingHorizontal="33dp"></LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

When you are using weight than use 0dp to android:layout_width or android:layout_height which you want for affect using weight. And its good to use android:weightSum in parent layout
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/Main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#ffffff"
android:gravity="center"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:weightSum="4">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"></LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="2"
android:gravity="center">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/HomePageIcon"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:adjustViewBounds="true" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:paddingBottom="30dp"
android:paddingHorizontal="33dp"></LinearLayout>

VideoView in full screen in landscape mode

I've the following XML with various element and I would like to have the only VideoView element expanded in fullscreen (like YouTube) when the device is in landscape mode:
<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="#FFFFFF"
tools:context=".VideoMapPanel" >
<com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout
xmlns:sothree="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:id="#+id/sliding_layout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="bottom"
sothree:panelHeight="68dp"
sothree:shadowHeight="4dp"
sothree:paralaxOffset="100dp"
sothree:dragView="#+id/dragView"
>
<!-- MAIN CONTENT -->
<FrameLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical">
<android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar
xmlns:sothree="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/main_toolbar"
android:layout_height="?attr/actionBarSize"
android:background="?attr/colorPrimary"
sothree:theme="#style/ActionBar"
android:layout_width="match_parent"/>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_marginTop="?attr/actionBarSize"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="Main Content"
android:clickable="true"
android:focusable="false"
android:focusableInTouchMode="true"
android:textSize="16sp" />
<fragment
android:id="#+id/map"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
class="com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment" />
</FrameLayout>
<!-- SLIDING LAYOUT -->
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#eeeeee"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:clickable="true"
android:focusable="false"
android:id="#+id/dragView">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="68dp"
android:id="#+id/main_title_bar"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/tvName"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:textSize="20sp"
android:textColor="#android:color/white"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:background="#FF8800"
android:gravity="center_vertical"
android:paddingLeft="10dp"/>
<ProgressBar
android:id="#+id/progressBar"
style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleLarge"
android:layout_width="50dip"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="center_vertical"
android:background="#FF8800"
android:visibility="gone" >
</ProgressBar>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/tvLogo"
android:layout_width="50dip"
android:background="#FF8800"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:paddingRight="10dp"
android:gravity="center_vertical" />
</LinearLayout>
<VideoView
android:id="#+id/liveView"
android:clickable="true"
android:paddingLeft="10dp"
android:paddingRight="10dp"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_gravity="center"/>
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/videoPlayButton"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#null"
android:layout_gravity="center"
android:layout_margin="10dp"
android:src="#drawable/videoplaybutton" >
</ImageButton>
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/menuLayout"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="68dp"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/fbLogo"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="0.8"
android:src="#drawable/facebook_logo"
/>
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/twitterLogo"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="0.8"
android:src="#drawable/twitter_logo"
/>
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/webLogo"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="0.8"
android:src="#drawable/web_logo"/>
</LinearLayout>
<ScrollView
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
<com.myapp.tv.ExpandableTextView
android:id="#+id/tvDescription"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textSize="14sp"
android:textColor="#android:color/black"
android:gravity="center_vertical"
android:paddingTop="10dp"
android:paddingLeft="10dp"
android:paddingRight="10dp"/>
</ScrollView>
</LinearLayout>
</com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout>
</RelativeLayout>
Should I solve this programmatically ?

I would solve this by using another layout file.
I would start by taking a look at http://developer.android.com/training/basics/supporting-devices/screens.html#create-layouts
Currently I imagine the layout you posted is saved at res/layout/my_layout.xml
What you could do is make another file res/layout-land/my_layout.xml and instead of the same layout define the layout will display the VideoView element in fullscreen.
If you are using the other components be sure to include them in the layout or handle null views gracefully in the code. You can include them in the layout by having them in but setting the visibility to gone.

ScrollView in second panel not working

I have an Activity that uses AndroidSlidingUpPanel. Now, everything works perfect. However, I would like to add a ScrollView on my second panel to add the same functionality like Maps or Google Music:
For instance,
When the user has a list of directions, he/she may pull up the drawer and scroll the complete instructions.
Now, my attempt:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:card="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout
android:id="#+id/sliding_layout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="bottom" >
<ScrollView
android:id="#+id/card_scrollview"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<it.gmariotti.cardslib.library.view.CardView
android:id="#+id/food_card"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="1dp"
android:layout_marginRight="1dp"
android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
android:animateLayoutChanges="true" />
<View
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="15dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#eee"
android:clickable="true"
android:focusable="false"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="68dp"
android:orientation="horizontal" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/name_slide"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:gravity="center"
android:paddingLeft="10dp"
android:text="#string/slide_up"
android:textSize="14sp" />
</LinearLayout>
<ScrollView
android:id="#+id/scrollView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<it.gmariotti.cardslib.library.view.CardView
android:id="#+id/food_nutrition_card"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
android:animateLayoutChanges="true" />
<View
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="15dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
</LinearLayout>
</com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout>
This, displays fine my content, but does not add the scroll view for the second panel.
What can I do?
Note: According to the documentation of AndroidSlidingUpPanel, there can only be two children under its view. I use a LinearLayout as the second child because its the only way that I have found to display the drawer. For instance, that TextView would be in the place of the content of the estimated time (drawer) from Maps.
Thanks

Height of second scrollview should be android:layout_height="match_parent". Good luck!

take one RelativeLayout in com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout and set property layout_above="yoursecondLinearlayout" to First ScrollView and second child LinearLayout to set property alignParentBottom=true. thats it....
See below code
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:card="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout
android:id="#+id/sliding_layout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="bottom" >
**<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >**
<ScrollView
android:id="#+id/card_scrollview"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
**android:layout_above="#+id/linearlayout1"**>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<it.gmariotti.cardslib.library.view.CardView
android:id="#+id/food_card"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="1dp"
android:layout_marginRight="1dp"
android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
android:animateLayoutChanges="true" />
<View
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="15dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
<LinearLayout
**android:id="#+id/linearlayout1"**
**android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"**
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#eee"
android:clickable="true"
android:focusable="false"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="68dp"
android:orientation="horizontal" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/name_slide"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:gravity="center"
android:paddingLeft="10dp"
android:text="#string/slide_up"
android:textSize="14sp" />
</LinearLayout>
<ScrollView
android:id="#+id/scrollView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<it.gmariotti.cardslib.library.view.CardView
android:id="#+id/food_nutrition_card"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
android:animateLayoutChanges="true" />
<View
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="15dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
</LinearLayout>
</RelativeLayout>
</com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout>

Fixed it by adding an id to the Parent of the Title, and adding this to my code:
layout.setDragView((LinearLayout) findViewById(R.id.scrolled_view));
New .xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:card="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout
android:id="#+id/sliding_layout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="bottom" >
<ScrollView
android:id="#+id/card_scrollview"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<it.gmariotti.cardslib.library.view.CardView
android:id="#+id/food_card"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="1dp"
android:layout_marginRight="1dp"
android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
android:animateLayoutChanges="true" />
<View
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="15dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#eee"
android:clickable="true"
android:focusable="false"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/scrolled_view"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="68dp"
android:orientation="horizontal" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/name_slide"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:gravity="center"
android:paddingLeft="10dp"
android:text="#string/slide_up"
android:textSize="14sp" />
</LinearLayout>
<ScrollView
android:id="#+id/scrollView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<it.gmariotti.cardslib.library.view.CardView
android:id="#+id/food_nutrition_card"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="12dp"
android:animateLayoutChanges="true" />
<View
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="15dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
</LinearLayout>
</com.sothree.slidinguppanel.SlidingUpPanelLayout>

Percentage Layout Android

Hello I am new in Android, and my English is bad. I try it.
I want to divide my layout in 3 diferent sizes.
<LinearLayout 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:paddingBottom="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context=".MainActivity" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent" >
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:layout_weight="1" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="Esto es una mierda de Relative Layout" />
</RelativeLayout>
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:layout_weight="2">
<Button
android:id="#+id/btn1"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:gravity="bottom"
android:text="Button" />
</RelativeLayout>
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:layout_weight="1">
<Button
android:id="#+id/btn"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:gravity="top"
android:text="Button" />
</RelativeLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
My code should display three columns, the center column being twice the size of the side columns. If I set all the layouts with the same layout weight, they all display correctly, but with the same size.
However, when I set the center column with a different size value (in the layout weight) it dissapears from the screen.
What can I do to display my layouts in three columns with different sizes?
If anybody can help me. Thanks for reading.

use this structure:
<!-- parent layout-->
<LinearLayout
android:weightSum="1">
<!-- children layouts -->
<RelativeLayout
android:weight="0.25"
></RelativeLayout>
<RelativeLayout
android:weight="0.5"
></RelativeLayout>
<RelativeLayout
android:weight="0.25"
></RelativeLayout>
</LinearLayout>

<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/stupid_android"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<View
android:layout_width="0dip"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#FF0000"
android:layout_weight="1" />
<View
android:layout_width="0dip"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#0000FF"
android:layout_weight="2" />
<View
android:layout_width="0dip"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#00FF00"
android:layout_weight="1" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

This is your modified code:
<LinearLayout 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:paddingBottom="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context=".MainActivity" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="horizontal" >
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="Esto es una mierda de Relative Layout" />
</RelativeLayout>
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="2" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/btn1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="bottom"
android:text="Button" />
</RelativeLayout>
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/btn"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="top"
android:text="Button" />
</RelativeLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
Use match_parent instead fill_parent. Althought you write program for API 8-.

Do it like this :
It's important to set the corresponding width/height to 0dp.
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:weightSum="4" >
<TextView
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="column1" />
<TextView
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="2"
android:text="column2" />
<TextView
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="column3" />
</LinearLayout>

Android Relative Layout with sticky footer

I'm relatively new to Android development and I'm having a hard time putting together a certain interface. I've looked through many similar questions but none of them give me the answer i'm looking for.
I want to put together an XML interface like the following:
I want a LinearLayout that acts like a sticky footer that will contain two Buttons. This part will always align to the bottom and and will always be 60dp high. The RelativeLayout would then be on top of the footer, but it's height should scale depending on the screen size.
I've tried the following:
<LinearLayout 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:orientation="vertical"
tools:context=".DartboardActivity">
<RelativeLayout
android:id="#+id/game_layout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="506dp"
android:background="#drawable/background"
android:paddingBottom="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/Dartboard"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:contentDescription="#string/desc_dartboard"
android:src="#drawable/dartboard" />
<hhs.week3.dartboard.VerticalSeekBar
android:id="#+id/seekBarVertical"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:layout_gravity="bottom"
android:thumb="#drawable/thumbhorizontal"
android:layout_marginBottom="40dp" />
<SeekBar
android:id="#+id/seekBarHorizontal"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:thumb="#drawable/thumbhorizontal" />
</RelativeLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/buttons"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="60dp"
android:background="#333">
<Button
android:id="#+id/fire"
style="#style/button"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_margin="5dp"
android:text="#string/fire" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/settings"
style="#style/button"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_margin="5dp"
android:text="#string/settings" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
I got it working half decently, but it requires me to give the RelativeLayout bit a fixed height, making it look right on my phone, but not on others.
How do I best approach this?

Use the LinearLayout layout_weight mechanism to assign all remaining space to your RelativeLayout:
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical">
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0px"
android:layout_weight="1"
... />
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="60dp"
... />
</LinearLayout>

Try following code
<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:orientation="vertical"
tools:context=".DartboardActivity" >
<RelativeLayout
android:id="#+id/game_layout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#+id/buttons"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:background="#drawable/ic_launcher"
android:paddingBottom="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin" >
</RelativeLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/buttons"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="60dp"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:background="#333"
android:orientation="vertical" >
</LinearLayout>
</RelativeLayout>
I removed LinearLayout and replaced with RelativeLayout. This will allow you to set your LinearLayout stick to bottom.

I was able to achieve the same result by using below code. Basically, the parent layout is one Linear layout and the first child element is a scrollview so it can squeeze its content when the keyboard is shown. Also note the use of the android:layout_height="0dp" and android:layout_weight="1" used with the scrollview
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/wrap"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<ScrollView
android:id="#+id/wrap2"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1" >
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/LinearLayout1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="horizontal" >
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
<FrameLayout
android:id="#+id/buttonsPanel"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="40dp"
android:background="#333" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="action buttons" />
</FrameLayout>
</LinearLayout>

Try this
<LinearLayout 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:orientation="vertical"
tools:context=".DartboardActivity">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:background="#drawable/background"
android:paddingBottom="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="#dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/Dartboard"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:contentDescription="#string/desc_dartboard"
android:src="#drawable/dartboard"
android:adjustViewBounds="true"/>
<hhs.week3.dartboard.VerticalSeekBar
android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
android:id="#+id/seekBarVertical"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:thumb="#drawable/thumbhorizontal"/>
<SeekBar
android:id="#+id/seekBarHorizontal"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:thumb="#drawable/thumbhorizontal" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/buttons"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="60dp"
android:background="#333333">
<Button
android:id="#+id/fire"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_margin="5dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="#string/fire"/>
<Button
android:id="#+id/settings"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_margin="5dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="#string/settings"/>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>