Develop Reference

Custom EditText into Android

I'd like to put attach file icon into EditText for example how it was made into WhatsApp. How can I do it?

That is not a custom EditBox. Here EditText is wrapped with parent view with other ImageViews.
In whatsapp example there is a Imogi ImageView, An EditText, An Attach ImageView, and a camera ImageView inside a LinearLayout. And parent LinearLayout is having round corner background.
You can also use Drawable left and Drawable right, but I will not suggest that because that does not have much control.
Just a suggestion:
I always want to save time. Here is an whatsapp clone, you can just pull it and use its views.
https://github.com/Shahar2k5/whatsappClone
This guy has done good work in this library.

Use drawableRight attribute in EditText
<EditText
android:id="#+id/account_et"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:drawableRight="#drawable/icon_backall" //your drawable which you want to use
android:ems="10"
android:hint="#string/str_md_email"
android:padding="10dp" >
</EditText>

You have to manage like below image :
For above UI design code is below :
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="center"
android:layout_margin="#dimen/_10sdp"
android:background="#drawable/stockbg"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<EditText
android:id="#+id/edt_sendMeassage"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="#dimen/_10sdp"
android:layout_marginRight="#dimen/_10sdp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:maxLines="4"
android:backgroundTint="#android:color/transparent"
android:paddingLeft="#dimen/_10sdp"
android:paddingRight="#dimen/_10sdp"
android:textSize="#dimen/normal_input_text_size" />
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/ll_send"
android:layout_weight="6"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent">
<ImageView
android:layout_width="#dimen/_40sdp"
android:layout_height="#dimen/_20sdp"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:layout_gravity="center"
android:src="#drawable/ic_next_arrow"
android:tint="#color/color_gray" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

I'd like to put attach file icon into EditText for example how it was made into WhatsApp.
if you want to add icon in EditText you can use
android:drawableStart=""
android:drawableEnd=""
android:drawableTop=""
android:drawableLeft=""
android:drawableRight=""
how it was made into WhatsApp. How can I do it?
That is not Custom Edittext
You need to wrap your ImageView and EditText in side a ViewGroup like LinearLayout or RelativeLayout
SAMPLE CODE
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/relativeLayout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:padding="10dp"
android:background="#drawable/test"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/ic_menu_camera" />
<EditText
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:background="#android:color/transparent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="2dp"
android:layout_marginRight="2dp"
android:src="#drawable/ic_menu_camera" />
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="2dp"
android:layout_marginRight="2dp"
android:src="#drawable/ic_menu_camera" />
</LinearLayout>
android:background="#drawable/test"
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle">
<stroke
android:width="2dp"
android:color="#color/colorPrimary" />
<corners android:radius="25dp" />
</shape>
OUTPUT

You need to put edittext and attach icon in layout (according to your need) and set rounded background to parent layout
like this
<RelativeLayout
android:id="#+id/sendLayout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:background="#color/roundedbg"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<EditText
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:layout_toLeftOf="#+id/attachFile"
android:background="#null"
android:padding="#dimen/five_dp" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/attachFile"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/icon"
/>
</RelativeLayout>
roundedbg.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<solid android:color="#FFFFFF"/>
<stroke android:width="3dp" android:color="#B1BCBE" />
<corners android:radius="10dp"/>
<padding android:left="0dp" android:top="0dp" android:right="0dp" android:bottom="0dp" />
</shape>

better you use wrap edittext and imageview in relative layout like below
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="50dp">
<EditText
android:id="#+id/etPassword"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="50dp"
android:background="#drawable/custom_edittext"
android:hint="Password"
android:minLines="10"
app:passwordToggleEnabled="true"
android:singleLine="true"
android:inputType="textPassword"
android:textSize="14sp"
android:paddingLeft="20dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:paddingRight="20dp"
tools:ignore="MissingPrefix" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/ivPasswordToggle"
android:layout_width="24dp"
android:elevation="10dp"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_centerVertical="true"
android:layout_marginRight="15dp"
android:layout_height="24dp"
android:background="#drawable/ic_remove_red_eye_black_24dp"/>
</RelativeLayout>
output :
in java code use click on imageview

textview position by background imageview

I have background imageview (green with 3 red circle) and 3 textview (A,B,C).
how can I put textviews exactly on center of red circles that support multi screen devices , portrait/landscape?
Edited:
maybe I asked wrong question.
my main question is:
1- I've an image in my layout for example like this:
2- I want put textview on image in exact positions
when I test on different screen size , position of textviews changed.

Try this
activity_main.xml
<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="#00FF00"
android:paddingBottom="#dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context=".MainActivity">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/num_txt"
android:layout_width="50dp"
android:layout_height="50dp"
android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
android:layout_marginLeft="20dp"
android:background="#drawable/bg_red"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="A"
android:textColor="#000000"
android:textSize="20dp" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/num_txt2"
android:layout_width="50dp"
android:layout_height="50dp"
android:layout_marginTop="30dp"
android:layout_marginLeft="100dp"
android:background="#drawable/bg_red"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="B"
android:textColor="#000000"
android:textSize="20dp" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/num_txt3"
android:layout_width="50dp"
android:layout_height="50dp"
android:layout_marginTop="100dp"
android:layout_marginLeft="50dp"
android:background="#drawable/bg_red"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="C"
android:textColor="#000000"
android:textSize="20dp" />
Save in drawable bg_red.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="oval">
<corners android:radius="10dip"/>
<stroke android:color="#FF0000" android:width="5dip"/>
<solid android:color="#FF0000"/>
</shape>
The Output is :

In the text view xml attribute
android:gravity="center"
and make the circle xml file width as warp content
width = "wrap_content"

Android - Correctly position views

In My android I want :--
here "Or" is a text view..this textview is surrounded by circle view and a vertical line is passing by the circle..
Here is my code:--
This code is for textview with rounded circle
round.xml in drawable folder:--
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
<stroke android:color="#22ff55" android:width="3dip"/>
<corners
android:bottomLeftRadius="30dp"
android:bottomRightRadius="30dp"
android:topLeftRadius="30dp"
android:topRightRadius="30dp" />
<size
android:height="60dp"
android:width="60dp" />
</shape>
and in my layout
I have textviews as:
<TextView
android:id="#+id/tv"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/round_tv"
android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
android:text="or"
android:textColor="#000"
android:textSize="20sp" />
and this code for vertical line:--
<View
android:layout_width="1dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#FF0000FF" />
So I have textview with rounded Circle and a verticle line..
But my problem is how can I join this two codes???
or If my concept is wrong..How can I achieve that thing??????suggest me..

Easiest way is to make the circle and line a .png image, and make it the background for a TextView with the text.
Also, you should avoid using views for dividers (like that line) if at all possible. Views are fairly heavyweight to create and layout all the time. If you have a complex app they'll come back to bite you in performance issues.

As you have done this you can take the Textview and view inside the FrameLayout. FrameLayout will help you show one control over the other
<FrameLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
//Put here
</FrameLayout>

You can use a RelativeLayout as the container for all the above views and use it to properly position all the views.
Here's an example to get you started:
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="..."
android:layout_height="...">
<Button
android:id="#+id/btnRegister"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btnLogin"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true" />
<View
android:layout_width="1dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:background="#FF0000FF" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/tv"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/round_tv"
android:layout_centerInParent="true"
android:text="or"
android:textColor="#000"
android:textSize="20sp" />
</RelativeLayout>

Android layout warning: This tag and its children can be replaced by one <TextView/> and a compound drawable

On my XML File, I get this notification:
This tag and its children can be replaced by one <TextView/> and a compound drawable
My xml code is like this:
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/pharmacyBtn"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:gravity="center">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/round"
android:contentDescription="#null"
android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
android:padding="14sp"
android:src="#drawable/medical14" />
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textColor="#054126"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:text="#string/pharmacyBtn" />
</LinearLayout>
And i have a round xml:
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#00FFFFFF"/>
<stroke android:width="2dp" android:color="#c7d23e" />
<corners android:bottomRightRadius="24dip"
android:bottomLeftRadius="24dip"
android:topRightRadius="24dip"
android:topLeftRadius="24dip"/>
</shape>
Now my graphical layout look like this:
I read some suggestions about how to join ImageView and TextView, android:drawableTop="#drawable/medical14", but when i join them in TextView, the graphical layout not seems like i want.
My new xml:
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textColor="#054126"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:background="#drawable/round"
android:drawableTop="#drawable/medical14"
android:text="#string/pharmacyBtn" />
My new graphical layout:

How to use common background for multiple items?

If I want to get a look as below, what do I do? More specifically, how do I set the white background around multiple items?
EDIT:
The grey is the background for the whole screen, and the white is like a "box" placed on the grey background, together with the buttons, divider and textview.
I'm thinking like this:
<TableLayout
android:background="#eae8e8>
...
<WhiteBox
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="300dp"
android:layout_margin="16dp"
android:background="#FFFFFF/>
<TextView>
...
<Divider>
...
<Button>
...
<Button>
...
</WhiteBox>
</TableLayout>
Where "WhiteBox" of course is something else, but would it be possible to do something like this?

I would recommend leaving as many of the elements as possible transparent to prevent overdraw issues but it depends on your overall needs. By using #null backgrounds you can change the base background element and everything drawn over it would change accordingly (true transparent).
Layout
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#color/white"
android:padding="10dp">
<EditText
android:id="#+id/editText1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#null"
android:ems="10"
android:gravity="center"
android:inputType="text"
android:text="Test"
android:textColor="#CCC" >
<requestFocus />
</EditText>
<View
android:id="#+id/divider"
android:layout_below="#+id/editText1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="1dp"
android:background="#CCC" />
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/buttons"
android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
android:layout_below="#+id/divider"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="horizontal" >
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight=".5"
android:background="#drawable/testbutton"
android:text="BUTTON 1"
android:textColor="#CCC" />
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight=".5"
android:background="#drawable/testbutton"
android:text="BUTTON 2"
android:textColor="#CCC" />
</LinearLayout>
</RelativeLayout>
Button style
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item android:state_pressed="true">
<shape>
<solid android:color="#null" />
<stroke android:width="1dp" android:color="#CCC" />
</shape>
</item>
<item>
<shape>
<solid android:color="#null" />
<stroke android:width="1dp" android:color="#CCC" />
</shape>
</item>
</selector>

Yes you can go ahead with your approach.just give margin to your inner layout to which your background is set to white.and you can also set the background to white for the text views and buttons you are using inside your inner layout.Set the text color as gray for text view and button.eg:
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#eae8e8">
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="200dp"
android:layout_margin="30dp"
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
>
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/text"
android:layout_margin="50dp"
android:text="TextView"
android:textColor="#android:color/darker_gray"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
/>
<Button
android:layout_marginTop="20dip"
android:text="Button"
android:textColor="#android:color/darker_gray"
android:layout_below="#+id/text"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/button1"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
/>
</RelativeLayout>
</LinearLayout>

By default when you create an xml with no backgrounds applied to your parent layout and if the widgets inside also does not have any background image/color set.it renders white on the screen.Just don't add any image/color as background.You can also set the background as white.
android:background="#FFFFFF" set this to your widgets in xml. like button or text view etc to have it appear white.