Develop Reference

Custom Button not displaying inside Layout (RelativeLayout and LinearLayout)

I've created three drawables for my custom button as shown in the code snippets below
custom_button.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item
android:drawable="#drawable/button_pressed"
android:state_pressed="true" />
<item android:drawable="#drawable/button_default" />
</selector>
button_default.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#fff" />
<stroke
android:color="#f71b5d"
android:width="0.5dp" />
<corners
android:bottomLeftRadius="5dp"
android:topRightRadius="5dp" />
<padding
android:bottom="0dp"
android:left="0dp"
android:right="0dp"
android:top="0dp" />
</shape>
button_pressed.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#ebc2ce" />
<stroke
android:color="#f71b5d"
android:width="0.5dp" />
<corners
android:bottomLeftRadius="5dp"
android:topRightRadius="5dp" />
<padding
android:bottom="7dp"
android:left="7dp"
android:right="7dp"
android:top="7dp" />
</shape>
Here is the parent layout where I'm trying to use these drawables to create a custom button. The custom button is inside the LinearLayout
fancy_card.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.v7.widget.CardView
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:card_view="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:id="#+id/card_view"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="90dp"
android:layout_gravity="center"
android:clickable="true"
card_view:cardCornerRadius="5dp">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:background="#drawable/fancy_card_bg">
<Button
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/custom_button"/>
</LinearLayout>
</android.support.v7.widget.CardView>
My problem: The button inside the LinearLayout does not show up but when I remove my custom drawable from the background of the button, (android:background="#drawable/custom_button"), I can now see the button. If I remove the button from the LinearLayout and apply my custom_button drawable background to it, it works. I'm really confused of what is going on here.

Give an ID to the Button and define button background in your java file.
btn.setBackgroundResource(R.drawable.custom_button);

Ripple effect on shape drawable

Trying to do something really simple here and have looked up a bunch of SO resource, but to no avail. I am trying to get the ripple effect on a button which uses a drawable background of type of shape drawable. The relevant files:
background_button:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle">
<stroke
android:width="1px"
android:color="#80ffffff" />
<solid android:color="#android:color/transparent" />
</shape>
ripple.xml within the drawable-v21 folder:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:color="?attr/colorControlHighlight">
<item android:drawable="#drawable/background_button"/>
</ripple>
Button.xml:
<Button
android:id="#+id/login_button"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="20dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:paddingTop="10dp"
android:paddingBottom="10dp"
android:background="#drawable/ripple"
/>
What is wrong here.
Thanks!

My advice would be not to use <ripple tag. I have 2 reasons: it is not that easy to do exactly what you want and you have to 2 different .xml files for every background. I don't like to have drawable-v21 folder.
My solution is to wrap your Button with FrameLayout and use android:foreground attribute. This way you can have whatever background you want and you can keep the ripple effect.
<FrameLayout
android:id="#+id/login_button"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="20dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:paddingTop="10dp"
android:paddingBottom="10dp"
android:foreground="?attr/selectableItemBackground">
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/background_button"/>
</FrameLayout>
Notice that I moved all the attributes and the id to FrameLayout. You should set onClickListener to FrameLayout instead of the Button.
Btw, ?attr/selectableItemBackground is great. Use it as much as possible. It replaces blue Holo color with gray for old devices from Android 4.0 to 4.3.

Try this.
ripple_effect.xml
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:color="#2797e0"
tools:targetApi="lollipop">
<item android:id="#android:id/mask">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#2797e0" />
</shape>
</item>
button.xml
<Button
android:id="#+id/login_button"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="20dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:paddingTop="10dp"
android:paddingBottom="10dp"
android:background="#drawable/ripple_effect"/>
build.gradle
compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:23.1.1'

More simple solution - to use this drawable-xml as value of property "android:background" of the Button:
drawable/bkg_ripple.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:color="?attr/colorControlHighlight">
<item android:drawable="?attr/colorPrimary"/>
<item android:id="#android:id/mask">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#000000" />
</shape>
</item>
</ripple>
button.xml:
<Button
android:id="#+id/mybutton"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
...
android:background="#drawable/bkg_ripple"
/>

I had the similar task. Let me explain how i solve it. It outputs circle imageViews with shadow and ripple effect not goes beyond circle boundaries.
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/iv_undo"
android:layout_width="#dimen/iv_width_altmenu"
android:layout_height="#dimen/iv_height_altmenu"
android:src="#drawable/undo"
android:elevation="#dimen/elevation_buttons"
android:foreground="#drawable/ripple_effect"
android:background="#drawable/buttons_inactive_coloring"
/>
The following provides ripple effect:
android:foreground="#drawable/ripple_effect"
The following provides circle imageView.
android:background="#drawable/buttons_inactive_coloring"
The following provides shadow:
android:foreground="#drawable/ripple_effect"
Another problem you may be probably face is ripple effect goes out of circle boundaries. In order to solve, use following file(ripple_effect.xml)
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:color="#color/button_active"
tools:targetApi="lollipop">
<item android:id="#android:id/mask">
<shape android:shape="oval">
<solid android:color="#color/button_active" />
</shape>
</item>
</ripple>
If you do not use the following :
<item android:id="#android:id/mask">
<shape android:shape="oval">
<solid android:color="#color/button_active" />
</shape>
</item>
ripple effect goes beyond circle boundaries and this does not looks nice. Be careful and takes it easy.

That works for me
drawable/rect.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:id="#+id/listview_background_shape">
<stroke android:width="1dp" android:color="#FF4C71F5" />
<padding android:left="0dp"
android:top="0dp"
android:right="0dp"
android:bottom="0dp" />
<corners android:radius="5dp" />
<solid android:color="#00000000" />
</shape>
and for ripple drawable/rip.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:color="#f816a463"
tools:targetApi="lollipop">
<item android:id="#android:id/mask">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#f816a463" />
</shape>
</item>
</ripple>
and for your button
<Button
android:id="#+id/nm"
android:layout_width="80dp"
android:layout_height="40dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:background="#drawable/rect"
android:enabled="true"
android:text="#string/vnm"
android:textColor="#color/colorpr"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:foreground="#drawable/rip"/>
Hope this helps!

This work for me..
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:color="#color/smooth_white"
tools:targetApi="lollipop">
<item android:drawable="#drawable/button_green_background" />
<item android:id="#android:id/mask">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#color/smooth_white" />
</shape>
</item>
</ripple>
The point is section
<item android:drawable="#drawable/button_green_background" />

Try this:
card_back.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item>
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<corners android:radius="20dp" />
<solid android:color="?attr/cardBGColor" />
<stroke android:width="1dp" android:color="?attr/borderColor"/>
</shape>
</item>
</selector>
card_ripple.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:color="#bbb">
<item android:drawable="#drawable/card_back" />
</ripple>
And setup it this way: android:background="#drawable/card_ripple"

Quick solution
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:color="#color/blue"
tools:targetApi="lollipop">
<item
android:id="#android:id/mask"
tools:targetApi="lollipop">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#color/blue" />
<corners android:radius="5dp" />
</shape>
</item>
<item android:id="#android:id/background">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<stroke
android:width="0.1dp"
android:color="#312D2D" />
<solid android:color="#FFF" />
<corners android:radius="50dp" />
<padding
android:bottom="5dp"
android:left="5dp"
android:right="5dp"
android:top="5dp" />
</shape>
</item>
</ripple>

This will help
<com.abcd.ripplebutton.widget.RippleButton
android:id="#+id/Summit"
android:layout_width="260dp"
android:layout_height="50dp"
android:text="Login"
android:textColor="#color/white"
android:textStyle="bold"
app:buttonColor="#color/Button"
app:rippleColor="#color/white" />
For more See this

For me only this work
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:color="#cccccc">
<item android:id="#android:id/background">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#android:color/white" />
</shape>
</item>
</ripple>
And in 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:clickable="true"
android:background="#drawable/ripple_white"/>
Yes, it should be clickable

How to create Google + cards UI in a list view?

I want to create a listView of cards, but after reading this blog post goolge-plus-layout, I'm cards are a viable solution for a list of anything. The animation part seems too memory intensive to load say a listview with more than 40 elements simultaneously.
Is there a better way to achieve a cards UI in listView?

You can create a custom drawable, and apply that to each of your listview elements.
I use this one for cards in my UI. I don't think there is significant performance issues with this approach.
The drawable code (in drawable\big_card.xml) looks like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
<item>
<shape android:shape="rectangle" >
<solid android:color="#color/second_grey" />
</shape>
</item>
<item
android:bottom="10dp"
android:left="10dp"
android:right="10dp"
android:top="10dp">
<shape android:shape="rectangle" >
<corners android:radius="3dp" />
<solid android:color="#color/card_shadow" />
</shape>
</item>
<item
android:bottom="12dp"
android:left="10dp"
android:right="10dp"
android:top="10dp">
<shape android:shape="rectangle" >
<corners android:radius="3dp" />
<solid android:color="#color/card_white" />
</shape>
</item>
</layer-list>
I apply the background to my listview elements like this:
<ListView
android:id="#+id/apps_fragment_list"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:listSelector="#drawable/big_card" />
If you want to add this as a background to any View (not just a list), you just make the custom drawable that View's background element:
<TextView
android:id="#+id/any_view"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/big_card" />

EDIT: Google provides a nice class called CardView. I didn't check it but it looks promising.
Here's the previous way, which also works fine (that's what I wrote before the edit) :
There is a nice tutorial here and a nice sample of it here .
in short , these are the files you can create:
listView definition:
android:divider="#null"
android:dividerHeight="10dp"
android:listSelector="#android:color/transparent"
android:cacheColorHint="#android:color/transparent"
android:headerDividersEnabled="true"
android:footerDividersEnabled="true"
also this:
m_list.addHeaderView(new View(this));
m_list.addFooterView(new View(this));
res/drawable/selector_card_background.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item
android:state_pressed="true"
android:drawable="#drawable/layer_card_background_selected" />
<item android:drawable="#drawable/layer_card_background" />
</selector>
listView item :
res/layout/list_item_card.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FrameLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:paddingLeft="15dp"
android:paddingRight="15dp"
android:descendantFocusability="beforeDescendants">
<LinearLayout
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:paddingLeft="15dp"
android:paddingTop="15dp"
android:paddingBottom="15dp"
android:paddingRight="15dp"
android:background="#drawable/selector_card_background"
android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/text1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/text2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/text3"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>
</LinearLayout>
</FrameLayout>
res/drawable/layer_card_background_selected.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item>
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#CABBBBBB"/>
<corners android:radius="2dp" />
</shape>
</item>
<item
android:left="0dp"
android:right="0dp"
android:top="0dp"
android:bottom="2dp">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#CCCCCC"/>
<corners android:radius="2dp" />
</shape>
</item>
</layer-list>
res/drawable/layer_card_background.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item>
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#CABBBBBB"/>
<corners android:radius="2dp" />
</shape>
</item>
<item
android:left="0dp"
android:right="0dp"
android:top="0dp"
android:bottom="2dp">
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#android:color/white"/>
<corners android:radius="2dp" />
</shape>
</item>
</layer-list>

If all you want is a ListView that simulates the cards-look you can use a 9-patch as background for your listitems to make them look like cards. You can find a 9-patch and some more tips and explanation here: http://www.tiemenschut.com/simply-get-cards-ui-look/

Add divider for the Listview item and padding :
android:divider="#android:color/transparent"
android:dividerHeight="1dip"
Add RelativeLayout into your LinearLayout for ListItem with some desired padding :
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="100dp"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:padding="3dp" >
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#drawable/rowshadow" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/title"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
...
Add Background to the listview item , like :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item >
<shape
android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#android:color/darker_gray" />
<corners android:radius="0dp"/>
</shape>
</item>
<item android:right="1dp" android:left="1dp" android:bottom="2dp">
<shape
android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#android:color/white"/>
<corners android:radius="0dp"/>
</shape>
</item>
</layer-list>
Use https://github.com/elcrion/demo.cardlistview as an example. It is somehow close to google style

As "android developer" briefly mentions in his answer, the CardView class can be used to easily create card views.
Just wrap you UI widgets in a CardView element and you are ready to go. See the short introduction to the CardView widget at https://developer.android.com/training/material/lists-cards.html#CardView.
The CardView class requires a v7 support library, remember to add the dependencies to your .gradle file!
compile 'com.android.support:cardview-v7:21.0.+'

Android Button border shadow

Shadow property in Button view gives shadow to text. How can I give shadow to right and bottom border of a Button?As shown below:

You can try it. I use it in my project. I give shadow to right and bottom border of a Button.
Button xml
<Button
android:id="#+id/buttonSignIn"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="50dp"
android:background="#drawable/button_dropshadow"
android:textColor="000000"
android:text="Sign In" />
In drawable file add button_dropshadow.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item>
<layer-list>
<item android:left="5dp" android:top="5dp">
<shape>
<corners android:radius="3dp" />
<solid android:color="#000000" />
</shape>
</item>
<item android:bottom="2dp" android:right="2dp">
<shape>
<gradient android:angle="270"
android:endColor="#ffffff" android:startColor="#ffffff" />
<stroke android:width="1dp" android:color="#000000" />
<corners android:radius="4dp" />
<padding android:bottom="10dp" android:left="10dp"
android:right="10dp" android:top="10dp" />
</shape>
</item>
</layer-list>
</item>
</selector>
Thank you.

Try making your own button 9-patch image with selector:
btn_normal.9.png:
btn_pressed.9.png:
btn_focused.9.png:
btn_selector.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item android:state_selected="true" android:drawable="#drawable/btn_focused" />
<item android:state_focused="true" android:drawable="#drawable/btn_focused" />
<item android:state_pressed="true" android:drawable="#drawable/btn_pressed" />
<item android:drawable="#drawable/btn_normal" />
</selector>
and add android:background="#drawable/btn_selector" in button's attributes.

Here is a blob post that I found and could help. It will only work in a RelativeLayout. Create a View component with the same size as your button and place it immediately below:
<Button
android:id="+#id\my_button"
android:layout_below="#id/some_layout_item"
android:layout_width="100dp"
android:layout_height="5dp"
>
</Button>
<View
android:layout_below="#id/my_button"
android:layout_width="100dp"
android:layout_height="5dp"
android:background="#drawable/drop_shadow"
>
</View>
Create the shadow as a drawable (drop_shadow.xml):
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android=”http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android”>
<gradient
android:startColor="#color/cream_dark"
android:endColor="#color/cream"
android:angle="270"
>
</gradient>
</shape>

My button's background is set like this
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
<gradient
android:startColor="#android:color/holo_green_dark"
android:endColor="#android:color/holo_green_light"
android:angle="90">
</gradient>
<stroke
android:width="1px"
android:color="#android:color/darker_gray" />
</shape>
The effect of the shadow can be done by adding a second shape under the original button shape, changing its color to a darker one either black or grey. But the shadow should be of the same shape as that of the button.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
<solid android:color="#android:color/darker_gray"/>
</shape>
To overlap different items we have to use a “layer-list” resource and include the previous shapes. The shadow should appear in first place and then the original button with some displacement. In this example, we are creating the shadow at the bottom of the button and an offset of 4px.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
<item android:drawable="#drawable/shadow"/>
<item
android:drawable="#drawable/button"
android:bottom="4px"
android:right="4px"
/>
</layer-list>
Now set the background of the button as the layerlist drawable. This should do it partially.

How do I style selected item in Android ListView?

I am an Android newbie trying to learn the UI side of things and it's doing my head in. Here's what I have right now:
breeds_listing.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<ListView android:id="#+id/breedsListView"
android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:dividerHeight="0px" android:divider="#00000000"></ListView>
</LinearLayout>
breeds_listing_item.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/list_item_background"
android:orientation="horizontal" >
<TextView android:id="#+id/allbreeds_single_item"
android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:gravity="center_horizontal"></TextView>
</LinearLayout>
list_item_background.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<solid android:color="#043402" />
<stroke android:width="3dp" color="#ffff8080" />
<corners android:radius="8dp" />
<padding android:left="10dp" android:top="10dp" android:right="10dp"
android:bottom="10dp" />
</shape>
What I am struggling to figure out is how do I style the selected item? At the moment the selected item has a ghastly orange background which, under the rounded green rectangle, gives an orange outline effect. I'm sure I have not done things in line with best practices so any suggestions or improvements would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
D.

I do this :
<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item android:state_pressed="true">
<shape >
<solid android:color="#929292" />
</shape>
</item>
<item>
<shape >
<solid android:color="#FFFFFF" />
</shape>
</item>
</selector>
So you can use this property android:state_pressed="true"
In my example, the cell background will only be white, and grey when pressed.
I hope it helps!

You have to use a StateListDrawable.
You can find an example for ListView items here.
If you want a certain color/drawable when the item is selected, use android:state_focused="true".