Cross Version Compatible Android Tabbed Layout - android

I'm looking to create a cross-version compatible android tabbed layout.
The problem I'm running into is when implementing Google's example of TabActivity, I get a depreciation notice. The app I'm writing needs to be compatible down to 2.1, and I'm not finding a clear cut way to make it compatible.
I am aware of the versioning by folder (/layout-v4, /layout-v14, etc) but if possible I want to avoid this.
Are fragments the answer here and if so, does the Android Compatibility Layer V4 become the key to solving this problem?

I'd suggest the best approach might be to use the excellent (and free) ActionBarSherlock, so you can add Android 3+ action bar (including tabs) to apps going all the way back to v2.x versions.
I've used it on a few apps and it's pretty easy. I think it's the right approach to use the proper Action Bar interface across platform versions, and they include tabs and replace the whole TabActivity thing, which was pretty horrible anyway.
http://actionbarsherlock.com/

Related

Android: Setup App with ActionBar, Tabs, Fragments, Swipe compatible with SDK 8 (Android 2.2)

I'm planning an Android app that should make use of lots of UI features that later SDK versions bring with them incl. ActionBar, ActionBar.Tabs, Swipe navigation and use of Fragments (with replace, add, FragmentTransaction etc). The app should support SDK 8 (2.2) and later.
I'm a 'bit' at a loss here on how to set this up: will I be able to use all these features with the official Android compatibility library? Or will I have to use ActionBarSherlock? Will ABS give me advantages/ be easier to implement compared to the official comp. library?
Can I use the Eclipse/ ADT navigation templates with those two librarys? Can I use them alongside each other or do I have to comit to one of them?
Lot's of questions, I know :)
will I be able to use all these features with the official Android compatibility library?
No.
Or will I have to use ActionBarSherlock?
Yes.
Will ABS give me advantages/ be easier to implement compared to the official comp. library?
It will give you a backwards-compatible action bar. The Android Support Library does not.
Can I use the Eclipse/ ADT navigation templates with those two librarys?
You can do whatever you want. You will need to replace some stuff generated by those templates.
I think using using ActionBarSherlock is the best.
Have a look at this link

Scrolling in widgets in Android 2.x with android-support-v4.jar?

As I can see, more and more functions from Android 4.x like fragments or action bar are now supported on lower android versions by using support library. Anyone knows, if it works also for scrolling inside widget, which was introduced in Android 3.x? thx
Probably not going to happen, and probably not really possible. This needs support for the corresponding RemoteView's, etc. which is a little deeper in the platform than fragments, etc. You are, of course, welcome to give it a try.

Best ActionBar compatibility libraries

I'm writing an Android App and I'm trying to choose which compatibility library to choose to implement the ActionBar functionality.
I'm trying to choose between two libraries:
GreenDroid : https://github.com/cyrilmottier/GreenDroid
Android-Actionbar: https://github.com/johannilsson/android-actionbar
From what I could gather, AA(Android-Actionbar) seems to be simpler, and easier to style. But GreenDroid has additional features which make it the more powerful solution in general(not just for an Actionbar).
I left out ActionBarSherlock because it also supports fragments, is more complicated.
IF there are others that I missed, please share!
Use ActionBarSherlock.
It is based on ICS code, is actively developed, and will use the native actionbar when run on ICS. It also plays nicely with the compatibility library and will let your use ICS features such as the split action bar and share providers. Probably the biggest plus is that it uses exactly the same API as ICS. If you don't need fragmetns, you certainly don't have to use them.
Green Droid offers a custom look and feel, not exactly consistent with Android UI design guide lines. Android-Actiobnar is based on custom layouts and only offers basic features.
Here's a discussion (might be biased, since it's by the ABS author): http://corner.squareup.com/2012/05/actionbarsherlock-as-a-base.html
The Android-Actionbar is better, for sure.
Couldn't think of any other ones but I am sure there are.

Implementing recently introduced Android design and UI guidelines on 2.x versions

Considering Android Design Guidelines announcement what is the best way to make apps which are compliant with them on Android 2.x phones? E.g. what is the best way to implement the ActionBar pattern?
ActionbarSherlock is a starting point. It includes the compatibility libraries from Google and comes provided as a project rather than JAR offering greater flexibility, should you need to alter anything. Version 4 is on the way which will also include ICS stuff.
As far as I am aware I believe ABS is backward compatible to 1.6, and makes use of the minSdkVersion and targetSdkVersion. It uses an extended version of the holo theme to create a light and dark version that includes the extra ActionBar goodness, which in turn you can extend to style your app.
I recorded a tutorial on YouTube to get people started.
I think it's better to use the compatibilty libraries directly, instead of another library based on those. Additionally, refer to the Google I/O App as stated at the bottom of the first link I gave. You can find the best practices about implementing a UI for several devices with compatibility libraries.
I found ActionBarSherlock to be pretty good. It will emulate ActionBar on older devices and use the native one on modern ones. It's an extension to Android compatibility library - so you will also get fragments and other ICS stuff.

Should a newbie forget about fragments?

I just started developing on Android. I'm practicing with a Tablayout tutorial in API 15 when I see TabActivities are deprecated.
Would I be better off just forgetting about Fragments for now and keep developing with TabActivities?
Would I be better off just forgetting about Fragments for now and keep developing with TabActivities?
IMHO, no.
Get yourself a copy of ActionBarSherlock and implement tabs in the action bar. That is the tab pattern going forward with Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich, and ActionBarSherlock lets you use the same approach for Android 2.x devices as well. You are better served aiming for the future, not the past.
Note that you do not have to use fragments with action bar tabs, though you can.
I suggest you learn Fragments. There's no point in using TabActivities any more, there's a static support libary (you can see it available for download in Android SDK Manager) that will allow you to use fragments on older APIs - that's the way it's meant to be done now.
Go with Fragments and action bar pattern, new is always better :)
Also, be ready to dump any other deprecated piece of API or obsolete UI approach. Mobile development evolves pretty quickly.
No, just follow the example here for how to Tabs with Fragments: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/TabActivity.html
Normally, I would say that using a deprecated API is a bad idea. However, since you are just practicing and presumably do not need to release this application on a wide range of devices, then just carry on with the tutorial and happy learning.
Hope that helps and enjoy Android.

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