how to design for all device resolution - android

hi all
i have to use linear layout with all resolution type device such as 480x800,480x854,320x480.
i use x,y position for placing element in linear layout while designing for 320x480. i have to redesign for other resolution device therefore it takes more time. please give common method for all the resolution with linear layout. thanks in advance.

DON'T design for a specific resolution. Use combinations of layout_weight attributes, layout_width and layout_height values of wrap_content and match_parent to get different proportional widths depending on the screen size, rather than hard coding pixel values.
For example, say you want to add a row of four buttons, each taking up equal width, along the top of the screen, offset from the top left by ~5 pixels:
<LinearLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:padding="5dp"
android:gravity="top"
android:orientation="horizontal"
>
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button 1"
/>
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button 2"
/>
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button 3"
/>
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button 4"
/>
</LinearLayout>
This will give you a reliable result for any screen density, and you never have to worry about a certain pixel value. The use of dp (device-independent pixel) for the padding also changes slightly depending on the density, so that it stays a consistent physical size no matter what the resolution.
Read through the examples on the Android Developers site about LinearLayouts, FrameLayouts, and RelativeLayouts. You'll get a good feel on what each one is good for, and their advantages and disadvantages.

You can define different layouts for different screen categories. So you can adapt your layout so that it fits the actual screen. A good resource that describes how this is done is available here:
http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html

It's a good idea to use density-independent pixel (dp) in layouts. And I think this could be helpful: http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html

Very EXCELLENT ANSWERS ... I believe that alot of individuals and business alike think that Android is a "Device" and not clearly understanding Android is a "OS". Inorder to properly display images for all devices running Android OS one must go with the option to Support Mutiple Devices and develop according to Android OS and not a certain device running Android OS. I have encountered this problem before, my Boss (at that time) said "What size Images does your Test Device need? I said "just get me the images! I was forced to use 320x480 images (according to the test device) and when the Regional Manager saw the demo product on his ThinkPad (and 4 other device's) I was terminated from my position because my Supervisor thought Android was a Device and Not a OS ... and the company Android App has yet to be completed.My opinion holds "Supporting Mutiple Devices is developing for General Android OS while developing according to "Resolution" is for a certain device or type of device.

Related

Incorrect image size on different screen size

I have a screen on which I need to display a number of images inside a horizontal LinearLayout.
I designed it for an xhdpi. I set the sizes of each ImageView to 100dp, and on an emulator (xhdpi 768x1280 4.7" screen) it looks something like
this while on a tablet emulator (xhdpi 1534x2048 9" screen) it looks like this.
In the latter, the images aren't scaled properly to look like it does on the smaller screen.
Is there a way to make it look the same on both screen sizes?
to make your layout adjust on different screen you need to design it to be responsive. Yes like what G.Dator said, you can use weight attribute. Here's the example :
<LinearLayout
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<ImageView
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:layout_weight="25"/>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:layout_weight="25"/>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:layout_weight="25"/>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:layout_weight="25"/>
</LinearLayout>
Please let me know if you have further question.
Actually, the image is the same size in 2 devices. The problem is the difference between your dp width of your phone (384dp) and your tablet (767dp). There're few ways to resolve it:
using multiple layout files for sw360 and sw720. You can check this Google Guide
Using the same weight for all your ImageView with adjustViewBound=true to keep your image ratios.
Using code to set your ImageView size programmatically.
In addition to implementing a responsive layout structure (like what #Bhimbim mentioned), there is a library (https://github.com/intuit/sdp) which can be useful when you want to code once and use it on multiple different devices, it offers you sdp unit instead of dp which helps your view to scale better.
Example:
layout_width="#dimen/_30sdp"
layout_height="#dimen/_30sdp"
(Sorry i couldn't comment as i have registered recently).

Android - ImageView - Multiple Screen Support - Set height/width as dp or match_parent/wrap_content?

I am currently trying to adjust my Android App so it will look and feel similar on multiple screens/devices.
I know by now that a major part in this is to provide multiple image sizes for every image file according to the x1, x1.5, x2, x3, x4 ratios for mdpi, hdpi, xhpi, xxhdpi and xxxhdpi respectively, and I have finished doing so today.
After doing this, I have defined Density independent Pixel dimensions in the #dimen.xml values resource that correspond with the actual image sizes in pixels of the MDPI resources. Subsequently, i have set the imageviews in question's layout_width and layout_height to this dimension.
I am currently at a loss, however, as to why my application still looks significantly different on an MDPI emulator than it does on an HDPI emulator. To highlight what I mean, I'll provide the following screenshot showing the HDPI and MPDI emulator next to one another (left is HDPI (4" WVGA Nexus S) and right is MDPI (5.4" FWVGA)). I want both of them to look like the MPDI version, but what I've done so far apparently isn't working.
I have three theories of my own as to why this is not working the way I intend it to:
1. I am not supposed to set ImageView layout_width and layout_height to a dp value, but rather match_parent or wrap_content (?) (and change the structure of my .xml layouts in the process).
2. I am not only supposed to define multiple drawable resources, but also multiple layout resources for different screen sizes (?).
3. I have misunderstood the entire idea behind how this is supposed to work (?).
I will also give you an example of one of the list items that can be seen in the first screenshot (#drawable/phone_speed_icon is a 64 x64 pixel resource in MPDI and a 96x96 resource in HDPI, and #dimen/icon_attribute_size is 64dp):
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/llSpeed_PreSession"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:paddingBottom="10dp"
android:paddingEnd="20dp"
android:paddingStart="20dp"
android:weightSum="100">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="#dimen/icon_attribute_size"
android:layout_weight="20"
android:weightSum="100">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="70"
android:gravity="center"
android:orientation="vertical">
<ImageView
android:layout_width="#dimen/icon_attribute_size"
android:layout_height="#dimen/icon_attribute_size"
android:src="#drawable/phone_speed_icon" />
</LinearLayout>
<TextView
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="30"
android:gravity="center_vertical"
android:paddingStart="10dp"
android:text="Speed"
android:textAppearance="#android:style/TextAppearance.Large"
android:textColor="#878787"
android:textStyle="bold" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="80"
android:gravity="center">
<android.support.v7.widget.SwitchCompat
android:id="#+id/swSpeed_PreSession"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
In the end, I have four questions that I'd like answered:
1. How do I make the list items in screenshot 1 look the same on MDPI devices as HDPI devices? Does this have anything to do with one of the three theories I mentioned earlier?
2. Why is the header text ("What do you want to measure?") wrapped on one device, but not on the other? They use the sp unit (via android:style/TextApperance.TextApperance.Large)?
3. Shouldn't everything be more spaced out on an HDPI device (if anything) rather than less spaced out? The HDPI emulator looks as if it "has got way less pixels available", if you can understand what I'm saying even a little.
4. How do I make the Fragments on the second screenshot look the same? Or should i not even want this, because the HDPI is (for some reason) physically smaller, which is why the layout is less spread out?
Anyway, I have been at this all day and the more I read the more thouroughly confused I get, so any help is greatly appreciated!
You have the option to create multiple dimens.xml files depending on a variety of factors. Here you'll see what my current project looks like with the various dimens.xml files in Android Studio based on screen width.
However, you can have different requirements for each dimens file you want. For example, you can create dimens files for each density:

Changing layout on multiple devices?

I'm sure there's a basic answer but I'm still learning and I'm not quite sure.
I have an app with a few button on the start screen. It works on a Nexus One (emulator) and a Samsung S2 (device); probably because the screen size is the same. However, when I preview all screens on tablets for example the button are completely spread out and really small. On other devices they're halfway into each other and just doesn't look good. I've tried match_parent and wrap_content but that doesn't help, how do I use some .xml code or layout properties to make sure the button's don't budge into each other yet fill the screen (I'm using relative layout)?! Thank's anyone that can answer.
Is there something in the layout_height/width/align that I could change?
<Button
android:id="#+id/button10"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignBaseline="#+id/button9"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/button9"
android:layout_alignRight="#+id/button8"
android:text="Info" />
You need to make seperate layouts for different screen sizes and densities
http://developer.android.com/training/basics/supporting-devices/screens.html

Making text same size on different devices

I wonder how to make application look the same on different devices. I have read Supporting Multiple Screens many times but I still can't understand how to live.
Here is a sample layout:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
>
<TextView
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Hello World, MyActivity"
android:textSize="30sp"
/>
</LinearLayout>
There is Galaxy S II (480x800) and Sensation XE (540x960). They are both hdpi, physical screen size is almost the same. I expected to see the same looking on both devices but in fact text on 540x960 is smaller then on 480x800:
(left is 480x800, right is 540x960)
I tried to specify text size as dimension resource and make separate folder values-w540dp but it took no effect.
How do you guys make your application look the same on different hdpi devices?
android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceLarge"
android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceSmall"
These atributes may solve your problem here.Otherwise you have to setup your layout dynamically with some ratios(or factors you generate like :textSize=factor*height) using your screen height and width.
Have a look at metrics , if you specify your textsize in dp (Density-independent pixels) it should work. The default size for text should be around 14dp. (TextAppearance.small)
2 Sites that might be helpful as there are some nuggets in both related to your problem, however, neither is an exact 1-2-3 how to correct the issue you're seeing:
http://www.pushing-pixels.org/2011/11/08/deep-dive-into-responsive-mobile-design-part-1.html
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/fluidgrids/

Android positioning problems

So my problem is simple- I want to use XML layouts to precisely control the positioning of widgets on multiple devices. To do this, I thoroughly read the google docs on supporting multiple devices. According to this part, the WVGA854 and HVGA are both considered "Normal screen" size. So theoretically, positioning a widget on WVGA854 should look the same as with HVGA. However, the resultant screenshot shows otherwise.
The widget appears relatively higher placed on the WVGA854 skin. The XML code is shown below, and was placed under the layout-normal/ folder:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<ImageButton
android:id="#+id/button1"
android:src="#drawable/icon_unlock"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="300dp"
android:text="Button" />
</RelativeLayout>
The drawables I constructed are in the proper ratios (3:4:6:8 as recommended). So why does this positioning mismatch happen? I beginning to think that using XML to position things is quite fruitless. My app requires very accurate positioning of widgets so even this slight mismatch is a problem. Any help how I can remedy this?
EDIT:
What I want is for the widget to be placed in a manner such that the ratio of margin from top to the margin from bottom is exactly the same across devices. From the screenshot, you can see that this ratio is not the same for WQVGA854 and HVGA.
"Normal Screen" size does not mean that screens have the exact same number of dip. You need to think of it as a bucket which contains a number of different screen sizes which are all similar in physical size.
so using fixed size margins and paddings is not (easily) going to achieve the effect you need. So please clarify your question and give an example of what you exactly want to achieve.

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