I'm new to android programming, but one thing that I can't seem to get down is writing the XML files. I use a program called droiddraw to help generate the xml code. This program is very simple because it lets me add buttons and DRAG them where I want them. Once I get the screen/form (or whatever it's called) setup the say I like, it will generate the the xml file for me. My question is this: "Does eclipse have a plugin that will do that too?" I know that I can view the form/screen that I can designing, and add buttons and such, but I can't drag them to where I want them. I always have to edit the layout values manually.
The xml layout editor that ships with Eclipse is pretty woeful. Thankfully Google are putting effort into improving this so that we have a more seamless drag n drop experience. You can download and compile the latest works here http://tornorbye.blogspot.com/2010/11/building-android-ide-tools.html
or just wait a week (or two) for Gingerbread to be released. A stable version is sure to be included in the Eclipse ADT update that is released then.
ADT is nicely integrated into Eclipse for Android development.
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Hello i am trying to create a android app and I need some help to start, i would like to know if there is some software which i can use to create all the buttons and other stuff connected with the user interface on xml .
thanks in advance.
There is no way to auto- design the desired layout, u can drag the view in layout editor for the ease , so that the xml declaration is half done.
Then you explicitly need to design and align the layout item as required.
You can follow the link here http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/layout-objects.html
If you are using eclipse then it provides the drag and drop options for creating UI in xml.
You can also take the help of DroidDraw software to generate the XML.
Yes, you can do that.
Assuming that you already have Eclipse IDE, navigate to:
/src/res/layout/main.xml
and switch to Graphical Layout (you can find it just below your XML code editor. Note that you might need to adjust something else, so you need to go back to XML editor anyway :)
Only 2 development softwares are popularly used for android development these are as follows,
Google Eclipse IDE & Intellij Android Studio
above both these softwares are good for android application development.
i personally suggest you to prefer Eclipse IDE for development of android application that will help you to provide all possible solutions
My situation is: I once made an android project(2.2 version) but soon needed to format my computer. After formatting, I downloaded eclipse again but when I imported my project, I wasn't able to use the 'graphical layout' menu for xml. It doesn't show me anything like the picture below.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3586/19978552.png
I cleaned the project and updated the Android SDK, however, none of these seemed to work well. What could be causing this?
Try restarting Eclipse. Usually that solves the problem for me when that happens.
Right click on your layout xml file and select Open With -> Android Layout Editor. It will force eclipse to open file in android's layout editor mode
None of above worked for me. what worked for me is:
1- Select a Google APIs Project Build Target rather than one of the Android X.X ones. This setting is in right click on project -> Properties->Android.
2- Make a change in XML and save it. Now switch back to "Graphical Layout" and it will show the layout.
For some, only 2nd step works.
This Question was asked 3 year ago, I am sure that you have get your solution, however i was also facing the same problem but got the solution in eclipse, here it is:-
1)Goto help->AboutEclipse->Installation details.
2)check the version of Android DDMS, Android development tool, Android hierarchy viewer, Android native development tool, Android trace view and tracer for openGl ES in installed software tab.
3)If they have different version than you have to update all of them.
4)Goto help->check for update in eclipse and follow the instruction.
5)Then restart eclipse.
This solve my problem.
The topic seems a little bit cold, but I wanted to add it nonetheless.
I had a similar problem with my layouts recently. When i create a project it automatically creates the layouts in the latest version of Android (eclipse shows it as version 22 of android as of today). But i can't see anything. So i just change the version to, say 18, and it shows ok. Furthermore if i want to change it back to version 22 it throws and exception, saying that a class can't be instantiated. (I am probably missing a class or a library on my system.)
Therefore if you cant see the layout it might be a good idea to switch back to earlier versions for development. cheers.
I just update my ADT and when I try to see layout in an old project I get this message
"LayoutLib is too recent. Update your tool!"
what does it mean? what is LayoutLib?
You'll need to upgrade your ADT Eclipse plugin to the latest version. You more than likely updated your SDK tools, but didn't update the plugin along with it. See these links:
Can't preview Android XML layout - LayoutLib is too recent. Update your tool?
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=17369
If it's still broken after you update, try this:
Right click on the layout xml file in the navigator (package explorer) and
choose open with > the "Android Layout Editor" from the list.
If it's still not working, try some of the other Editors from the list before you choose the Android Layout Editor again. this worked for me;-)
My role as the marketing man was to edit the layouts of the app screens to make them prettier, using the Graphical Layout of Eclipse. As a complete technical dodo, I was working under technical expert direction, but one day when he wasn't looking, I thought I could be clever.... I couldn't.
Like the others on this thread, I couldn't see the graphical layout tab and spent several hours in following the recommendations, updating various SDKs, ADTs etc etc. without remedy.
The solution was simple.
In being 'clever',I had moved the files I wanted to work on, from their position in res/layout to a new folder 'To be edited'. I planned to complete them there and then move them back into res/layout.
Unfortunately, I didn't realise that Eclipse is expecting to find layout files in res/layout (and why not?).
So I moved one file back into res/layout and bingo! Up came the Graphical Layout tab.
Recommendations:
1. Do not allow marketing people near Eclipse.
2. Provide an upgrade to Eclipse especially for marketing people. When run, a screen appears that says..'Make lunch for the technicians..'
When I first started a project in Android under eclipse, I am able to access the Graphical Layout designer, so I fast can design my application. But when I create a new XML file in order to add components to another class I can use this feature, how can I fix this?
Sometimes when you have a project with, fore example, 2.1 with google apis the editor dont work property. Delete the google api and try other time
I am using a mac and Searching a good tools to make a design example nice Button and in the end that going to generate a xml file?, i already know "DroidDraw" i am searching something more comply .
Thanks for Helping
Are you trying to generate just the UI? I'm assuming you have tried the WYSIWYG editor already packaged/bundled with ADT plugins for Eclipse right? You can get a UI editor with it. Open up the layout.xml file and click on the graphical tab. If you don't have ADT grab it here: http://developer.android.com/sdk/eclipse-adt.html. It has a visual editor that is (IMO) good for a lot of things http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/projects/projects-eclipse.html.
If you have that already and are looking for alternatives, try some of these:
http://code.google.com/p/android-ui-utils/ Android-ui-utils. Interesting and easy, for graphics take a look at the asset studio.
http://speckyboy.com/2010/05/10/android-app-developers-gui-kits-icons-fonts-and-tools/?mobify=0 There's a list of tools at this site.
My strong suggestion is to stick to the graphical builder that comes with ADT and integrates directly into Eclipse (the first links above) if you need a graphical editor.