Develop Reference

Why does wrap_content is filling height?

I am trying to have a RelativeLayout wrap it's content height and width. It seems to do fine on width, but the height does not wrap. It covers the entire screen. Anyone know why?
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<com.company.things.CameraControls
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/camera_control_view"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#60FFFFFF" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/button1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:onClick="clearDrawing"
android:text="#string/clear" />
<SeekBar
android:id="#+id/sensitivity_seek"
android:layout_width="250dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true" />
<Switch
android:id="#+id/live_switch"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/sensitivity_seek"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/sensitivity_seek"
android:text="#string/live" />
</RelativeLayout>
</com.company.things.CameraControls>

It's because you put your UI elements on the bottom of the page.

Custom dialog height to match content

This is my custom dialog, there are some textboxs and two buttons.
I'm using a RelativeLayout on it.
I'd like the dialog size to match the content, not all that blank space under there.
I don't want to use explicit pixel heights (it's not good practice).
Another thing, there's a way to have some space between every view?
This is my XML
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt_desc"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textSize="8pt"
android:textStyle="italic" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt_date"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:layout_below="#+id/txt_desc"
android:textSize="8pt" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt_place"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:layout_below="#+id/txt_date"
android:textSize="8pt" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btn_close"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_below="#+id/txt_place"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/view"
android:text="#string/btn_close" />
<View
android:id="#+id/view"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="1dp"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btn_edit"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_below="#+id/txt_place"
android:layout_toLeftOf="#+id/view"
android:drawableLeft="#android:drawable/ic_menu_edit"
android:text="#string/btn_edit" />
</RelativeLayout>

First question
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
Second question
Plus use android:marginTop="5dp" if you want to separate a View from Top for 5 dp.
marginLeft|Right|Bottom are also available.
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt_place"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:layout_marginTop="5dp" <-----------------
android:layout_below="#+id/txt_date"
android:textSize="8pt" />
By the way, if I were you, I'd nest some layouts to make order. You can have a general Relative Layout, then 2 linear layouts: one horizontal for TextViews and one vertical for Buttons. You can definely play with your editor and try to make the best appearance for your dialog.
EDIT
Try this one:
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#0000"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:paddingBottom="50dp" >
<LinearLayout
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt_desc"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="prova"
android:textSize="8pt"
android:textStyle="italic" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt_date"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:text="prova"
android:textSize="8pt" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txt_place"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:text="prova"
android:textSize="8pt" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/btn_edit"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:drawableLeft="#android:drawable/ic_menu_edit"
android:text="btn_edit" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btn_close"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="btn_close" />
<View
android:id="#+id/view"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="1dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
I've hard-coded the texts. The main idea is to use a big container layout in background, which is trasparent (background=#0000) and in top of that a layout in wrap_content containing your Views.
If this solution doesn't resolve your problem, I think you could edit height directly in your code. Try to relate to this question

Set your relative layout's height to wrap_content.
For example:
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<!-- More XML -->
</RelativeLayout>
Also be aware that fill_parent is deprecated for widths and heights.
You can add either margin (extra space outside a view) or padding (extra space inside a view) with android:layout_margin or android:padding respectively. There are also variants such as layout_marginTop that only apply to a specific side of the view.

How to create a Relative layout with multiple buttons compatible for all screen sizes?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/lyt_parent"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#drawable/plain_bg"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/lyt_header"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<include
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
layout="#layout/header" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/lyt_body"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<RelativeLayout
android:id="#+id/lyt_Buttons"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imgfrontlogo"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignLeft="#+id/imgcenterlogo"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_marginTop="61dp"
android:background="#drawable/front_logo"
/>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imgcenterlogo"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/btnPersonaltrainer"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:layout_marginBottom="29dp"
android:background="#drawable/center_logo" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btnMyProfile"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginBottom="21dp"
android:layout_marginLeft="32dp"
android:background="#drawable/myprofile" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btnTaracker"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/imgcenterlogo"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_marginBottom="49dp"
android:background="#drawable/track" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btnPersonaltrainer"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/btnMyProfile"
android:layout_alignLeft="#+id/btnAllExercises"
android:background="#drawable/personaltrainer" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btnRandomworkouts"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#+id/btnPersonaltrainer"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:background="#drawable/randomworkout" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btnAllworkouts"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignBaseline="#+id/btnAllExercises"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/btnAllExercises"
android:layout_alignLeft="#+id/btnMyProfile"
android:background="#drawable/allworkouts" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/btnAllExercises"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#+id/btnTaracker"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_marginRight="40dp"
android:background="#drawable/allexercises" />
</RelativeLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>`
I need to create layout compatible for all screen sizes,created separte layout for xlarge sizes(800x1280,720x1280 etc). Here I cant upload image due to reputation,need to place one main button on center of the layout ,place 3 buttons on curvely on left and right side of middle button.please can anyone help me to create the layout compatible for all screen sizes without using dp or fixed points.

you can use android:layout_weight attribute. It will allow you to use percentages to define your buttons.
For EX:
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:weightSum="1.0" >
<Button
android:text="left"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight=".50" />
<Button
android:text="right"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight=".50" />
</LinearLayout>
Now you have given percentages values to buttons so they will be displayed on any size of screen to their percent value of the whole screen.
This can be done in LinearLayout for RelativeLayout check second answer on this link

As mentioned in the question you want the buttons to be placed curvely at left and right of a center button, you can have a look at the link to get some idea to how to accomplish this: https://github.com/daCapricorn/ArcMenu
This is an open source project which I referred to create a Path like menu.

Android include layout

I have a layout like this:
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<include layout="#layout/basicinfo" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/button1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="profile" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/button2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="item" />
</LinearLayout >
the problem is that it only shows the include part,no buttons showing up. if I remove the include layout, buttons will show up. any idea what I am doing wrong here? thanks.
update: the basicinfo layout:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView"
android:layout_width="70dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/icon"/>
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/linearLayout1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_below="#+id/imageView1"
android:layout_toRightOf="#id/imageView"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/TextView01"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="2dp"
android:text="Name:" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/TextView02"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="2dp"
android:text="Catogery:" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="2dp"
android:text="Description" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/TextView03"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="2dp"
android:text="Owner" />
</LinearLayout>
</RelativeLayout>

Define your include file layout_height and width for eample:
<include layout="#layout/basicinfo"
android:layout_width="100dp"
android:layout_height="100dp"/>

I fount out the problem. it was because I used match_parent in basic layout. I just changed that from
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
to
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
thanks for help.

I would check layout_width and layout_height. This is mostly the point in displaying errors.

included layout is as big as the screen dimension, so the buttons are outside view area. you need to give dimension to this include layout

Change the outer LinearLayout width and height to fill_parent and also place a scroll bar inside it.

One of the main issues with an include layout is that BOTH android:layout_width and android:layout_height must be included or the layout will simply fill the screen (if for instance only the height is set, it will be ignored without setting the width as well).
So something like this should be done:
<include
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
layout="#layout/myLayout" />

Use Merge...
use the element as the root view for the re-usable layout
<merge xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<Button
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="#string/add"/>
<Button
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="#string/delete"/>
</merge>
Developer Site

what RelativeLayout properties should i use?

i want to design a layout for my app as shown below in image
but im getting problem which is that the properties im applying for relative layout are not going right as in below my xml code there is horizontal ruler image having centerInParent property and a verticle ruler image also having property of centerInParent by doing this the both rulers come to accurate place but when i put a child above the horizontal ruler or a child toLeftOf verticle ruler they dont appear as the graphical view of xml file shows the reason that although by applying centerInParent the both rulers come to center but their reference remains at edges thats why by using layout_above or layout_toLeftOf the childs go outside of layout
My xml code
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:background="#FFFFFF"
android:orientation="vertical">
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/title"
>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/icon_img"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dip"
android:layout_marginTop="2.5dip"
android:src="#drawable/smicon"
/>
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="15dip"
android:layout_toRightOf="#id/icon_img"
android:layout_marginTop="3dip"
android:text="Welcome To JEM"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:id="#+id/wcm_id"
android:textSize="18dip"
android:textColor="#FFFFFF"
/>
<TextView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignBottom="#id/wcm_id"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_marginRight="5dip"
android:text="APPS BY SAM"
android:id="#+id/app_by"
android:textSize="16dip"
android:textColor="#FFFFFF"
/>
</RelativeLayout>
<!-- This relative layout which is showing the main cross and icon around it -->
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="20dip"
>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/center_hr"
android:layout_centerInParent="true"
android:src="#drawable/horizontal"
/>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:id="#+id/center_vr"
android:layout_centerInParent="true"
android:src="#drawable/verticle"
/>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#id/center_hr"
android:layout_toLeftOf="#id/center_vr"
android:id="#+id/getuser"
android:src="#drawable/adduser"
/>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#id/center_hr"
android:layout_toRightOf="#id/center_vr"
android:id="#+id/set"
android:src="#drawable/set"
/>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_below="#id/center_hr"
android:layout_toLeftOf="#id/center_vr"
android:id="#+id/get"
android:src="#drawable/get"
/>
<ImageView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_below="#id/center_hr"
android:layout_toRightOf="#id/center_vr"
android:id="#+id/ico"
android:src="#drawable/icon"
/>
</RelativeLayout>
</LinearLayout>
so guys please tell me how can i achive this main cross and icon to lef,right and above,below it as shown in image

Try this..
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView1"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/vertical_ruler"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_toRightOf="#id/imageView1"/>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_toRightOf="#id/vertical_ruler"
/>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/horizontal_ruler"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_below="#id/imageView1"/>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView3"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_below="#id/horizontal_ruler"/>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView4"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_toRightOf="#id/vertical_ruler"
android:layout_below="#id/horizontal_ruler"
/>
May be it helpful for you..

You could use a TableLayout embedded in a RelativeLayout. The RelativeLayout can be used to center the TableLayout on the screen and in the TableLayout you can add your pictures/buttons and state how many rows and colums you want the TableLayout to have.