Develop Reference

Whatsapp Message Layout - How to get time-view in the same row

I was wondering how WhatsApp handles the time shown in every message.
For those who don't know:
If the message is very short, the text and time are in the same row.
If the message is long, the time is in the bottom right corner - the text wrapped around it.
With a RelativeLayout and toLeftOf I would get 1) but not 2) as previous lines would be "cut off" at the position of the time view. Same behaviour If i use a LinearLayout.
So I tried to use a FrameLayout or a RelativeLayout without any connection between text and time.
However, if the text is as long as the message-view is big, both views would overlap.
If I put blank characters to my message I wouldn't have the time on the right.
Do they really have some kind of text-wrapping-lib for this or is it possible to do only with layouts?
Here is the requested screenshot:

#Hisham Muneer 's answer very good.
But there are some problems. For example:
If the TextView has 2 full lines (end to end), the text will
intersect with datetime text layout. Finally, the views will
look like onion effect.
The text line wraps can't works efficiently. You must control this
lines and relocate the datetime view.
I'm going to share my solution, if you will need like this problem.
This is example screenshot
ImFlexboxLayout.java
public class ImFlexboxLayout extends RelativeLayout {
private TextView viewPartMain;
private View viewPartSlave;
private TypedArray a;
private RelativeLayout.LayoutParams viewPartMainLayoutParams;
private int viewPartMainWidth;
private int viewPartMainHeight;
private RelativeLayout.LayoutParams viewPartSlaveLayoutParams;
private int viewPartSlaveWidth;
private int viewPartSlaveHeight;
public ImFlexboxLayout(Context context) {
super(context);
}
public ImFlexboxLayout(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
super(context, attrs);
a = context.obtainStyledAttributes(attrs, R.styleable.ImFlexboxLayout, 0, 0);
}
#Override
protected void onAttachedToWindow() {
super.onAttachedToWindow();
try {
viewPartMain = (TextView) this.findViewById(a.getResourceId(R.styleable.ImFlexboxLayout_viewPartMain, -1));
viewPartSlave = this.findViewById(a.getResourceId(R.styleable.ImFlexboxLayout_viewPartSlave, -1));
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
#Override
protected void onMeasure(int widthMeasureSpec, int heightMeasureSpec) {
super.onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec, heightMeasureSpec);
int widthSize = MeasureSpec.getSize(widthMeasureSpec);
int heightSize = MeasureSpec.getSize(heightMeasureSpec);
if (viewPartMain == null || viewPartSlave == null || widthSize <= 0) {
return;
}
int availableWidth = widthSize - getPaddingLeft() - getPaddingRight();
int availableHeight = heightSize - getPaddingTop() - getPaddingBottom();
viewPartMainLayoutParams = (LayoutParams) viewPartMain.getLayoutParams();
viewPartMainWidth = viewPartMain.getMeasuredWidth() + viewPartMainLayoutParams.leftMargin + viewPartMainLayoutParams.rightMargin;
viewPartMainHeight = viewPartMain.getMeasuredHeight() + viewPartMainLayoutParams.topMargin + viewPartMainLayoutParams.bottomMargin;
viewPartSlaveLayoutParams = (LayoutParams) viewPartSlave.getLayoutParams();
viewPartSlaveWidth = viewPartSlave.getMeasuredWidth() + viewPartSlaveLayoutParams.leftMargin + viewPartSlaveLayoutParams.rightMargin;
viewPartSlaveHeight = viewPartSlave.getMeasuredHeight() + viewPartSlaveLayoutParams.topMargin + viewPartSlaveLayoutParams.bottomMargin;
int viewPartMainLineCount = viewPartMain.getLineCount();
float viewPartMainLastLineWitdh = viewPartMainLineCount > 0 ? viewPartMain.getLayout().getLineWidth(viewPartMainLineCount - 1) : 0;
widthSize = getPaddingLeft() + getPaddingRight();
heightSize = getPaddingTop() + getPaddingBottom();
if (viewPartMainLineCount > 1 && !(viewPartMainLastLineWitdh + viewPartSlaveWidth >= viewPartMain.getMeasuredWidth())) {
widthSize += viewPartMainWidth;
heightSize += viewPartMainHeight;
} else if (viewPartMainLineCount > 1 && (viewPartMainLastLineWitdh + viewPartSlaveWidth >= availableWidth)) {
widthSize += viewPartMainWidth;
heightSize += viewPartMainHeight + viewPartSlaveHeight;
} else if (viewPartMainLineCount == 1 && (viewPartMainWidth + viewPartSlaveWidth >= availableWidth)) {
widthSize += viewPartMain.getMeasuredWidth();
heightSize += viewPartMainHeight + viewPartSlaveHeight;
} else {
widthSize += viewPartMainWidth + viewPartSlaveWidth;
heightSize += viewPartMainHeight;
}
this.setMeasuredDimension(widthSize, heightSize);
super.onMeasure(MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(widthSize, MeasureSpec.EXACTLY), MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(heightSize, MeasureSpec.EXACTLY));
}
#Override
protected void onLayout(boolean changed, int left, int top, int right, int bottom) {
super.onLayout(changed, left, top, right, bottom);
if (viewPartMain == null || viewPartSlave == null) {
return;
}
viewPartMain.layout(
getPaddingLeft(),
getPaddingTop(),
viewPartMain.getWidth() + getPaddingLeft(),
viewPartMain.getHeight() + getPaddingTop());
viewPartSlave.layout(
right - left - viewPartSlaveWidth - getPaddingRight(),
bottom - top - getPaddingBottom() - viewPartSlaveHeight,
right - left - getPaddingRight(),
bottom - top - getPaddingBottom());
}
}
attrs.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
<declare-styleable name="ImFlexboxLayout">
<attr name="viewPartMain" format="reference"></attr>
<attr name="viewPartSlave" format="reference"></attr>
</declare-styleable>
</resources>
Example right ballon layout (balloon.xml)
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:baselineAligned="false"
android:gravity="center_vertical"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="right|center_vertical"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:gravity="right">
<tr.com.client.ImFlexboxLayout
android:id="#+id/msg_layout"
style="#style/BalloonMessageLayoutRight"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="right|bottom"
android:gravity="left|center_vertical"
app:viewPartMain="#+id/chat_msg"
app:viewPartSlave="#+id/lytStatusContainer">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/chat_msg"
style="#style/BalloonMessageRightTextItem"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="right|bottom"
android:focusableInTouchMode="false"
android:gravity="left|top"
android:text="hjjfg" />
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/lytStatusContainer"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="5dp"
android:gravity="right"
android:minWidth="60dp">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/date_view"
style="#style/BallonMessageTimeText"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_gravity="right|bottom"
android:layout_marginRight="5dp"
android:gravity="right"
android:maxLines="1" />
<include
android:id="#+id/lytStatus"
layout="#layout/layout_im_message_status"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="bottom"
android:layout_marginRight="5dp"
android:minWidth="40dp" />
</LinearLayout>
</tr.com.client.ImFlexboxLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
You can modify layout xml and some sections related your scenario.
There are 2 important point: you must define in layout xml "viewPartMain", "viewPartSlave" attributes. Because the code will decide measure via your main(chat textview) and slave(datetime text view) elements.
I wish have good days. Greets.

Adding HTML non-breaking spaces did the trick. Tested the code on most devices and working absolutely fine. Maybe whatsapp is also doing the same thing. Below is the chat code:
See images below to see it working.
XML Design:
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/rel_layout_left"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_below="#+id/txtDate"
android:visibility="visible"
android:orientation="vertical"
>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/lblMsgFrom"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:padding="5dp"
android:text="kfhdjbh"
android:textColor="#color/lblFromName"
android:textSize="12dp"
android:textStyle="italic"
android:visibility="gone" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/imageView"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_alignParentStart="true"
android:layout_below="#+id/lblMsgFrom"
android:layout_marginRight="-5dp"
android:src="#drawable/bubble_corner" />
<FrameLayout
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:background="#drawable/bg_msg_from"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/imageView">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txtTimeFrom"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:paddingRight="#dimen/d5"
android:text="Time"
android:textColor="#android:color/darker_gray"
android:layout_gravity="bottom|right"
android:padding="4dp"
android:textSize="10dp"
android:textStyle="italic"
android:layout_below="#+id/txtMsgFrom"
android:layout_alignRight="#+id/txtMsgFrom"
android:layout_alignEnd="#+id/txtMsgFrom" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/txtMsgFrom"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/imageView"
android:layout_toEndOf="#+id/lblMsgFrom"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/imageView"
android:paddingLeft="10dp"
android:paddingRight="10dp"
android:paddingTop="5dp"
android:paddingBottom="5dp"
android:text="kdfjhgjfhf"
android:textColor="#color/black"
android:textSize="16dp"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="0dp"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_marginTop="0dp"
android:layout_gravity="left|center_vertical" />
</FrameLayout>
</RelativeLayout>
Code: bg_msg_from.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle" >
<!-- view background color -->
<!--<solid android:color="#color/bg_msg_from" >-->
<solid android:color="#android:color/white" >
</solid>
<corners android:radius="#dimen/d5" >
</corners>
</shape>
** File: bubble_corner.png**
txtMsgFrom.setText(Html.fromHtml(convertToHtml(txtMsgFrom.getText().toString()) + "         ")); // 10 spaces

Its easier with Unicode from here.
So with this you can archive the Unicode format
new TextView("Hello\u00A0world");
better than HTML string.
source: https://stackoverflow.com/a/6565049

Based on #Sinan Ergin answer but slightly improved:
less layouts
simplified gravity + layout_gravity usage
left + right layout files
FrameLayout instead of RelativeLayout
converted to Kotlin
no attrs.xml & style references
/**
* Layout that allows a [TextView] to flow around a [View].
*
* First child must be of type [TextView].
* Second child must be of type [View].
*/
class TextViewContainerFlowLayout #JvmOverloads constructor(
context: Context,
attrs: AttributeSet? = null
) : FrameLayout(context, attrs) {
private val textView by lazy(NONE) { getChildAt(0) as TextView }
private val containerView by lazy(NONE) { getChildAt(1) }
private val viewPartMainLayoutParams by lazy(NONE) { textView.layoutParams as LayoutParams }
private val viewPartSlaveLayoutParams by lazy(NONE) { containerView.layoutParams as LayoutParams }
private var containerWidth = 0
private var containerHeight = 0
override fun onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec: Int, heightMeasureSpec: Int) {
super.onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec, heightMeasureSpec)
var widthSize = MeasureSpec.getSize(widthMeasureSpec)
if (widthSize <= 0) {
return
}
val availableWidth = widthSize - paddingLeft - paddingRight
val textViewWidth = textView.measuredWidth + viewPartMainLayoutParams.leftMargin + viewPartMainLayoutParams.rightMargin
val textViewHeight = textView.measuredHeight + viewPartMainLayoutParams.topMargin + viewPartMainLayoutParams.bottomMargin
containerWidth = containerView.measuredWidth + viewPartSlaveLayoutParams.leftMargin + viewPartSlaveLayoutParams.rightMargin
containerHeight = containerView.measuredHeight + viewPartSlaveLayoutParams.topMargin + viewPartSlaveLayoutParams.bottomMargin
val viewPartMainLineCount = textView.lineCount
val viewPartMainLastLineWidth = if (viewPartMainLineCount > 0) textView.layout.getLineWidth(viewPartMainLineCount - 1) else 0.0f
widthSize = paddingLeft + paddingRight
var heightSize = paddingTop + paddingBottom
if (viewPartMainLineCount > 1 && viewPartMainLastLineWidth + containerWidth < textView.measuredWidth) {
widthSize += textViewWidth
heightSize += textViewHeight
} else if (viewPartMainLineCount > 1 && viewPartMainLastLineWidth + containerWidth >= availableWidth) {
widthSize += textViewWidth
heightSize += textViewHeight + containerHeight
} else if (viewPartMainLineCount == 1 && textViewWidth + containerWidth >= availableWidth) {
widthSize += textView.measuredWidth
heightSize += textViewHeight + containerHeight
} else {
widthSize += textViewWidth + containerWidth
heightSize += textViewHeight
}
setMeasuredDimension(widthSize, heightSize)
super.onMeasure(
MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(widthSize, MeasureSpec.EXACTLY),
MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(heightSize, MeasureSpec.EXACTLY)
)
}
override fun onLayout(changed: Boolean, left: Int, top: Int, right: Int, bottom: Int) {
super.onLayout(changed, left, top, right, bottom)
textView.layout(
paddingLeft,
paddingTop,
textView.width + paddingLeft,
textView.height + paddingTop
)
containerView.layout(
right - left - containerWidth - paddingRight,
bottom - top - paddingBottom - containerHeight,
right - left - paddingRight,
bottom - top - paddingBottom
)
}
}
view_chat_entry.xml
<my.ui.view.TextViewContainerFlowLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="#+id/container"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="right|bottom"
android:gravity="left|center_vertical"
android:padding="12dp"
>
<my.ui.android.TextView
android:id="#+id/message"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="right|bottom"
android:gravity="left|top"
android:textIsSelectable="true"
tools:text="hjjfg"
/>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:gravity="bottom"
>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/date"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginStart="4dp"
android:maxLines="1"
/>
<my.ui.view.ChatEntryStatusView
android:id="#+id/status"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginStart="4dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
/>
</LinearLayout>
</my.ui.view.TextViewContainerFlowLayout>
view_chat_entry_status.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<merge xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
tools:layout_width="wrap_content"
tools:layout_height="wrap_content"
tools:parentTag="android.widget.FrameLayout"
>
<ImageView
android:contentDescription="#null"
android:id="#+id/statusImageView"
android:layout_width="15dp"
android:layout_height="15dp"
app:srcCompat="#drawable/ic_check_one"/>
</merge>
adapter_item_chat_left.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginBottom="4dp"
android:layout_marginEnd="64dp"
android:layout_marginTop="4dp"
android:gravity="left"
>
<include
layout="#layout/view_chat_entry"
android:id="#+id/chatEntry"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
/>
</LinearLayout>
adapter_item_chat_right.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginBottom="4dp"
android:layout_marginStart="64dp"
android:layout_marginTop="4dp"
android:gravity="right"
>
<include
layout="#layout/view_chat_entry"
android:id="#+id/chatEntry"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
/>
</LinearLayout>
End result (styling is done on the container with a drawable):

I propose another solution
public static final String TAG = "MainActivity";
private TextView mText;
private RelativeLayout relativeLayout;
private Boolean mFirstTime = true;
private static final int WIDH_HOUR = 382;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
final int width = getScreensWidh();
mText = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.activity_main_text);
relativeLayout = (RelativeLayout) findViewById(R.id.activity_main_relative);
mText.setText("aaaaa dfsafsa afdsfa fdsafas adfas fdasf adfsa dsa aaaa dfsafsa afdsfa fdsafas adfas fdasf adfsa");
ViewTreeObserver vto = mText.getViewTreeObserver();
vto.addOnGlobalLayoutListener(new ViewTreeObserver.OnGlobalLayoutListener() {
#Override
public void onGlobalLayout() {
if (mFirstTime) {
Layout layout = mText.getLayout();
int lines = layout.getLineCount();
int offset = layout.layout.getLineWidth(lines - 1);
int freeSpace = width - offset;
TextView hour = new TextView(MainActivity.this);
hour.setText("12:20");
RelativeLayout.LayoutParams params = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(RelativeLayout.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, RelativeLayout.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT);
params.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_RIGHT);
if (freeSpace > WIDH_HOUR) {
params.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_BOTTOM, R.id.activity_main_text);
} else {
params.addRule(RelativeLayout.BELOW, R.id.activity_main_text);
}
hour.setLayoutParams(params);
relativeLayout.addView(hour);
Log.d(TAG, String.valueOf(freeSpace));
mFirstTime = false;
}
}
});
}
public int getScreensWidh() {
Display display = getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay();
Point size = new Point();
display.getSize(size);
return size.x;
}
Two Public Methods
public abstract int getLineCount ()
Return the number of lines of text in this layout.
public int getLineWidth(int line)
Gets the unsigned horizontal extent of the specified line, including leading margin indent and trailing whitespace.

You can use the layout and code below to achieve the desired effect.
Source code gist
What I have used is get the width of the text + the time layout and check if this exceeds the container layout width, and adjust the height of the container accordingly. We have to extend from FrameLayout since this is the one which allows overlapping of two child views.
This is tested to be working on English locale. Suggestions and improvements are always welcome :)
Hope I've helped someone looking for the same solution.

I guess the easiest way to achieve this kind oflayout would be to add enough blank space in your message to be sure there is enough space on the right to not cover the time (I don't see any other easy way to have a margin/padding/positioning for the last line of your text only)
Then you just place the time in the relative as an align bottom right

layout_chat_left.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="#+id/layoutChat"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="20dp">
<RelativeLayout
android:id="#+id/message_send"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
android:layout_toRightOf="#id/test_arrow"
android:background="#drawable/bg_msg_left"
android:paddingLeft="15dp"
android:paddingTop="5dp"
android:paddingRight="15dp"
android:paddingBottom="7dp"
tools:ignore="UselessParent">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/text"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginEnd="10dp"
android:maxWidth="200dp"
android:text="demo Text"
android:textColor="#222"
android:textSize="17sp" />
<TextClock
android:id="#+id/msg_time"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/text"
android:layout_toEndOf="#+id/text"
android:text="1:30 P.M."
android:textColor="#888" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/is_Read_iv"
android:layout_width="10dp"
android:layout_height="10dp"
android:layout_marginBottom="2dp"
android:layout_marginLeft="2dp"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/text"
android:layout_toEndOf="#+id/msg_time"
android:src="#drawable/icon_tick"
android:tint="#color/BlueTint"/>
</RelativeLayout>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/test_arrow"
android:layout_width="20dp"
android:layout_height="20dp"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginTop="1dp"
android:layout_marginRight="-6dp"
android:background="#null"
android:scaleX="-1.5"
android:src="#drawable/v_bubble_corner_left" />
</RelativeLayout>
layout_chat_right.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="#+id/layoutChat"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="20dp">
<RelativeLayout
android:id="#+id/message_send"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
android:layout_toLeftOf="#id/test_arrow"
android:background="#drawable/bg_msg_right"
android:paddingLeft="15dp"
android:paddingTop="5dp"
android:paddingRight="15dp"
android:paddingBottom="7dp"
tools:ignore="UselessParent">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/text"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginEnd="10dp"
android:maxWidth="200dp"
android:text="demo Text"
android:textColor="#222"
android:textSize="17sp" />
<TextClock
android:id="#+id/msg_time"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/text"
android:layout_toEndOf="#+id/text"
android:text="1:30 P.M."
android:textColor="#888" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/is_Read_iv"
android:layout_width="10dp"
android:layout_height="10dp"
android:layout_marginBottom="2dp"
android:layout_marginLeft="2dp"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/text"
android:layout_toEndOf="#+id/msg_time"
android:src="#drawable/icon_tick"
android:tint="#color/BlueTint" />
</RelativeLayout>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/test_arrow"
android:layout_width="20dp"
android:layout_height="20dp"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="-6dp"
android:layout_marginTop="1dp"
android:background="#null"
android:scaleX="1.5"
android:src="#drawable/v_bubble_corner_right" />
</RelativeLayout>
bg_msg_left.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle" >
<!-- view background color -->
<!--<solid android:color="#color/bg_msg_right" >-->
<solid android:color="#color/white" >
</solid>
<corners
android:topLeftRadius="0dp"
android:topRightRadius="5dp"
android:bottomLeftRadius="5dp"
android:bottomRightRadius="5dp">
</corners>
</shape>
bg_msg_right.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle" >
<!-- view background color -->
<!--<solid android:color="#color/bg_msg_right" >-->
<solid android:color="#color/whatsapp_green" >
</solid>
<corners
android:topLeftRadius="5dp"
android:topRightRadius="0dp"
android:bottomLeftRadius="5dp"
android:bottomRightRadius="5dp">
</corners>
</shape>
v_bubble_corner_left.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:width="24dp"
android:height="24dp"
android:viewportWidth="24.0"
android:viewportHeight="24.0">
<path
android:fillColor="#color/white"
android:pathData="M8,5v14l11,-14z" />
</vector>
v_bubble_corner_right.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:width="24dp"
android:height="24dp"
android:viewportWidth="24.0"
android:viewportHeight="24.0">
<path
android:fillColor="#color/whatsapp_green"
android:pathData="M8,5v14l11,-14z"/>
</vector>
And the CommentAdapter.java is
import android.content.Context;
import android.graphics.Color;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.RelativeLayout;
import android.widget.TextView;
import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
import androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView;
import com.daimajia.androidanimations.library.Techniques;
import com.daimajia.androidanimations.library.YoYo;
import com.google.android.material.card.MaterialCardView;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
public class CommentAdapter extends RecyclerView.Adapter<CommentAdapter.ViewHolder> {
private List<String> mComment;
private List<String> mTimeData;
private List<Integer> mIcon;
private List<Integer> mDirection;
private List<Integer> mRecordID;
private Context mContext;
private LayoutInflater mInflater;
private static final String TAG = "CommentAdapter";
private ItemLongClickListener mLongClickListener;
// data is passed into the constructor
CommentAdapter(Context context, List<String> dataComment, List<String> dataTimeData, List<Integer> dataDirection, List<Integer> dataRecordID) {
mContext = context;
this.mInflater = LayoutInflater.from( context );
this.mComment = dataComment;
this.mTimeData = dataTimeData;
this.mDirection = dataDirection;
this.mRecordID = dataRecordID;
}
// inflates the row layout from xml when needed
#NonNull
#Override
public ViewHolder onCreateViewHolder(ViewGroup parent, int viewType) {
View view;
if (viewType == 1) {
view = mInflater.inflate( R.layout.layout_chat_left, parent, false );
} else {
view = mInflater.inflate( R.layout.layout_chat_right, parent, false );
}
return new ViewHolder( view );
}
// binds the data to the TextView in each row
#Override
public void onBindViewHolder(ViewHolder holder, int position) {
String mTitle = mComment.get( position );
holder.tvComment.setText( mTitle );
String mSubTitle = mTimeData.get( position );
holder.tvTime.setText( mSubTitle );
int maxWidth = mContext.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().widthPixels;
holder.layoutChat.getLayoutParams().width = maxWidth;
}
// total number of rows
#Override
public int getItemCount() {
return mComment.size();
}
// stores and recycles views as they are scrolled off screen
public class ViewHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder implements View.OnLongClickListener {
TextView tvComment;
TextView tvTime;
TextView tvSerial;
RelativeLayout layoutChat;
MaterialCardView cardView;
ViewHolder(View itemView) {
super( itemView );
tvComment = itemView.findViewById( R.id.text );
tvTime = itemView.findViewById( R.id.msg_time );
layoutChat = itemView.findViewById( R.id.layoutChat );
itemView.setOnLongClickListener( this );
}
#Override
public boolean onLongClick(View v) {
Log.d( TAG, "onLongClick: " + getAdapterPosition() );
if (mLongClickListener!=null)
mLongClickListener.onItemLongClick( v, mRecordID.get( getAdapterPosition() ) );
return true;
}
}
void setOnLongClickListener(ItemLongClickListener itemLongClickListener) {
this.mLongClickListener = itemLongClickListener;
}
// parent activity will implement this method to respond to click events
public interface ItemLongClickListener {
void onItemLongClick(View view, int position);
}
#Override
public int getItemViewType(int position) {
if (mDirection.get( position ) == 1)
return 1;
return 2;
}
}
Here are the screenshots, one from a live demo

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/rel_layout_left"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#drawable/bubble1"
android:orientation="vertical">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/lblMsgFrom"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Person Name or Id"
android:visibility="gone" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/lblMessage_text"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:paddingBottom="5dp"
android:paddingLeft="10dp"
android:paddingRight="10dp"
android:paddingTop="5dp"
android:text="Sample \n Sample2 Sample2 Sample2 Sample2 Sample2 Sample2 Sample2 Sample2 Sample2 \n Sample2"
android:textSize="16dp" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/lblMessage_Time"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignEnd="#+id/lblMessage_text"
android:layout_alignRight="#+id/lblMessage_text"
android:layout_below="#+id/lblMessage_text"
android:text="04:50 Am"
android:textColor="#android:color/darker_gray"
android:textSize="10dp"
android:textStyle="italic" />
</RelativeLayout>

I suggest other solution. If you know max bubble width and time width, then you can precalculate how to place your views.
Layout:
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/text"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textSize="12sp"
tools:text="This is text"/>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/time"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:textSize="10sp"
tools:text="10:10"/>
</RelativeLayout>
Code:
fun setTextAndTime(textView: TextView, timeView: TextView, text: String, time: String) {
// screen width - offset from bubble
val maxWidth: Int = Resources.getSystem().displayMetrics.widthPixels - context.resources.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.bubble_offset)
val timeWidth: Int = getTextWidth(time, 10f)
textView.text = text
timeView.text = time
textView.measure(makeMeasureSpec(maxWidth, EXACTLY), makeMeasureSpec(0, UNSPECIFIED))
val offset = textView.layout.getLineWidth(textView.layout.lineCount - 1)
val freeSpace = maxWidth - offset
val moveTimestampBelow = freeSpace < timeWidth
val multilineContent = textView.layout.lineCount > 1
val params = RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(RelativeLayout.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, RelativeLayout.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT)
when {
moveTimestampBelow -> params.apply {
addRule(RelativeLayout.BELOW, textView.id)
addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_RIGHT)
}
multilineContent -> params.apply {
params.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_BOTTOM, textView.id)
addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_RIGHT)
}
else -> params.apply {
params.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_BOTTOM, textView.id)
addRule(RelativeLayout.END_OF, textView.id)
}
}
timeView.layoutParams = params
}
private fun getTextWidth(text: String, textSizeSp: Float): Int {
val textPaint = Paint()
val pxSize = TypedValue.applyDimension(TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_SP, textSizeSp, context.resources.displayMetrics)
textPaint.textSize = pxSize
textPaint.style = Paint.Style.FILL
val result = Rect()
textPaint.getTextBounds(text, 0, text.length, result)
return result.width()
}

The previous answers didn't satisfy my needs as they were too complex and the scrolling on RecyclerView was way too slow! I could feel the stutter while scrolling. So, I modified #Rahul Shuklas answer to make it more efficient. I am sharing my result below. The code is self explanatory, I have added comments for more understandability.
class ChatBubbleLayout : FrameLayout {
constructor(context: Context) : super(context) {}
constructor(context: Context, attrs: AttributeSet) : super(context, attrs) {}
constructor(context: Context, attrs: AttributeSet, defStyleAttr: Int) : super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr) {}
#TargetApi(21)
constructor(context: Context, attrs: AttributeSet, defStyleAttr: Int, defStyleRes: Int) : super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr, defStyleRes) {
}
override fun onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec: Int, heightMeasureSpec: Int) {
super.onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec, heightMeasureSpec)
doMeasure()
}
private fun doMeasure() {
val messageTextView = findViewById<TextView>(R.id.tv_message)
val dateTextView = findViewById<TextView>(R.id.tv_message_time)
// Message line count
val lineCount = messageTextView.lineCount
// Message padding
val messageTextViewPadding = messageTextView.paddingLeft + messageTextView.paddingRight
// First / Second last line of message
val lastLineStart = messageTextView.layout.getLineStart(lineCount - 1)
val lastLineEnd = messageTextView.layout.getLineEnd(lineCount - 1)
// Width of First / Second last line of message
var desiredWidth = Layout.getDesiredWidth(messageTextView.text.subSequence(lastLineStart,
lastLineEnd), messageTextView.paint).toInt()
var desiredHeight = measuredHeight
if (desiredWidth < minimumWidth && messageTextView.measuredWidth < minimumWidth) {
// Probably a small or single line message
desiredWidth = minimumWidth + messageTextViewPadding
} else {
// Probably a bit long or multiple line message
desiredWidth = messageTextView.measuredWidth + messageTextViewPadding
}
if(desiredHeight < minimumHeight) {
desiredHeight = minimumHeight
}
setMeasuredDimension(desiredWidth, desiredHeight)
}
}
My Layout XML file
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:gravity="right">
<com.app.chat.ui.ChatBubbleLayout
android:id="#+id/chat_bubble_item_container"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginRight="#dimen/height_16dp"
android:background="#drawable/medium_green_rounded_corner"
android:minWidth="96dp"
android:minHeight="44dp">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/tv_message"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="start|left"
android:autoLink="all"
android:linksClickable="true"
android:maxWidth="280dp"
android:paddingLeft="#dimen/margin_8dp"
android:paddingTop="#dimen/margin_8dp"
android:paddingRight="#dimen/margin_8dp"
android:paddingBottom="#dimen/margin_8dp"
android:text="#{chatMessageVM.iMessage.message}"
android:textColor="#color/white"
android:textColorLink="#color/white"
android:textIsSelectable="true"
android:textSize="#dimen/text_14sp"
tools:text="Nope" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/tv_message_time"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="end|right|bottom"
android:layout_marginRight="#dimen/margin_4dp"
android:layout_marginBottom="#dimen/margin_2dp"
android:gravity="center_vertical"
android:text="#{chatMessageVM.iMessage.readableTimestamp}"
android:textColor="#color/gray_5"
android:textSize="#dimen/text_12sp"
tools:text="11:21 AM" />
</com.app.chat.ui.ChatBubbleLayout>
</LinearLayout>
I hope it helps future readers.

Here is my Layout file chat_row_right_1.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_toLeftOf="#+id/test_arrow"
android:id="#+id/message_send"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:paddingLeft="15dp"
android:paddingBottom="7dp"
android:paddingTop="5dp"
android:paddingRight="15dp"
android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
android:maxWidth="200dp"
android:background="#drawable/layout_bg2_1"
tools:ignore="UselessParent">
<TextView
android:layout_marginEnd="10dp"
android:id="#+id/text"
android:text="demo Text"
android:textColor="#222"
android:textSize="17sp"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:maxWidth="200dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<TextClock
android:id="#+id/msg_time"
android:layout_toEndOf="#+id/text"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/text"
android:text="1:30 P.M."
android:textColor="#888"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/is_Read_iv"
android:layout_toEndOf="#+id/msg_time"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/text"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/ic_done_black_24dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
</RelativeLayout>
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/test_arrow"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
android:layout_width="20dp"
android:background="#null"
android:layout_marginTop="-2dp"
android:layout_marginLeft="-8dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:src="#drawable/ic_play_arrow_black_24dp"/>
</RelativeLayout>
And here is ic_right_bubble.xml file in drawable folder
<vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:width="24dp"
android:height="24dp"
android:viewportWidth="24.0"
android:viewportHeight="24.0">
<path
android:fillColor="#cfc"
android:pathData="M8,5v14l11,-14z"/>
</vector>
You will get exact same as WhatsApp See screenshot

Wrap_content doesn't work on RelativeLayout : Action bar custom View

I have created a custom layout for the Action Bar : which I add with this code on my Activity :
LayoutInflater inflater = (LayoutInflater)getSystemService (Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE);
View actionBarView = inflater.inflate (R.layout.main_actionbar, null);
getSupportActionBar ().setCustomView (actionBarView);
and the main_actionbar.xml layout :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:style="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#color/white" >
<RelativeLayout
android:id="#+id/leftIcons"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_toLeftOf="#+id/empty"
android:paddingTop="4dp"
android:paddingBottom="4dp"
android:background="#drawable/uiclickable_gray_states"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true" >
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/back"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="center_vertical"
android:layout_marginRight="5dp"
android:src="#drawable/icon_back" />
<!-- The problem is here -->
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/thumbnail"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/back"
android:paddingTop="5dp"
android:paddingBottom="5dp"
android:src="#drawable/bg"
android:scaleType="fitXY"
android:adjustViewBounds="true" />
</RelativeLayout>
<View
android:id="#+id/empty"
android:layout_width="100dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="#color/black_transparent"
android:layout_alignParentRight="true" />
</RelativeLayout>
My problem is that I would like the #+id/thumbnail to have it's height as match_parent and have it's width equals the height. means : height == match_parent AND width == height, so I can have a square Image.
it appears that this cannot be done by xml, so I created (with the help of some tutorials on the net) a subclass of ImageView and did this but without any positive results :
#Override
protected void onMeasure (int widthMeasureSpec, int heightMeasureSpec) {
//int width = measureWidth (widthMeasureSpec);
int height = measureHeight (heightMeasureSpec);
setMeasuredDimension (height, height);
}
private int measureHeight (int measureSpecHeight) {
int result;
int specMode = MeasureSpec.getMode (measureSpecHeight);
int specSize = MeasureSpec.getSize (measureSpecHeight);
if (specMode == MeasureSpec.EXACTLY) {
// We were told how big to be
result = specSize;
} else if (specMode == MeasureSpec.AT_MOST) {
// The child can be as large as it wants up to the specified size.
result = specSize;
} else {
// Measure the text (beware: ascent is a negative number)
result = canvasSize;
}
return (result + 2);
}
Am I doing something wrong there ? Thank you.

Position children views relative to their parent view

I need to implement a view that looks like this
The hard part is that the sizes and the font sizes of the textviews need to be adaptable to the width and height of the parent view. Here is what I have tried and the result is
The xml file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
tools:layout_width="200dp"
tools:layout_height="100dp"
android:orientation="vertical">
<BuySellView
android:id="#+id/tradeNow_layoutSell"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:background="#color/gray_light_light">
<LinearLayout
android:id="#+id/smallPart1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="top|right"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_gravity="center_vertical">
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/greenArrowSellImg"
android:layout_width="10dp"
android:layout_height="10dp"
android:src="#drawable/green_arrow"
android:visibility="invisible"
tools:visibility="visible" />
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/redArrowSellImg"
android:layout_width="10dp"
android:layout_height="10dp"
android:src="#drawable/red_arrow"
android:visibility="invisible"
tools:visibility="visible" />
</RelativeLayout>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/smallPart1Txt"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="top|right"
android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
android:maxLines="1"
android:text="#string/misc_blank"
android:textColor="#android:color/black"
tools:text="10,015." />
</LinearLayout>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/largePart"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:maxLines="1"
android:text="#string/misc_blank"
android:textColor="#android:color/black"
tools:text="46"
android:gravity="center"
tools:textColor="#color/red_sell" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/smallPart2"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:maxLines="1"
android:text="#string/misc_blank"
android:textColor="#android:color/black"
android:gravity="left|center_vertical"
tools:text="8"
tools:textColor="#color/red_sell" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/trdLbl"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="center"
android:background="#drawable/rounded_corner_sell"
android:text="#string/CommonCapitalSell"
android:textColor="#color/white" />
</BuySellView>
</LinearLayout>
The custom view:
public class BuySellView extends ViewGroup {
private final Rect mTmpChildRect = new Rect();
public BuySellView(Context context) {
super(context);
}
public BuySellView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
super(context, attrs);
}
public BuySellView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyle) {
super(context, attrs, defStyle);
}
#Override
protected void onLayout(boolean changed, int left, int top, int right, int bottom) {
int width = getMeasuredWidth();
int height = getMeasuredHeight();
int t = 10;
int b = 10 + height / 3 * 2;
LinearLayout smallPart1 = (LinearLayout) findViewById(R.id.smallPart1);
smallPart1.layout(0, height / 3, width / 2, b);
smallPart1.setGravity(Gravity.RIGHT);
TextView smallPart1Txt = (TextView) smallPart1.findViewById(R.id.smallPart1Txt);
smallPart1Txt.setTextSize(height / 4 / 2);
TextView largePart = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.largePart);
largePart.setTextSize(height / 3);
largePart.layout(width / 2, 10, b - t + width / 2, b);
TextView smallPart2 = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.smallPart2);
smallPart2.layout(b - t + width / 2, t, width, height / 2);
smallPart2.setTextSize(height / 4 / 2);
TextView tradeLbl = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.trdLbl);
tradeLbl.layout(width / 2 - width / 3 / 2, height / 4 * 3 + 10, width / 2 + width / 3 / 2, height / 4 * 4 + 10);
tradeLbl.setGravity(Gravity.CENTER);
}
#Override
protected void onMeasure(int widthMeasureSpec, int heightMeasureSpec) {
LinearLayout smallPart1 = (LinearLayout) findViewById(R.id.smallPart1);
TextView largePart = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.largePart);
TextView smallPart2 = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.smallPart2);
TextView tradeLbl = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.trdLbl);
smallPart1.measure(Math.max(smallPart1.getMeasuredWidth(), widthMeasureSpec / 8 * 3), heightMeasureSpec / 4);
largePart.measure(heightMeasureSpec / 4 * 2, heightMeasureSpec / 4 * 2);
smallPart2.measure(Math.max(smallPart2.getMeasuredWidth(), widthMeasureSpec / 8), smallPart2.getMeasuredHeight());
tradeLbl.measure(widthMeasureSpec / 3, heightMeasureSpec / 4);
setMeasuredDimension(widthMeasureSpec, heightMeasureSpec);
}
#Override
public boolean shouldDelayChildPressedState() {
return false;
}
}

try this XML:
<RelativeLayout
android:layout_gravity="center"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<TextView
android:id="#+id/small"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="0.87"
android:textSize="25sp"
android:layout_alignBottom="#+id/large"
android:paddingBottom="8dp"
android:fontFamily="sans-serif-light"
/>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/large"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/small"
android:text="46"
android:textSize="58sp"
android:textColor="#00DC00"
android:fontFamily="sans-serif-light"
/>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/up"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="9"
android:textSize="24sp"
android:layout_alignTop="#+id/large"
android:layout_toRightOf="#+id/large"
android:textColor="#00DC00"
android:fontFamily="sans-serif-light"
/>
<Button
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="30dp"
android:background="#FF4848"
android:layout_below="#+id/large"
android:layout_alignRight="#+id/large"
android:text="Sell USD"
android:padding="5dp"
android:textColor="#fff"
android:textSize="12sp"
/>
</RelativeLayout>
You can change the textSize based on number of character or width of text via java code.

Heterogeneous GridLayout

I am trying to implement the layout below:
I guess GridLayout is suitable for my needs but after 2 hours of struggle I couldn't create even a similar layout.. The layout is resizing itself wrongly, it exceeds the screen of the phone and it also does not span the specified rows and columns.
Here I selected a button so you can see how it exceeds the boundaries:
and here is the associated xml code: https://gist.github.com/2834492
I have reached a similar layout with nested linearlayouts but it's not possible to properly resize it for different screen sizes.
UPDATE - approximate LinearLayout implementation:
The XML code: https://gist.github.com/cdoger/2835887
However, the problem is it does not resize itself properly here some screenshots with different screen configurations:
TLDR: Can someone show me a heterogeneous layout implementation with GridLayout like in the first picture?

The issue you are facing is due to inappropriate use of the GridLayout. The GridLayout is made to show its children in a grid and you are trying to override that without extending the GridLayout. While what you want may be accomplished in code (utilizing numcolumns and columnsize), it will not be useful for multiple screen sizes without a heck of a lot of code.
The only adequate solution that won't require a ton of hacking is judicious use of both LinearLayout and RelativeLayout. LinearLayout should not be used exclusively as it is made to drop items in a line (horizontally or vertically only). This becomes especially apparent when you try and do the bottom four buttons. While the buttons above may be done with LinearLayout with very little effort, RelativeLayout is what you need for the bottom four buttons.
Note:
RelativeLayout can be a little bit tricksy for those with little experience using them. Some pitfalls include: children overlapping, children moving off the screen, height and width rendering improperly applied. If you would like an example, let me know and I will edit my answer.
Final Note:
I'm all for utilizing the current framework objects in unique ways, and genuinely prefer to provide the requested solution. The solution, however, is not viable given the constraints of the question.
(Revision) Solution 1
After some careful thought last night, this may be accomplished with a pure LinearLayout. While I do not like this solution, it should be multi-screen friendly and requires no tooling around from me. Caution should be used with too many LinearLayouts, as according to Google's developers, it can result in slow loading UIs due to the layout_weight property. A second solution utilizing RelativeLayout will be provided when I return home. Now Tested This provides the desired layout parameters on all screen-sizes and orientations.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<Button
android:id="#+id/Button01"
android:layout_width="0"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/Button02"
android:layout_width="0"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
</LinearLayout>
<Button
android:id="#+id/button3"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1.00"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<Button
android:id="#+id/button1"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/button2"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/button4"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/button5"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="2"
android:text="Button" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/button6"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="2"
android:text="Button" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/button7"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
Solution 1 Explanation
The key to LinearLayouts is to define your imperatives as separate Layouts and nest the others in them. As you apply constraints to more dimensions, more LinearLayouts must be added to encapsulate the others. For yours, it was crucial to have two more parents in order to maintain the proportion. A great indicator of when you should add another level is when you have to utilize layout_weight using anything other than an integer value. It simply becomes to hard to calculate properly. From there it was relatively simple to break it into columns.
Solution 2 (Failed)
While I was able to achieve desirable results utilizing RelativeLayout and "struts", I could only do so with layouts that were multiples of 2 buttons in height. Such a trick would be awesome as the levels of layout are greatly reduced, so I will work on a pure XML solution and post the answer here if and when I achieve it. In the meantime, the LinearLayout above should suit your needs perfectly.

I read this thread and realised that I wanted a flatter solution than those with linear layout. After some research I ended up making my own layout. It is inspired by a GridLayout but differs a bit.
Please note that if you are going to copy-paste the code you'll need to change package names in some places.
This layout has 4 layout parameters that children use to position themselves.These are layout_left, layout_top, layout_right, layout_bottom. The ICGridLayout itself has two attributes: layout_spacing and columns.
Columns tells the layout how many columns you want it to contain. It will then calculate the size of a cell with the same height as width. Which will be the layouts width/columns.
The spacing is the amount of space you want between each child.
The layout_left|top|right|bottom attributes are the coordinates for each side. The layout does no calculations in order to avoid collision or anything. It just puts the children where they want to be.
If you'd like to have smaller squares you just have to increase the columns attribute.
Keep in mind that this is a quick prototype, I will continue working on it and when I feel that it's ready I'll upload it to Github and put a comment here.
All of my code below should produce the following result:
*****EDIT*****
Added the call to measure for the children, forgot that the first time around.
END EDIT
ICGridLayout.java:
package com.risch.evertsson.iclib.layout;
import android.content.Context;
import android.content.res.TypedArray;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import com.risch.evertsson.iclib.R;
/**
* Created by johanrisch on 6/13/13.
*/
public class ICGridLayout extends ViewGroup {
private int mColumns = 4;
private float mSpacing;
public ICGridLayout(Context context) {
super(context);
}
public ICGridLayout(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
super(context, attrs);
init(attrs);
}
public ICGridLayout(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyle) {
super(context, attrs, defStyle);
init(attrs);
}
private void init(AttributeSet attrs) {
TypedArray a = getContext().obtainStyledAttributes(
attrs,
R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout);
this.mColumns = a.getInt(R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout_columns, 3);
this.mSpacing = a.getDimension(R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout_layout_spacing, 0);
a.recycle();
}
#Override
protected void onLayout(boolean changed, int l, int t, int r, int b) {
if (changed) {
int width = (int) (r - l);
int side = width / mColumns;
int children = getChildCount();
View child = null;
for (int i = 0; i < children; i++) {
child = getChildAt(i);
LayoutParams lp = (LayoutParams) child.getLayoutParams();
int left = (int) (lp.left * side + mSpacing / 2);
int right = (int) (lp.right * side - mSpacing / 2);
int top = (int) (lp.top * side + mSpacing / 2);
int bottom = (int) (lp.bottom * side - mSpacing / 2);
child.layout(left, top, right, bottom);
}
}
}
#Override
protected void onMeasure(int widthMeasureSpec, int heightMeasureSpec) {
measureVertical(widthMeasureSpec, heightMeasureSpec);
}
private void measureVertical(int widthMeasureSpec, int heightMeasureSpec) {
int widthMode = MeasureSpec.getMode(widthMeasureSpec);
int heightMode = MeasureSpec.getMode(heightMeasureSpec);
int width = 0;
int height = 0;
if (widthMode == MeasureSpec.AT_MOST || widthMode == MeasureSpec.EXACTLY) {
width = MeasureSpec.getSize(widthMeasureSpec);
} else {
throw new RuntimeException("widthMeasureSpec must be AT_MOST or " +
"EXACTLY not UNSPECIFIED when orientation == VERTICAL");
}
View child = null;
int row = 0;
int side = width / mColumns;
int childCount = getChildCount();
for (int i = 0; i < childCount; i++) {
child = getChildAt(i);
LayoutParams lp = (LayoutParams) child.getLayoutParams();
if (lp.bottom > row) {
row = lp.bottom;
}
int childHeight = (lp.bottom - lp.top)*side;
int childWidth = (lp.right-lp.left)*side;
int heightSpec = MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(childHeight, LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT);
int widthSpec = MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(childWidth, LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT);
child.measure(widthSpec, heightSpec);
}
height = row * side;
// TODO: Figure out a good way to use the heightMeasureSpec...
setMeasuredDimension(width, height);
}
#Override
public ViewGroup.LayoutParams generateLayoutParams(AttributeSet attrs) {
return new ICGridLayout.LayoutParams(getContext(), attrs);
}
#Override
protected boolean checkLayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams p) {
return p instanceof ICGridLayout.LayoutParams;
}
#Override
protected ViewGroup.LayoutParams
generateLayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams p) {
return new ICGridLayout.LayoutParams(p);
}
#Override
protected ViewGroup.LayoutParams generateDefaultLayoutParams() {
return new LayoutParams();
}
public static class LayoutParams extends ViewGroup.MarginLayoutParams {
int right = 1;
int bottom = 1;
int top = 0;
int left = 0;
int width = -1;
int height = -1;
public LayoutParams() {
super(MATCH_PARENT, MATCH_PARENT);
top = 0;
left = 1;
}
public LayoutParams(int width, int height) {
super(width, height);
top = 0;
left = 1;
}
public LayoutParams(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
super(context, attrs);
TypedArray a = context.obtainStyledAttributes(
attrs,
R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout);
left = a.getInt(R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout_layout_left, 0);
top = a.getInt(R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout_layout_top, 0);
right = a.getInt(R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout_layout_right, left + 1);
bottom = a.getInt(R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout_layout_bottom, top + 1);
height = a.getInt(R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout_layout_row_span, -1);
width = a.getInt(R.styleable.ICGridLayout_Layout_layout_col_span, -1);
if (height != -1) {
bottom = top + height;
}
if (width != -1) {
right = left + width;
}
a.recycle();
}
public LayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams params) {
super(params);
}
}
}
ICGridLayout.java is pretty straight forward. It takes the values provided by the children and lays them out.
attrs.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
<declare-styleable name="ICGridLayout_Layout">
<attr name="columns" format="integer"/>
<attr name="layout_left" format="integer"/>
<attr name="layout_top" format="integer"/>
<attr name="layout_right" format="integer"/>
<attr name="layout_bottom" format="integer"/>
<attr name="layout_col_span" format="integer"/>
<attr name="layout_row_span" format="integer"/>
<attr name="layout_spacing" format="dimension"/>
</declare-styleable>
</resources>
example_layout.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ScrollView xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/com.rischit.projectlogger"
android:id="#+id/scroller"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" >
<com.risch.evertsson.iclib.layout.ICGridLayout
android:id="#+id/ICGridLayout1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
app:layout_spacing="4dp"
app:columns="4" >
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
app:layout_bottom="1"
app:layout_left="0"
app:layout_right="4"
app:layout_top="0"
android:background="#ff0000"
android:text="TextView" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
app:layout_bottom="3"
app:layout_left="3"
app:layout_right="4"
app:layout_top="1"
android:background="#00ff00"
android:text="TextView" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
app:layout_bottom="4"
app:layout_left="0"
app:layout_right="3"
app:layout_top="1"
android:background="#0000ff"
android:text="TextView" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
app:layout_bottom="4"
app:layout_left="3"
app:layout_right="4"
app:layout_top="3"
android:background="#ffff00"
android:text="TextView" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
app:layout_bottom="6"
app:layout_left="0"
app:layout_right="1"
app:layout_top="4"
android:background="#ff00ff"
android:text="TextView" />
<TextView
android:id="#+id/textView1"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
app:layout_bottom="6"
app:layout_left="1"
app:layout_right="4"
app:layout_top="4"
android:background="#ffffff"
android:text="TextView" />
</com.risch.evertsson.iclib.layout.ICGridLayout>
</ScrollView>
-- Johan Risch
P.S
This is my first long answer, I've tried to do it in a correct way. If I've failed please tell me without flaming :)
D.S

Like this ?
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="0.54" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/Button01"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1.00"
android:text="Button" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/Button02"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1.00"
android:text="Button" />
</LinearLayout>
<Button
android:id="#+id/button3"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Button" />
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="99dp" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/button1"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/button2"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Button" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1" >
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/button4"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="152dp"
android:text="Button" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/button5"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Button" />
</LinearLayout>
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<Button
android:id="#+id/button6"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Button" />
<Button
android:id="#+id/button7"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:text="Button" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

As many have said, nested linear layouts seem the only way to win here. Some of the solutions have not used the layout parameters in the most flexible manner. Code below seeks to do that, and in a way that's robust with aspect ratio changes. Details are in the comments.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<!-- First row. -->
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
<!-- Equal weights cause two columns of equal width. -->
<Button
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="A" />
<Button
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="B" />
</LinearLayout>
<!-- Second row. -->
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="C" />
<!-- Third row. -->
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
<!-- Equal weights cause two columns of equal width. -->
<Button
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="D" />
<Button
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="E" />
</LinearLayout>
<!-- Uneven fourth and fifth rows. -->
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:baselineAligned="false" >
<!-- Left column. Equal weight with right column gives them equal width. -->
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<!--
The use of weights below assigns all extra space to G. There
are other choices. LinearLayout computes sizes along its
axis as given, then divides the remaining extra space using
weights. If a component doesn't have a weight, it keeps
the specified size exactly.
-->
<!-- Fill width of layout and use wrap height (because there's no weight). -->
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="F" />
<!-- Fill width of layout and put all the extra space here. -->
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="G" />
</LinearLayout>
<!-- Right column. Equal weight with left column gives them equal width. -->
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<!-- Same as above except top button gets all the extra space. -->
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="H" />
<Button
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="I" />
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

So here is the solution I promised after one year =)
It basically uses the ViewTreeObserver to get the dimensions of the parent layout and create custom views accordingly. Since this code is one year old ViewTreeObserver might not be the best way to get the dimensions dynamically.
You can find the full source code here:
https://github.com/cdoger/Android_layout
I divided the screen into 8 equal widths and 6 equal heights. Here is a snapshot of how I laid out the views:
final RelativeLayout mainLayout = (RelativeLayout) findViewById(R.id.main_layout);
ViewTreeObserver vto = mainLayout.getViewTreeObserver();
vto.addOnGlobalLayoutListener(new OnGlobalLayoutListener() {
#Override
public void onGlobalLayout() {
final int oneUnitWidth = mainLayout.getMeasuredWidth() / 8;
final int oneUnitHeight = mainLayout.getMeasuredHeight() / 6;
/**
* 1
***************************************************************/
final RelativeLayout.LayoutParams otelParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(
oneUnitWidth * 4, oneUnitHeight);
otelParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_TOP);
otelParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_LEFT);
// otelParams.setMargins(0, 0, 2, 0);
View1.setLayoutParams(otelParams);
/***************************************************************/
/**
* 2
***************************************************************/
final RelativeLayout.LayoutParams otherParams = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(
oneUnitWidth * 4, oneUnitHeight);
otherParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_TOP);
otherParams.addRule(RelativeLayout.RIGHT_OF, View1.getId());
otherParams.setMargins(2, 0, 0, 0);
View2.setLayoutParams(otherParams);
/***************************************************************/
//... goes on like this
Here is the final screenshot:

Embed your GridLayout in LinearLayout as below and try it worked for me.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="horizontal" >
<GridLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:columnCount="2" >
<Button
android:layout_column="0"
android:layout_columnSpan="1"
android:layout_gravity="start|end"
android:layout_row="0"
android:text="ASDFASDF" />
<Button
android:layout_column="1"
android:layout_gravity="start|end"
android:layout_row="0"
android:text="SDAVDFBDFB" />
<Button
android:layout_column="0"
android:layout_columnSpan="2"
android:layout_gravity="fill|center"
android:layout_row="1"
android:text="ASDVADFBFDAFEW" />
<Button
android:layout_column="0"
android:layout_columnSpan="1"
android:layout_gravity="fill|center"
android:layout_row="2"
android:text="FWEA AWFWEA" />
<Button
android:layout_column="1"
android:layout_columnSpan="1"
android:layout_gravity="fill"
android:layout_row="2"
android:text="BERWEfasf" />
<Button
android:layout_width="94dp"
android:layout_column="0"
android:layout_columnSpan="1"
android:layout_gravity="fill|center"
android:layout_row="3"
android:text="SDFVBFAEVSAD" />
<Button
android:layout_column="0"
android:layout_columnSpan="1"
android:layout_gravity="fill|center"
android:layout_row="4"
android:layout_rowSpan="2"
android:text="GVBAERWEFSD" />
<Button
android:layout_column="1"
android:layout_columnSpan="1"
android:layout_gravity="fill|center"
android:layout_row="3"
android:layout_rowSpan="2"
android:text="VSDFAVE SDFASDWA SDFASD" />
<Button
android:layout_column="1"
android:layout_columnSpan="1"
android:layout_gravity="fill|center"
android:layout_row="5"
android:text="FWEWEGAWEFWAE"/>
</GridLayout>
</LinearLayout>

android ScrollView layout (wrap_content, maximum size)

Here is what I would like my ScrollView to look like:
The maximum size is defined with the layout_weight (so that other items below the ScrollView can be displayed properly)
If the content is smaller than that maximum size, then it just behaves as with layout_height="wrap_content"
Here is what I currently have:
<ScrollView
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:measureAllChildren="true"
android:fillViewport="false"
>
I don't think the measureAllChildren really does anything at all...
If I add android:layout_weight, the size will always be what I would like the maximum to be. Without it, it just extends more than it should...
I don't mind extending the ScrollView class to change the behavior of onMeasure if I need to...?
PS: If that makes a differences, I am trying to get this working from Froyo onward.

I ended up writing my own class, extending ScrollView
Since you ask...here is the code. Probably not the cleanest but it does what I want.
Note that it expects the layout_weight to be set when the view is created and you should not set the weigthSum in the parent LinearLayout or you'll get funny things (since the weight of this one changes from the original value to 0 depending on the size of the content of the ScrollView)
First, in the layout file, the view is declared like this:
<com.matthieu.widget.ShrinkingScrollView
android:id="#+id/scroll"
android:scrollbars="vertical"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_weight="4"
android:background="#cc0000"
>
<TextView
android:id="#+id/in_scroll_view"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:background="#0000bb"
/>
</com.matthieu.widget.ShrinkingScrollView>
Then the code for the widget:
import android.content.Context;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.ScrollView;
public class ShrinkingScrollView extends ScrollView {
private float original_weight=-1;
public ShrinkingScrollView(Context context) {
super(context);
}
public ShrinkingScrollView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
super(context, attrs);
}
public ShrinkingScrollView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyle) {
super(context, attrs, defStyle);
}
#Override
protected void onMeasure(int widthMeasureSpec, int heightMeasureSpec) {
LinearLayout.LayoutParams params = (LinearLayout.LayoutParams) getLayoutParams();
float previous_weight = params.weight;
if (original_weight == -1)
original_weight = params.weight;
if ((getChildCount()>0) && (getVisibility()!=GONE)) {
super.onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec, MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(0,MeasureSpec.UNSPECIFIED));
int overall_height = getChildAt(0).getMeasuredHeight();
super.onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec, heightMeasureSpec);
if (getMeasuredHeight() >= overall_height) {
if (previous_weight != 0) {
params.weight=0;
params.height = overall_height;
setLayoutParams(params);
post(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
requestLayout();
}
});
}
setMeasuredDimension(getMeasuredWidth(),overall_height);
}
else if (previous_weight == 0) {
params.weight = original_weight;
params.height = 0;
setLayoutParams(params);
post(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
requestLayout();
}
});
}
}
else {
super.onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec, heightMeasureSpec);
}
}
}

If I understand your requirement correctly, the way I have done something like this is to place the scrollview along with anything else you want to display below it into a Relative layout. Then, in your layout file place the item on the bottom of the screen in the file first (with android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"), then put the scroll view and place it above the first item using something like:android:layout_above="#id/firstItem". Like this in which I put an image view on the bottom with a scroll view above it taking the remaining space:
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/searchByNameScreen"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal"
android:layout_marginTop="1dip"
android:gravity="center_horizontal"
android:orientation="vertical" >
<ImageView
android:id="#+id/bottomImage"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="75dip"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:paddingBottom="15dip"
android:paddingLeft="10dip"
android:paddingRight="10dip"
android:paddingTop="7dip"
android:scaleType="fitXY"
android:src="#drawable/android_450x50_moreinfo" />
<ScrollView
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/ScrollView01"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_above="#id/bottomImage"
android:layout_marginBottom="3dip"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dip"
android:layout_marginRight="10dip"
android:layout_marginTop="1dip"
android:scrollbars="none" >
<LinearLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="#+id/aboutCopyLayout"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_below="#id/aboutTopLayer"
android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal"
android:background="#drawable/rounded_background"
android:gravity="center"
android:padding="5dip" >
<!-- android:background="#drawable/rounded_background" -->
<TextView
android:id="#+id/aboutCopyText"
style="#style/ResortNameExtraLine"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:gravity="center_horizontal"
android:text="#string/aboutCopy" />
</LinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
</RelativeLayout>

Here another solution using sizes instead of weights. I've extended ScrollView and added code to implement this feature:
https://gist.github.com/JMPergar/439aaa3249fa184c7c0c
I hope that be useful.

JMpergar answer seems right but its not worked until I changed the onMeasure method like below.
#Override
protected void onMeasure(int widthMeasureSpec, int heightMeasureSpec) {
try {
int heightSize = MeasureSpec.getSize(heightMeasureSpec);
if (maxHeight != WITHOUT_MAX_HEIGHT_VALUE
&& heightSize > maxHeight) {
heightSize = maxHeight;
heightMeasureSpec = MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(heightSize, MeasureSpec.AT_MOST);
getLayoutParams().height = heightSize;
} else {
heightMeasureSpec = MeasureSpec.makeMeasureSpec(heightSize, MeasureSpec.AT_MOST);
setMeasuredDimension(getDefaultSize(getSuggestedMinimumWidth(), widthMeasureSpec)
, getDefaultSize(this.getSuggestedMinimumHeight(), heightMeasureSpec));
}
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} finally {
super.onMeasure(widthMeasureSpec, heightMeasureSpec);
}
}

you can just wrap your ScrollView into another ConstraintLayout, then constrain the height (the line app:layout_constrainedHeight="true"):
<!-- another constraint layout to keep ScrollView shrinking -->
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<androidx.core.widget.NestedScrollView
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
app:layout_constrainedHeight="true"
app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"
app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent">
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
android:id="#+id/content_layout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content">