why doesnt android:inputType="textMultiLine|textEmailAddress" allow multiple lines

Question

I have an EditText input field that needs to accept multiple email addresses.
e.g. on multiple lines.
however by setting android:inputType="textMultiLine|textEmailAddress"
the textEmailAddress options stops multiple lines being entered.
I've searched google and SO and all the "solutions" do not fix this.
Whats a working solution?

Answer 1

Try this....It's working for me

1. android:singleLine="false"
2. android:lines="10" //max lines
3. android:minLines = "3" // This will be the height

have a look at this EditText

  <EditText
    android:id="@+id/addr_edittext"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="150dp"
    android:gravity="top|left"
    android:inputType="textEmailAddress|textMultiLine"
    android:lines="20"
    android:minLines="5"
    android:scrollHorizontally="false"
    android:scrollbars="vertical"
    android:singleLine="false" />

Answer 2

however by setting android:inputType="textMultiLine|textEmailAddress" the textEmailAddress options stops multiple lines being entered.

textEmailAddress and textMultiline are hints to the IME (input method editor). There are many input method editors available on Android devices, and not all will necessarily honor things the way that you want. I am not terribly surprised that textEmailAddress and textMultiline will not work together on some IMEs.

Here are some options:

1. Just use textMultiline and hope the user does not attack you with pitchforks for the hassle of getting to the @ key.

2. Use more than one EditText widget. For example, you might have one (or a couple) of textEmailAddress EditText widgets, plus a + ImageButton to add more, collecting one address per EditText.

Answer 3

Have you set the MaxLine attribute for EditText

Try this code:

  <EditText
    android:inputType="textMultiLine" <!-- Multiline input -->
    android:lines="8" <!-- Total Lines prior display -->
    android:minLines="6" <!-- Minimum lines -->
    android:gravity="top|left" <!-- Cursor Position -->
    android:maxLines="10" <!-- Maximum Lines -->
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" <!-- Height determined by content -->
    android:layout_width="fill_parent" <!-- Fill entire width -->
    android:scrollbars="vertical" <!-- Vertical Scroll Bar -->
    android:singleLine="false" <!--Enables insertion of new line with "enter" -->
  />

Answer 4

If you are looking to add multiple recipient like gmail or any email...

Please go though the similar post

Android EditText Gmail like to field

Or You can make Multiple E-mail Autocomplete TextView.

public class ContactsAutoComplete extends AutoCompleteTextView {

    public ContactsAutoComplete(final Context context, final AttributeSet attrs,
            final int defStyle) {
        super(context, attrs, defStyle);
        this.setThreshold(0);
        this.setUpContacts();
    }

    public ContactsAutoComplete(final Context context, final AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);
        this.setThreshold(0);
        this.setUpContacts();
    }

    public ContactsAutoComplete(final Context context) {
        super(context);
        this.setThreshold(0);
        this.setUpContacts();
    }

    // --- comma separating stuff

    private String previous = ""; //$NON-NLS-1$
    private String seperator = ", "; //$NON-NLS-1$

    /**
     * This method filters out the existing text till the separator and launched
     * the filtering process again
     */
    @Override
    protected void performFiltering(final CharSequence text, final int keyCode) {
        String filterText = text.toString().trim();
        previous = filterText.substring(0,
                filterText.lastIndexOf(getSeperator()) + 1);
        filterText = filterText.substring(filterText.lastIndexOf(getSeperator()) + 1);
        if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(filterText)) {
            super.performFiltering(filterText, keyCode);
        }
    }

    /**
     * After a selection, capture the new value and append to the existing text
     */
    @Override
    protected void replaceText(final CharSequence text) {
        super.replaceText(previous + text + getSeperator());
    }

    public String getSeperator() {
        return seperator;
    }

    public void setSeperator(final String seperator) {
        this.seperator = seperator;
    }

    // --- contacts stuff

    private void setUpContacts() {
        ContactListAdapter adapter = new ContactListAdapter(getContext(), null);
        setAdapter(adapter);
    }

    @SuppressWarnings("nls")
    public static class ContactListAdapter extends CursorAdapter implements Filterable {
        public ContactListAdapter(Context context, Cursor c) {
            super(context, c);
            mContent = context.getContentResolver();
        }

        @Override
        public View newView(Context context, Cursor cursor, ViewGroup parent) {
            final LayoutInflater inflater = LayoutInflater.from(context);
            final TextView view = (TextView) inflater.inflate(
                    android.R.layout.simple_dropdown_item_1line, parent, false);
            view.setText(convertToString(getCursor()));
            return view;
        }

        @Override
        public void bindView(View view, Context context, Cursor cursor) {
            ((TextView) view).setText(convertToString(cursor));
        }

        @Override
        public String convertToString(Cursor cursor) {
            return cursor.getString(1) + " <" + cursor.getString(2) +">";
        }

        @Override
        public Cursor runQueryOnBackgroundThread(CharSequence constraint) {
            if (getFilterQueryProvider() != null) {
                return getFilterQueryProvider().runQuery(constraint);
            }

            StringBuilder buffer = null;
            String[] args = null;
            if (constraint != null) {
                constraint = constraint.toString().trim();
                buffer = new StringBuilder();
                buffer.append("UPPER(").append(People.NAME).append(") GLOB ?");
                buffer.append(" OR ");
                buffer.append("UPPER(").append(ContactMethods.DATA).append(") GLOB ?");
                args = new String[] { constraint.toString().toUpperCase() + "*",
                        constraint.toString().toUpperCase() + "*" };
            }

            return mContent.query(Contacts.ContactMethods.CONTENT_EMAIL_URI,
                    PEOPLE_PROJECTION, buffer == null ? null : buffer.toString(), args,
                    Contacts.People.DEFAULT_SORT_ORDER);
        }

        private final ContentResolver mContent;
    }

    private static final String[] PEOPLE_PROJECTION = new String[] {
        People._ID,
        People.NAME,
        ContactMethods.DATA
    };
}

Use This Custom AutoCompleteTextView like below

<YOUR_PACKAGE.ContactsAutoComplete
        android:id="@+id/emails"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:hint="Send To"
        android:scrollbars="vertical"
        android:singleLine="false" />

Add this permission

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />

Please refer below blog.

http://www.betaful.com/2011/02/multiple-e-mail-autocomplete-in-android/

Hope this will help you.

Answer 5

android:inputType="textMultiLine|textEmailAddress"

make single line as false.this will allow multiple lines in your edit text.