Use string format arguments in Android layout xml file

Question

I have a string defined in my String.xml file that uses format arguments, i.e.:

<string name="myString">Hello %1$s.</string>

Is there a way to assign a value to the format argument in a layout xml file? I have something like:

<TextView android:text="@string/myString"/>

I know I can do it in java, but is there a way to do it here?

Thanks!

CommonsWare · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-02T17:26:39.567

28

~~No, there is no means of applying a value to the format from a layout file -- only in Java. Sorry!~~

UPDATE: You can now use data binding for this — see the duplicate question.

edited Aug 02 '19 at 17:26

answered Dec 17 '09 at 20:30

CommonsWare

1

I kinda thought that might be the case, but I was hoping otherwise. Thanks! – Cheryl Simon Dec 18 '09 at 16:38
Ouch. I really hoped to avoid having things like `my_string` and `my_string_colon`/`qmark`/`emark` etc. everywhere. – Bakuriu Jan 21 '13 at 08:50
2

7+ years later, is this answer still correct? – Gary Sheppard May 18 '17 at 14:24
1

@GaryS.: You should be able to pull this off using the data binding framework. – CommonsWare May 18 '17 at 14:25
@CommonsWare yes. Thank you! It's still Java, but it's probably the best way of doing what the OP wanted. Details: https://developer.android.com/topic/libraries/data-binding/index.html – Gary Sheppard May 18 '17 at 17:21
1

Per what I studied, data binding expressions requires data so pure resources and operators does not work may data-binding is still not a very good solution. – Teng-pao Yu Apr 25 '18 at 06:16
2

It is possible now. See https://stackoverflow.com/a/38984088/3190931. – Nate Whittaker Aug 02 '19 at 17:23

score -6 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 22 '10 at 10:43

-6

For Example In strings.xml
You have %d unread messages

In Your Java code
String message = getString(R.string.unread_messages, 10);

answered Jun 22 '10 at 10:43

Joe Ho

3

Please read the question. OP didnt want to set it in JAVA but in the layout file. – tobias Jan 05 '12 at 20:49
check http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/resources/string-resource.html#FormattingAndStyling – Joe Ho Jan 06 '12 at 03:03

2 Answers2