How can I set EditText cursor location at center where Hint is already populated?

Question

I have a editTextbox as below and need to set cursor in the middle of it.

<EditText
    android:id="@+id/editText"
    android:layout_width="300dp"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_marginTop="30dp"
    android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
    android:gravity="center_horizontal"
    android:textCursorDrawable="@drawable/my_custom_cursor"
    android:hint="Hello My World"/>

I tried:

editText = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.editText);
    int length = editText.getHint().length();
    editText.setSelection(length/2);  <-- problem

The length returns 0 since there is no real text exist in the editText box. Could anyone tell me how I can set initial cursor locate at the middle of "Hello My World" ?

Thanks advance!

log the length, and see if its zero, if its not then it should work — Elltz, Sep 04 '14 at 03:45
You can use `editText.setPadding (int left, int top, int right, int bottom);` if your `hint` is static. — Aniruddha, Sep 04 '14 at 04:52
yes, the length returns size of hint text but setSelection method doesn't see the same, e.g., it consider it as 0 length text populated. Apparently hint text is not same as regular text — beachboy, Sep 04 '14 at 14:18

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:15

0

Try this:

<EditText
    android:id="@+id/editText"
    android:layout_width="300dp"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_marginTop="30dp"
    android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:hint="Hello My World"/>

Reference:

Android: Edittext with gravity center not working on device

edited May 23 '17 at 12:15

Community

1
1

answered Sep 04 '14 at 04:48

PLP

714
3
13

I read this post before I tried but it didn't work. The cursor stays the front of the text hint. – beachboy Sep 04 '14 at 14:05

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 04 '14 at 04:53

0

You can use the below if your hint is not dynamic.

 editText.setPadding (int left, int top, int right, int bottom);

Just give some int value to left, and the cursor will move.

Or you can add android:paddingLeft="30dp" to your EditText in xml file.

answered Sep 04 '14 at 04:53

Aniruddha

4,477
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It not only moves entire hint text to the right by 30dp but also can't use the first 30dp on the left side. What I need is just keep the cursor centered in the middle initially and as soon as user start typing, it starts from left 0dp area. – beachboy Sep 04 '14 at 14:09

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 04 '14 at 06:32

0

Try this, just add request focus directly on your XML file. You don't have to do setting your cursor programmatically on your Activity.

<EditText
    android:id="@+id/editText"
    android:layout_width="300dp"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_marginTop="30dp"
    android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:hint="Hello My World">

 <requestFocus />

</EditText>

If you don't add request focus on your EditText the cursor will not show unless you tapped on it. Hope this help.

answered Sep 04 '14 at 06:32

yhel

92
1
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I found no effect trying this – beachboy Sep 04 '14 at 14:10
@beachboy what exactly you want to do with your edittext can you provide a screen shot? – yhel Sep 05 '14 at 00:12

How can I set EditText cursor location at center where Hint is already populated?

3 Answers3