Evenly spaced menu items on Toolbar

Question

So I've been trying to implement android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar in my Activity and to make it look similar to the previously supported split ActionBar.

Here's the XML for my Toolbar:

<android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar
    android:id="@+id/toolbar_btm"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:minHeight="?attr/actionBarSize"
    android:background="@color/toolbar_bkgnd"
    android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
    app:theme="@style/ToolBarTheme" />

Here's the style for the Toolbar I'm using:

<style name="ToolBarTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat">
    <item name="actionButtonStyle">@style/ActionButtonStyle</item>
    <item name="android:actionButtonStyle">@style/ActionButtonStyle</item>
    <item name="android:textColor">@android:color/white</item>
</style>

The style for the Toolbar menu buttons, my initial plan was to calculate the minWidth based on the screen size and then set it for each menu button.

<style name="ActionButtonStyle" parent="@android:style/Widget.Holo.Light.ActionButton">
    <item name="android:minWidth">56dip</item>
    <item name="android:paddingLeft">0dip</item>
    <item name="android:paddingRight">0dip</item>
</style>

And finally, here is what I'm calling in my activity.

Toolbar toolbar = (Toolbar) findViewById(R.id.toolbar_btm);
toolbarBtm.inflateMenu(R.id.menu);

The problem is that the menu items in the bottom Toolbar are right aligned like this:

However I want them to be evenly spaced like this:

Answer 1

Here's what worked* for me:

EnhancedMenuInflater.java

import android.support.v4.internal.view.SupportMenuItem;
import android.support.v7.internal.view.menu.MenuItemImpl;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.MenuInflater;
import android.view.MenuItem;

import here.is.your.R;

public class EnhancedMenuInflater {

    public static void inflate(MenuInflater inflater, Menu menu, boolean forceVisible) {
        inflater.inflate(R.menu.menu, menu);

        if (!forceVisible) {
            return;
        }

        int size = menu.size();
        for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
            MenuItem item = menu.getItem(i);
            // check if app:showAsAction = "ifRoom"
            if (((MenuItemImpl) item).requestsActionButton()) {
                item.setShowAsAction(SupportMenuItem.SHOW_AS_ACTION_ALWAYS);
            }
        }
    }
}

MainActivity.java

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    if (toolbar == null) {
        EnhancedMenuInflater.inflate(getMenuInflater(), menu, false);
    }
    return super.onCreateOptionsMenu(menu);
}

// somewhere after views have been set.
if (toolbar != null) {
    EnhancedMenuInflater.inflate(getMenuInflater(), toolbar.getMenu(), true);
    toolbar.setOnMenuItemClickListener(new Toolbar.OnMenuItemClickListener() {
        @Override
        public boolean onMenuItemClick(MenuItem item) {
            return onOptionsItemSelected(item);
        }
    });
}

SplitToolbar.java

import android.content.Context;
import android.support.v7.widget.ActionMenuView;
import android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;

public class SplitToolbar extends Toolbar {
    public SplitToolbar(Context context) {
        super(context);
    }

    public SplitToolbar(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);
    }

    public SplitToolbar(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyleAttr) {
        super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr);
    }

    @Override
    public void addView(View child, ViewGroup.LayoutParams params) {
        if (child instanceof ActionMenuView) {
            params.width = LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT;
        }
        super.addView(child, params);
    }
}

Layout.xml

<here.is.my.SplitToolbar
    android:id="@+id/toolbar"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"/>

When I say worked I mean that it centered EVERYTHING in my menu, text and images alike. If you only use icons for your menu then it will look great. I'm still looking for a way to center them and have the text to be right next to the icons.

Answer 2

UPDATE

Google now has very similar functionality inflated the normal ways menus inflate using a new Widget call BottomNavigationView

-- Original Answer --

Guys this took me some time to figure out and here you go its a little bit of a heavy operation but it works.

I use this on a Toolbar to display across the bottom of the screen like the old SplitActionBar...

BEHOLD the evenly distributed MenuItems across your Toolbar

I would not recommend using more than 5 or 6 items, it may get a little crowded...

/**
 * This method will take however many items you have in your  
 * menu/menu_main.xml and distribute them across your devices screen
 * evenly using a Toolbar. Enjoy!!
 */
public void setupEvenlyDistributedToolbar(){
    // Use Display metrics to get Screen Dimensions
    Display display = getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay();
    DisplayMetrics metrics = new DisplayMetrics();
    display.getMetrics(metrics);

    // Toolbar
    mToolbar = (Toolbar) findViewById(R.id.navigationToolbar);
    // Inflate your menu
    mToolbar.inflateMenu(R.menu.menu_bottom);

    // Add 10 spacing on either side of the toolbar
    mToolbar.setContentInsetsAbsolute(10, 10);

    // Get the ChildCount of your Toolbar, this should only be 1
    int childCount = mToolbar.getChildCount();
    // Get the Screen Width in pixels
    int screenWidth = metrics.widthPixels;

    // Create the Toolbar Params based on the screenWidth
    Toolbar.LayoutParams toolbarParams = new Toolbar.LayoutParams(screenWidth, LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT);

    // Loop through the child Items
    for(int i = 0; i < childCount; i++){
        // Get the item at the current index
        View childView = mToolbar.getChildAt(i);
        // If its a ViewGroup
        if(childView instanceof ViewGroup){
            // Set its layout params
            childView.setLayoutParams(toolbarParams);
            // Get the child count of this view group, and compute the item widths based on this count & screen size
            int innerChildCount = ((ViewGroup) childView).getChildCount();
            int itemWidth  = (screenWidth / innerChildCount);               
            // Create layout params for the ActionMenuView
            ActionMenuView.LayoutParams params = new ActionMenuView.LayoutParams(itemWidth, LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT);
            // Loop through the children
            for(int j = 0; j < innerChildCount; j++){
                View grandChild = ((ViewGroup) childView).getChildAt(j);
                if(grandChild instanceof ActionMenuItemView){
                    // set the layout parameters on each View
                    grandChild.setLayoutParams(params);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Answer 3

Check this out.

<android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar
        xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
        xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
        xmlns:abc="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
        android:id="@+id/toolbar"
        android:layout_height="?attr/actionBarSize"
        android:layout_width="match_parent">

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent">

        <ImageView
            android:layout_width="0dp"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:layout_weight="1"
            android:id="@+id/action1"
            android:background="@color/red_700"/>

        <ImageView
            android:layout_width="0dp"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:layout_weight="1"
            android:id="@+id/action2"
            android:background="@color/red_200"/>

        <ImageView
            android:layout_width="0dp"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:layout_weight="1"
            android:id="@+id/action3"
            android:background="@color/red_100"/>

    </LinearLayout>

</android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar>

Replace ImageView with whatever you want.

Answer 4

Here is a solution I have posted for another similar question, since on my bottom toolbar I wanted equally spaced buttons: android add two toolbars in the same activity

Answer 5

This solution take the best from each of above solutions , Thanks to inner_class7 ,Kuffs & MrEngineer13.
This solution evenly distribute the menu items and shows the text .

public class EvenlyDistributedToolbar extends android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar {

    private View actionMenuView;
    public EvenlyDistributedToolbar(Context context) {
        super(context);
        setContentInsetsAbsolute(0, 0);
    }

    public EvenlyDistributedToolbar(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);
        setContentInsetsAbsolute(0, 0);
    }

    public EvenlyDistributedToolbar(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyleAttr) {
        super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr);
        setContentInsetsAbsolute(0, 0);
    }

    @Override
    public void addView(View child, ViewGroup.LayoutParams params) {
        if (child instanceof ActionMenuView) {
            actionMenuView  = child ;
            params.width = LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT;

            ((ViewGroup)actionMenuView).setOnHierarchyChangeListener(new OnHierarchyChangeListener() {

                @Override 
                public void onChildViewRemoved(View parent, View child) {

                } 

                @Override 
                public void onChildViewAdded(View parent, View child) {
                    if (child instanceof ActionMenuItemView) {
                        //Show the menu item text as well as the the icon
                        ActionMenuItemView actionMenuItemView = (ActionMenuItemView) child;
                        // set the layout parameters on each View
                        actionMenuItemView.setExpandedFormat(true);
                        Drawable[] arr = actionMenuItemView.getCompoundDrawables();

                        if (arr != null && arr.length == 4 && arr[0] != null) {
                            actionMenuItemView.setGravity(Gravity.LEFT | Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL);
                        }
                        else if (arr != null && arr.length == 4 && arr[2] != null) {
                            actionMenuItemView.setGravity(Gravity.RIGHT | Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL);
                        }
                        actionMenuItemView.setTextSize(TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_DIP, 16);
                        actionMenuItemView.setOnLongClickListener(null);

                    }
                } 
            }); 
        }
        super.addView(child, params);
    }


    /**
     * Show All items, call after the menu inflated
     */
    public void showAll() {
        Menu menu = getMenu();

        int size = menu.size();
        for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
            MenuItem item = menu.getItem(i);
            // check if app:showAsAction = "ifRoom"
            if (((MenuItemImpl) item).requestsActionButton()) {
                item.setShowAsAction(SupportMenuItem.SHOW_AS_ACTION_ALWAYS);
            }
        }
    }


}

        <com.util.EvenlyDistributedToolbar
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

Answer 6

If you create your menu programmatically rather than by inflating from resources, you can do this:

Use the SplitToolbar as mentioned in another answer. Get a reference to the toolbar using FindViewById as normal. If the toolbar does not exist in the layout, the menu functions as a normal non-split version.

import android.content.Context;
import android.support.v7.widget.ActionMenuView;
import android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;

public class SplitToolbar extends Toolbar {
    public SplitToolbar(Context context) {
        super(context);
    }

    public SplitToolbar(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);
    }

    public SplitToolbar(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyleAttr) {
        super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr);
    }

    @Override
    public void addView(View child, ViewGroup.LayoutParams params) {
        if (child instanceof ActionMenuView) {
            params.width = LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT;
        }
        super.addView(child, params);
    }
}

Then in your menu creation code do the following.

@Override
public boolean onPrepareOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {

    if (toolbar != null) {
       toolbar.setContentInsetsAbsolute(0,0);
        menu = toolbar.getMenu();
        toolbar.setOnMenuItemClickListener(new Toolbar.OnMenuItemClickListener() {
            @Override
            public boolean onMenuItemClick(MenuItem menuItem) {
                // Call back to the original menu code to handle menu clicks
                return onOptionsItemSelected(menuItem);
            }
        });
    }

    // Now build your menu as normal
    menu.clear();

    MenuItem b = menu.add(0, WHATEVER, 0, R.string.WHATEVER);
             b.setShowAsAction(MenuItem.SHOW_AS_ACTION_IF_ROOM | MenuItem.SHOW_AS_ACTION_WITH_TEXT);
             b.setIcon(R.drawable.ic_menu_encrypt);
    // End of normal menu code

    // Now set the button options.
    if (toolbar != null) {
        int size = menu.size();
        for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
            MenuItem item = menu.getItem(i);
            // check if app:showAsAction = "ifRoom"
            if (((MenuItemImpl) item).requestsActionButton()) {
                item.setShowAsAction(SupportMenuItem.SHOW_AS_ACTION_ALWAYS);
            }
        }
    }
    Return true; 
}

Answer 7

My recommendation is to follow the design guidelines. If you are using a toolbar then leave the menu items where they are designed to go.

However, if you want equal spacing then consider using Tabs

or a Bottom Navigation Bar

This answer tells how to set up a Bottom Navigation Bar.

Answer 8

The solution proposed by public void setupEvenlyDistributedToolbar(){} by kandroidj works perfectly. However to make the solution a bit more complete you need a custom OnclickListener:

attached is my implementation

private void setupOnClickListener4Toolbar(Toolbar toolbar) {
    Menu bottomMenu = toolbar.getMenu();
    for (int i = 0; i < bottomMenu.size(); i++) {
        bottomMenu.getItem(i).setOnMenuItemClickListener(new MenuItem.OnMenuItemClickListener() {
            @Override
            public boolean onMenuItemClick(MenuItem item) {
                return onOptionsItemSelected(item);
            }
        });
    }
}