How to set maxLines and ellipsize of a TextView at the same time

Question

I want to limit my text view to have maximum of 5 lines, so I did:

<TextView
    android:id="@+id/text"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"  
    android:maxLines="5" />

But when I try to configure it to add '...' when the text is truncated, I add android:ellipsize="end". I do see the ... but then my TextView only has a max line of 2, instead of 5.

Can you please suggest how can I make the text view of maximum line of 5 and add '...' when it get truncated?

Thank you.

Did you figure this out? Maybe you could post your answer below for the reference of other users — HXCaine, Oct 02 '10 at 17:42
For me, it does really work when `ellipsize` is removed. Instead of '...' I use `setVerticalFadingEdgeEnabled` and `setFadingEdgeLength`. — Stan, Apr 01 '13 at 08:49

Imeshke · Answer 1 · 2014-11-10T06:03:54.013

62

Progrmatically, you can use:

your_text_view.setEllipsize(TextUtils.TruncateAt.END);
your_text_view.setMaxLines(4);
your_text_view.setText("text");

edited Nov 10 '14 at 06:03

answered Apr 23 '13 at 12:04

Imeshke

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1

This does not work for me it always sets it for 1 line – JPM Oct 17 '16 at 20:59
Check your xml file. Might be your TextView can have android:maxLines = "1". If it is remove it. – Imeshke Oct 18 '16 at 09:22
3

For me its not there working is a definite bug in Android. If I use the treeObserver method. – JPM Oct 19 '16 at 20:07

score 27 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 08 '12 at 06:45

27

try this code...

    final TextView tv_yourtext = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.text);

    tv_yourtext.setText("A really long text");
    ViewTreeObserver vto = tv_yourtext.getViewTreeObserver();
    vto.addOnGlobalLayoutListener(new OnGlobalLayoutListener() {

        @Override
        public void onGlobalLayout() {
            ViewTreeObserver obs = tv_yourtext.getViewTreeObserver();
            obs.removeGlobalOnLayoutListener(this);
            if(tv_yourtext.getLineCount() > 6){
                Log.d("","Line["+tv_yourtext.getLineCount()+"]"+tv_yourtext.getText());
                int lineEndIndex = tv_yourtext.getLayout().getLineEnd(5);
                String text = tv_yourtext.getText().subSequence(0, lineEndIndex-3)+"...";
                tv_yourtext.setText(text);
                Log.d("","NewText:"+text);
            }

        }
    });

answered Aug 08 '12 at 06:45

Manoj Manani

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4
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1

This code works perfectly for me! @michael, if it works for you, you should mark it as the answer. – neevek Nov 06 '12 at 04:36
I get a question. what is the function of the following code. ViewTreeObserver obs = tv_yourtext.getViewTreeObserver(); obs.removeGlobalOnLayoutListener(this); C an I use vto.removeGlobalOnLayoutListener(this) instead? Thanks. – RxRead Nov 08 '13 at 08:06
using `RecyclerView.Adapter TextView` not set text check this my question https://stackoverflow.com/questions/60790803/using-viewtreeobserver-i-am-adding-setmaxlines-and-setellipsize-in-materialtextv – Kishan Viramgama Mar 23 '20 at 10:12

score 22 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 19 '18 at 10:17

22

Apparently you have to specify the inputType and set it to none in this case. It should look something like this:

<TextView
  android:ellipsize="end"
  android:inputType="none"
  android:maxLines="2"

answered Mar 19 '18 at 10:17

SeptimusX75

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Unfortunately, although that doesindeed truncate, there are no ellipses at the end. – FractalBob Mar 27 '23 at 07:08

score 13 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 29 '13 at 01:22

13

You only need to add this line to your TextView:

android:ellipsize="marquee"

answered Mar 29 '13 at 01:22

John Alexander Betts

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It does not work for me when I need 2 lines at most and "..." at the end – Francis Bacon Nov 07 '18 at 12:35

score 6 · Answer 5 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

6

There is same question android ellipsize multiline textview This is known bug, quite old and not fixed yet :(

someone posted workaround http://code.google.com/p/android-textview-multiline-ellipse/ maybe it will help you (or someone else)

edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

Community

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answered Feb 16 '11 at 12:25

Lope

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score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Feb 13 '19 at 07:08

<TextView
android:id="@+id/text"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"  
android:maxLines="5"
android:ellipsize="end" />

Works for me, make sure TextView top container should have height like

android:layout_height="wrap_content"

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 10 '17 at 19:39

0

When I set the TextView height to a constant value (like 50dp), it works fine for me.

answered Feb 10 '17 at 19:39

david72

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How to set maxLines and ellipsize of a TextView at the same time

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