Adding content to a linear layout dynamically?

Question

If for example I have defined a root linear layout whose orientation is vertical:

main.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
      android:id="@+id/my_root"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_width="fill_parent"
      android:orientation="vertical"

    <!-- I would like to add content here dynamically.-->

</LinearLayout>

Inside the root linear layout, I would like to add multiple child linear layouts, each of the child linear layout orientation is horizontal. With all these I could end up with a table like output.

For example root with child layout such as:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
      android:id="@+id/my_root"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_width="fill_parent"
      android:orientation="vertical"

    <!-- 1st child (1st row)-->
    <LinearLayout 
        ...
       android:orientation="horizontal">

          <TextView .../>
          <TextView .../>
          <TextView .../>
    </LinearLayout>

     <!-- 2nd child (2nd row)-->
     ...
</LinearLayout>

Since the number of child linear layouts and their contents are quite dynamic, I've decide to add content to the root linear layout programmatically.

How can the second layout be added to the first programmatically, which could also set all the layout attributes for each child and add more other elements inside child?

score 111 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 16 '16 at 13:31

111

In your onCreate(), write the following

LinearLayout myRoot = (LinearLayout) findViewById(R.id.my_root);
LinearLayout a = new LinearLayout(this);
a.setOrientation(LinearLayout.HORIZONTAL);
a.addView(view1);
a.addView(view2);
a.addView(view3);
myRoot.addView(a);

view1, view2 and view3 are your TextViews. They're easily created programmatically.

edited Feb 16 '16 at 13:31

MC Emperor

22,334
15
80
130

answered Jul 12 '11 at 08:26

Sherif elKhatib

45,786
16
89
106

5

Anyone know why this is? Why can't I just do this.addView(view1) if this extends LinearLayout? – MegaWidget Sep 23 '16 at 20:07
Nice, but when should I use this, and when should I use TableLayout instead? Is it just a matter of personal taste? – Zerato Mar 07 '18 at 11:56
we must add linear layout into dynamic horizontalScrollView too. tnx : ) – SemyColon.Me May 26 '18 at 09:35

score 79 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 15 '15 at 16:33

79

LinearLayout layout = (LinearLayout)findViewById(R.id.layout);
View child = getLayoutInflater().inflate(R.layout.child, null);
layout.addView(child);

edited Jun 15 '15 at 16:33

Community

1
1

answered Jul 12 '11 at 08:25

gregory561

14,866
2
23
25

1

If we do like this. How do we manage to handle click events inside "layout.child"? – Malindu Nov 27 '16 at 10:31
3

@Warapitiy Use `child.findViewById` to get the element and set onclick listener. – Choxmi Mar 04 '17 at 04:58

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 12 '11 at 08:27

You can achieve LinearLayout cascading like this:

LinearLayout root = (LinearLayout) findViewById(R.id.my_root);    
LinearLayout llay1 = new LinearLayout(this);    
root.addView(llay1);
LinearLayout llay2 = new LinearLayout(this);    
llay1.addView(llay2);

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered May 16 '20 at 06:35

I found more accurate way to adding views like linear layouts in kotlin (Pass parent layout in inflate() and false)

val parentLayout = view.findViewById<LinearLayout>(R.id.llRecipientParent)
val childView = layoutInflater.inflate(R.layout.layout_recipient, parentLayout, false)
parentLayout.addView(childView)

Adding content to a linear layout dynamically?

4 Answers4

Linked