Android Tips, Techniques and Theory

PART 2: Creating Content with Java with Android Studio (Programming required)

With Simple Recipes

(Click Table of Content button to expand or collapse TOC)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Most things you do in Android Studio require both a XML file and Java code. Also, most content can either be declared with XML or created with Java. So the concepts are broken into two separate parts. However, in production, you will typically use both XML and Java together.

XML is typically used to show the VISUAL elements; whereas, Java is used to make XML elements interactive.
XML files require no programming; whereas, Java files obviously do.

For most XML attribute there is a corresponding Java method. See table below for some common examples using the TextView component. Notice that for each XML attribute, the corresponding Java method typically starts with a prefix of “set” as part of the method name.

XML Attribute Name	Related Java Method	Description
android:autoLink	setAutoLinkMask(int)	Set the controls whether links (e.g., urls, email) are automatically found and converted to clickable links.
android:cursorVisible	setCursorVisible(boolean)	Set the cursor visible (default) or invisible.
android:ellipsize	setEllipsize(TextUtils. TruncateAt)	If set, causes words that are longer than the view is wide to be ellipsized
android:text	setText(CharSequence, TextView.BufferType)	Set the text to display
android:textAllCaps	setAllCaps(boolean)	Set the text in all caps
android:textAppearance	setTextAppearance(int)	Set the base text color, typeface, size, and style
android:textColor	setTextColor(int)	Set the text color
android:textIsSelectable	isTextSelectable()	Indicates that the content of a non-editable text can be selected
android:textSize	setTextSize(int,float)	Set the size of the text
android:textStyle	setTypeface(Typeface)	Set the style (bold, italic) for the text
android:typeface	setTypeface(Typeface)	Set text’s typeface (e.g., normal, sans, serif, monospace)
android:width	setWidth(int)	Set the width of the TextView.

As a beginner developer, you may want to start by creating and setting properties on most of your visible content with XML. As you become more proficient, you will want to migrate to create your content in Java code because the app will be faster and more efficient.

How to read code:
EXAMPLE: Intent webIntent = new Intent();

Code:	Intent	webIntent	=	new	Intent()
Read:	Create a new object of the data type Intent	and name it webIntent	by	instantiating it with	its constructor method