Including layouts: a working example

Here's a working example of including one layout inside another.

Let me know if you have any issues or questions.
This works with, and probably requires, a AVD version of 2.1 or thereabouts.



contents of droidTest1.java:

package androidforbeginners.droidTest1;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;

public class droidTest1 extends Activity {
/** Called when the activity is first created. */
@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
}
}


contents of main.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
>
<TextView
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="combining layouts"
/>

<include android:id="@+id/cell1" layout="@layout/layout2" />
<include android:id="@+id/cell2" layout="@layout/layout3" />


</LinearLayout>



Contents of layout2.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="100px"
android:background="#0033cc"
>
<TextView
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="40px"
android:text="layout2"
/>
<CheckBox
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="40px"
/>
</LinearLayout>


Contents of layout3.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="100px"
android:background="#0066cc"
>
<TextView
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="layout3"
/>
<CheckBox
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
/>
</LinearLayout>


Output:



You could also include multiple occurrences of the one layout in your main.xml like this if you wanted:

contents of main.xml (revised):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
>
<TextView
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="combining layouts"
/>

<include android:id="@+id/cell1" layout="@layout/layout2" />
<include android:id="@+id/cell2" layout="@layout/layout2" />
<include android:id="@+id/cell3" layout="@layout/layout2" />
<include android:id="@+id/cell4" layout="@layout/layout2" />


</LinearLayout>


Although if you do this, I can't see a way to reference individual repeating items.

I think include is more including a single layout across multiple Activities.

Let me know in the comments if you know a way.

Till next time: Enjoy!