B4A Library [B4X] B4XGifView - Cross platform animated gif view

I was missing a cross platform, animated gif view, so created one.

Usage is simple:
Add with the visual designer and call SetGif to set the gif file.


The B4i implementation depends on FLAnimatedImage open source project: https://github.com/Flipboard/FLAnimatedImage
The FLAnimatedImage library was uploaded to the hosted builders. If you are using a local Mac then download FLAnimatedImage-Mac and copy the files to the Libs folder.
The B4A implementation is based on this open source project: https://github.com/koral--/android-gif-drawable
The two dependent aars are attached. Copy them to B4A additional libraries folder.

Updates:

1.12 - SetGif2 - Allows loading an animated gif from an array of bytes.
1.11 - GIF image ratio is preserved.
1.10 - New B4A implementation based on Android GIF Drawable. It provides better performance. Note that the Activity_Resume method has been removed. Don't miss the B4A-Dependencies zip file.

 

[Unobtainius]

Thanks Erel. I think I tried displaying animated gifs via the webview recently but I may well have given up. So a thumbs up from me.

 

[CaptKronos]

Hi Erel,
I'm getting memory problems if a reasonably large (~1mb) gif is loaded more than once e.g. from rotating the phone running your GifViewExample.

b4xgifview_v6 (java line: 118)
java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: Failed to allocate a 1638412 byte allocation with 1032504 free bytes and 1008KB until OOM
    at dalvik.system.VMRuntime.newNonMovableArray(Native Method)
    at android.graphics.Bitmap.nativeCreate(Native Method)
    at android.graphics.Bitmap.createBitmap(Bitmap.java:904)
    at android.graphics.Bitmap.createBitmap(Bitmap.java:928)
    at anywheresoftware.b4a.agraham.gifdecoder.GifDecoder.SetPixels(GifDecoder.java:298)

I have managed to fix the problem by adding to B4XGifView.b4xlib the sub:

Public Sub ClearBitmaps
    bitmaps.clear
End Sub

and calling ClearBitmaps before B4XGifView1.SetGif or in Activity_Pause.

 

[Erel]

The bitmaps list is cleared together with the view when the activity is destroyed. Have you called SetGif on the same GifView multiple times?

 

[CaptKronos]

I haven't changed your GifViewExample apart from loading a larger gif.

B4XGifView1.SetGif(File.DirAssets, "giphy.gif")

Then on rotating the phone I get the memory error.
Also, for an artificial example, this gives the memory error:

B4XGifView1.SetGif(File.DirAssets, "giphy.gif")
B4XGifView1.SetGif(File.DirAssets, "giphy.gif")

But this is fine:

B4XGifView1.SetGif(File.DirAssets, "giphy.gif")
B4XGifView1.ClearBitmaps
B4XGifView1.SetGif(File.DirAssets, "giphy.gif")

 

[Erel]

Then on rotating the phone I get the memory error.

I don't think that clearing the bitmaps list will help in this case as the class instance is released anyway. Have you tested it in release mode?

 

[CaptKronos]

Yep, the same problem in release mode.

 

[CaptKronos]

What I have just realised is that I under-reported the filesize of the gif. It was a 8mb (not 1mb) gif that was causing the problem on a YotaPhone 2 (2 GB RAM). On a Samsung S3, a 1mb gif causes the problem. On a Samsung S8, the 8mb gif is fine.
Do you think it could be just the way I call ClearBitmaps before the class is released, gives the garbage handling more time to run?

 

[Erel]

Do you think it could be just the way I call ClearBitmaps before the class is released, gives the garbage handling more time to run?

Might be.

 

[Erel]

1.10 - New B4A implementation based on Android GIF Drawable. It provides better performance. Note that the Activity_Resume method has been removed. Don't miss the B4A-Dependencies zip file.

 

[CaptKronos]

With the new version I'm no longer seeing the memory problem. Also, with the first version I was seeing some display corruption when showing large animated gifs. This is no longer the case. It seems perfect now.

 

[Erel]

v1.11 - GIF image ratio is preserved.

 

[AnandGupta]

v1.11 - GIF image ratio is preserved.

May be it was bug earlier, but I was using it show in full activity area, in any phone size,
gvGIF.SetGif(File.DirAssets, "clouds.gif")

Now the ratio is preserved and does not look good.

How to make it full screen like before without restoring to older library ?

Regards,

Anand

 

[Unobtainius]

preserve aspect ratio is normally a toggle
Is the source available?

 

[Erel]

Is the source available?

The source is inside the b4xlib (zip) file.

Now the ratio is preserved and does not look good.

In most cases images look better when the ratio is preserved.

You will need to use the source code and remove the call to ResizeBasedOnImage.

 

[AnandGupta]

In most cases images look better when the ratio is preserved.

Yes, but here I was using the bug to show full screen, something which looks good in any shape clouds

You will need to use the source code and remove the call to ResizeBasedOnImage.

Ahh..the dreaded path..

I know the source is there, but I am still a novice as far as changing library source is concerned. Actually I am afraid as I may dismantle something else. Will give it a try.
Any hint how to add an option so that the library produces both results ?

Regards,

Anand

 

[mohd_farez]

how to hide B4XGifView ?

 

[mohd_farez]

how to hide B4XGifView ?

solved using B4XView

 

[Erel]

All custom views expose the base panel that holds them (mBase). You can use it to hide or move the view.

 

[mohd_farez]

All custom views expose the base panel that holds them (mBase). You can use it to hide or move the view.

ok , thank u Erel