Android Question Distibute buttons? or anything!

[aidymp]

Hi,
LAYOUTS on android are a real problem for me! I know you can use CODE! to do your layouts, but I am mathematically challenged! I have x number of buttons/images/any control that I position on a layout, and on every device they are wrong!

For example I have 4 buttons horizontally, placed all on the same level, but spaced by hand!
I also have 3 Images, in the same format underneath. But has someone got a sub, or even a formula I can use to place them all evenly, and keep them looking good, including some scaling?

Currently my app looks GREAT! on my device, but on any other device, its just a mess!

I know this is due to my poor maths skills, but im sure someone, has a sub that just works out the spacing! or has some tips for a newbie!

Thanks

Aidy

 

[canalrun]

Hello,
I do all my layouts by positioning the elements in code.

I started doing this before there were Designer Scripts. Maybe those replace a lot of what I am doing.

The code below is from one of my apps

  Dim spc As Int
  spc = (pnBtn.Width - (4 * bnInp.Width)) / 5

  bnInp.Left = spc
  bnClr.Left = bnInp.Left + bnInp.Width + spc
  bnSav.Left = bnClr.Left + bnClr.Width + spc
  bnRcl.Left = bnSav.Left + bnSav.Width + spc

  edMemo.SetLayout(0, pnTitle.Height + pnMemo.Height * 0.01, _
    pnMemo.Width, pnMemo.Height - (pnTitle.Height + pnBtn.Height + pnMemo.Height * 0.02))
  edMemo.Text = ""

  Dim cd As ColorDrawable

  cd.Initialize2(ClrBGnd1, 5, 1, ClrBrdr1)
  edMemo.Background = cd

I usually have panels that hold a group of buttons. Spc calculates even spacing between four buttons positioned within that panel.
edMemo is an EditText that is positioned 1% from the top of its parent panel, pnMemo, and fills 98% of the panel minus a couple other panel heights.
I then set the background and border colors.

I hope this gives some ideas. It's certainly not the prettiest thing in the world – I don't know of a universal solution. I usually have separate subroutines with a whole lot of code similar to the above for both landscape and portrait layouts.

Barry.

 

[JonPM]

I would highly recommend learning the Designer and Designer Scripts, this will solve most of your headaches

 

[aidymp]

I would highly recommend learning the Designer and Designer Scripts, this will solve most of your headaches

SO the designer can evenly space buttons that will display correctly on any device?

 

[JonPM]

SO the designer can evenly space buttons that will display correctly on any device?

Yes, you can see a short example here: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/designer-anchors-video-example.36507/

This is a great tutorial: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/designer-scripts-tutorial.16120/#post-91582

Example 8.12.1 in the Beginner's Guide is a good example of what you are trying to do.

 

[aidymp]

Thank you! yourself and others really make this community what it is! USEFUL!

Thanks again

Aidy

 

[inakigarm]

I'm totally lost about designer scripts; I use panel and anchors and something similar to this: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/resize-all-views-to-any-screen-size.46600/ (thanks to @ilan )

Maybe it's not the "official" way to do it but works for me

 

[aidymp]

I'm totally lost about designer scripts; I use panel and anchors and something similar to this: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/resize-all-views-to-any-screen-size.46600/ (thanks to @ilan )

Maybe it's not the "official" way to do it but works for me

Thanks I will take a look, My design is perfect on my TV box, but ppl say its horrid or unusable on phones, tablets, and Amazon devices, and I really need it to work on all devices!