Android Screen Layout Debate

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krompa Lost but trying Posts: 257 Reg: Jun 14, 2013 Bristol 8,820	confirm \| cancel 10/28/13 09:10 AM (12 years ago) Android Screen Layout Debate I love Android - generally cheaper and no big apple man telling me what to do etc. However, the variation in screen sizes and resolution is no doubt a problem for app developers. E.g. I am developing a quiz app using the BT quiz plug-in and have noticed the difference in layout when testing on various devices. I can get a typical quiz screen looking perfect on my device but it's a bit 'squashed up' on the latest (high res) devices. How can I retain that perfect looking relative layout? Is android:layout_weight the answer? In simple terms the developer provides a size weighting to each element within the layout. So for a quiz question screen, the weightings could be something like this: NavBar - 10% Text or picture question - 35% Answer Button 1 - 10% Answer Button 2 - 10% Answer Button 3 - 10% Answer Button 4 - 10% Which leaves 15% for an ad banner at the bottom of the screen Total = 100% So, irrespective of the screen resolution, the relative size of each element remains consistent. I would love to hear from you if you have used layout_weight or have other ideas for solving this problem - which can only become more apparent as more android devices come on the market and the difference between high and low res screens becomes greater. I haven't mentioned text size or portrait/landscape issues, but feel free to. Title Comments I love Android - generally cheaper and no big apple man telling me what to do etc. However, the variation in screen sizes and resolution is no doubt a problem for app developers. E.g. I am developing a quiz app using the BT quiz plug-in and have noticed the difference in layout when testing on various devices. I can get a typical quiz screen looking perfect on my device but it's a bit 'squashed up' on the latest (high res) devices. How can I retain that perfect looking relative layout? Is android:layout_weight the answer? In simple terms the developer provides a size weighting to each element within the layout. So for a quiz question screen, the weightings could be something like this: NavBar - 10% Text or picture question - 35% Answer Button 1 - 10% Answer Button 2 - 10% Answer Button 3 - 10% Answer Button 4 - 10% Which leaves 15% for an ad banner at the bottom of the screen Total = 100% So, irrespective of the screen resolution, the relative size of each element remains consistent. I would love to hear from you if you have used layout_weight or have other ideas for solving this problem - which can only become more apparent as more android devices come on the market and the difference between high and low res screens becomes greater. I haven't mentioned text size or portrait/landscape issues, but feel free to.

Susan Metoxen buzztouch Evangelist Posts: 1706 Reg: May 01, 2011 Hopkins, Minnes... 26,260	10/28/13 10:44 AM (12 years ago) Android may need to have multiple layout files. So in addition to the multiple drawable files, it seems best practice is to use multiple layout files. http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html#DeclaringTabletLayouts I hope this helps. I haven't tried it with the quiz, just with the header images. Comments Android may need to have multiple layout files. So in addition to the multiple drawable files, it seems best practice is to use multiple layout files. http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html#DeclaringTabletLayouts I hope this helps. I haven't tried it with the quiz, just with the header images.

Sandeep Android Fan Posts: 1260 Reg: Feb 01, 2012 Miraj, India 25,250	10/28/13 11:48 AM (12 years ago) I have never tried the approach of using layout weight. Instead i do use 3 different layouts in most (not all) of my android apps. One is the regular layout in layout folder, the other one for devices with 7 inch displays in sw600dp folder and one for devices with 10 inch displays in sw720dp folder. The link provided by @Susan should be helpful for you. Comments I have never tried the approach of using layout weight. Instead i do use 3 different layouts in most (not all) of my android apps. One is the regular layout in layout folder, the other one for devices with 7 inch displays in sw600dp folder and one for devices with 10 inch displays in sw720dp folder. The link provided by @Susan should be helpful for you.

krompa Lost but trying Posts: 257 Reg: Jun 14, 2013 Bristol 8,820	10/28/13 12:57 PM (12 years ago) Hi Susan & Sandeep Yes that was a really useful link. I wasn't aware of the scaling to ldpi (x0.75), hdpi (x1.5) and xhdpi (x2.0) - which certainly helps. Time to add a couple more xml files and do some more testing on larger devices. Comments Hi Susan & Sandeep Yes that was a really useful link. I wasn't aware of the scaling to ldpi (x0.75), hdpi (x1.5) and xhdpi (x2.0) - which certainly helps. Time to add a couple more xml files and do some more testing on larger devices.

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