Apps Android Studio 2.2.2 GridLayout does not work

[Bruce Chess]

I am not designing this in my code, I am using the layout design editor. When I drag the GridLayout component on to the screen it does not show the co-ordinates and it does not mark the columns or the rows with the green bars. It is not working the way it should. Is there a setting that I am not enabling? Please help as I am going through a Tutorial and am stuck at this point.

 

[Deleted User]

It's not really a show stopper is it? If you drag a component to the GridLayout, it should tell you where the component is going to be placed. And it's pretty easy to move components if they don't land at the location you intended.

 

[Bruce Chess]

It's not really a show stopper is it? If you drag a component to the GridLayout, it should tell you where the component is going to be placed. And it's pretty easy to move components if they don't land at the location you intended.

Well It does not allow me to add a button in the GridLayout therefore stops me dead in my tracks

 

[Deleted User]

Strange. Do you have a screenshot of what the design editor looks like after you've added the Gridlayout?

 

[Deleted User]

Also, what does the layout XML look like? Can you post it here?

 

[Bruce Chess]

Also, what does the layout XML look like? Can you post it here?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="@+id/activity_main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
androidaddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
androidaddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
androidaddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
androidaddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context="com.example.papab.gridlayout.MainActivity">

<GridLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:layout_marginTop="9dp">

</GridLayout>

<Button
android:text="Button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:id="@+id/button"/>
</RelativeLayout>

 

[Bruce Chess]

Strange. Do you have a screenshot of what the design editor looks like after you've added the Gridlayout?

Yes here is a corel paint screen shot

 

[Deleted User]

Well as it stands, your Button is not in the GridLayout. You know that you can edit the XML text, and move the Button definition inside the GridLayout, like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="@+id/activity_main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context="com.example.papab.gridlayout.MainActivity">

<GridLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:layout_marginTop="9dp">

<Button
android:text="Button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:id="@+id/button"/>

</GridLayout>

</RelativeLayout>

 

[Deleted User]

And you also have a superfluous <RelativeLayout>. Your <GridLayout> should be the root element. So I would say ditch the RelativeLayout.

 

[Bruce Chess]

Well as it stands, your Button is not in the GridLayout. You know that you can edit the XML text, and move the Button definition inside the GridLayout, like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="@+id/activity_main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context="com.example.papab.gridlayout.MainActivity">

<GridLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:layout_marginTop="9dp">

<Button
android:text="Button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:id="@+id/button"/>

</GridLayout>

</RelativeLayout>

Well as it stands, your Button is not in the GridLayout. You know that you can edit the XML text, and move the Button definition inside the GridLayout, like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="@+id/activity_main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context="com.example.papab.gridlayout.MainActivity">

<GridLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:layout_marginTop="9dp">

<Button
android:text="Button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:id="@+id/button"/>

</GridLayout>

</RelativeLayout>

And you also have a superfluous <RelativeLayout>. Your <GridLayout> should be the root element. So I would say ditch the RelativeLayout.

Well as it stands, your Button is not in the GridLayout. You know that you can edit the XML text, and move the Button definition inside the GridLayout, like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="@+id/activity_main"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
tools:context="com.example.papab.gridlayout.MainActivity">

<GridLayout
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dp"
android:layout_marginTop="9dp">

<Button
android:text="Button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:id="@+id/button"/>

</GridLayout>

</RelativeLayout>

 

[Bruce Chess]

Yes thank you very much, but my question still remains why does my layout designer in Android Studio not 1. in design mode not place button in gridlayout 2. why should I remove the relativelayout tags. The tutorial doesn't have to use this coding work around

 

[Deleted User]

1. You probably didn't drag the Button component on to the GridLayout (it's pretty small if you use wrap_content as width and height)
2. What tutorial are you using? The one below does not have an extra <RelativeLayout>

http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Working_with_the_Android_GridLayout_in_XML_Layout_Resources

Both GridLayout and RelativeLayout are containers, into which you place other components. They just differ in the way that the components are placed relative to each other.
There's nothing stopping you having a GridLayout in a RelativeLayout, but it only makes sense if you have something else inside the RelativeLayout. Otherwise it's merely a container for a single GridLayout. Like I said, unnecessary.

 

[Bruce Chess]

1. You probably didn't drag the Button component on to the GridLayout (it's pretty small if you use wrap_content as width and height)
2. What tutorial are you using? The one below does not have an extra <RelativeLayout>

http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Working_with_the_Android_GridLayout_in_XML_Layout_Resources

Both GridLayout and RelativeLayout are containers, into which you place other components. They just differ in the way that the components are placed relative to each other.
There's nothing stopping you having a GridLayout in a RelativeLayout, but it only makes sense if you have something else inside the RelativeLayout. Otherwise it's merely a container for a single GridLayout. Like I said, unnecessary.