Change layout without calling onCreate

Question

I have an activity with two layout files, one each for portrait and landscape modes. I see that the onCreate method is called each time I change orientation. I tried using

android:configChanges = "orientation"

in the manifest file, but it only reads the portrait layout. Is there a way I can set the layout to the landscape mode without calling onCreate?

onCreate is automatically called when you change orientation. — Gligor, Dec 04 '12 at 20:19

Squonk · Answer 1 · 2012-12-04T21:26:01.953

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If you use android:configChanges = "orientation", you must override the onConfigurationChanged(...) method of your Activity. Check the newConfig parameter for the new orientation then manually set the layout you want.

See the following links:

onConfigurationChanged(Configuration newConfig)

Handling the Configuration Change Yourself

edited Dec 04 '12 at 21:26

answered Dec 04 '12 at 20:58

Squonk

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This would mean that I have to save and reuse my activity data anyway. Am I right? – Rameez Hussain Dec 04 '12 at 21:11
Not as far as I understand it. Using `android:configChanges = "orientation"` prevents the `Activity` from being destroyed/re-created as the result of an orientation change and `onConfigurationChanged(...)` is called instead. Any other configuration change will, however, result in the `Activity` being destroyed/re-created and `onConfigurationChanged(...)` will not be called. – Squonk Dec 04 '12 at 21:16
@RameezHussain : I've added another link to my answer which explains handling the configuration change. – Squonk Dec 04 '12 at 21:26

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 04 '12 at 20:19

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You could create two layout folders. One for portrait mode and one for landscape. layout and layout-land.

answered Dec 04 '12 at 20:19

Ahmad

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 04 '12 at 20:21

This is a fact of life with android. You need to develop your activity around the fact it can be destroyed at any minute due to a configuration change like the screen's orientation changing. Save all the the information used to build the screen in on pause and recreate it in onCreate.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 04 '12 at 20:21

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If you want your activity be only in landscape mode, you set this attribute for the activity in the AndroidManifest.xml:

        android:screenOrientation="landscape"

You can put your layout.xml files in such folders for different screen orientations:

res\layout-land
res\layout-port

answered Dec 04 '12 at 20:21

ViliusK

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This is exactly what I have done. It still seems to use the layout file which I have placed in the layout-port folder – Rameez Hussain Dec 04 '12 at 20:23
add the attribute in the AndroidManifest.xml: android:screenOrientation="landscape" – ViliusK Dec 04 '12 at 20:25
The activity is for both orientations. This will limit it to just the landscape mode. This is not what I'm looking for. :) – Rameez Hussain Dec 04 '12 at 20:32

Change layout without calling onCreate

4 Answers4