Fill Android Tab with custom pic and/or colour

Question

Hey all I've created Google's exmaple of a tab layout

HelloTabWidget.java:

public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);

Resources res = getResources(); // Resource object to get Drawables
TabHost tabHost = getTabHost();  // The activity TabHost
TabHost.TabSpec spec;  // Resusable TabSpec for each tab
Intent intent;  // Reusable Intent for each tab

// Create an Intent to launch an Activity for the tab (to be reused)
intent = new Intent().setClass(this, ArtistsActivity.class);

// Initialize a TabSpec for each tab and add it to the TabHost
spec = tabHost.newTabSpec("artists").setIndicator("Artists",
                  res.getDrawable(R.drawable.ic_tab_artists))
              .setContent(intent);
tabHost.addTab(spec);

// Do the same for the other tabs
intent = new Intent().setClass(this, AlbumsActivity.class);
spec = tabHost.newTabSpec("albums").setIndicator("Albums",
                  res.getDrawable(R.drawable.ic_tab_albums))
              .setContent(intent);
tabHost.addTab(spec);

intent = new Intent().setClass(this, SongsActivity.class);
spec = tabHost.newTabSpec("songs").setIndicator("Songs",
                  res.getDrawable(R.drawable.ic_tab_songs))
              .setContent(intent);
tabHost.addTab(spec);

tabHost.setCurrentTab(2);

}

I know how to create my own icon to use instead of their grey and white microphone, but I can't figure out how to make my custom icon fill the entire tab. When the tab is selected it's a light grey with my pic in the middle and when not selected its a dark grey with my pic in the middle. I prefer to have my own pic fill the entire tab, and for more knowledgeable; my own choice in color to fill the tab.

Answer 1

You can use setIndicator(View view) to do more complex things with the Tab Indicator.

Try playing with this...

ImageView imgView = new ImageView(this);

// Use imgView.setImageDrawable(Drawable drawable) or
// imgView.setImageBitmap(Bitmap bitmap) to load
// the image you want into imgView

spec = tabHost.newTabSpec("artists").setIndicator(imgView).setContent(intent);

I'm not sure if it's what you want but you can (in theory) use any View class as the Indicator if ImageView doesn't work for you.

EDIT:

I tried...

    BitmapDrawable bmd = new BitmapDrawable();
    bmd = (BitmapDrawable) res.getDrawable(R.drawable.ic_tab_artists_grey);
    imgView.setImageDrawable(bmd);