Can't move any elements in Android Studio for RelativeLayout

Question

I'm trying to add some buttons/textviews or any other components to my relativelayout. I can't place them anywhere but top left. However, if I edit XML code it works fine.

Here is the screenshot of current status

I already changed my layout to relativeLayout but still no luck. (Android Studio 3.3)

My layout xml is:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
    android:id="@+id/activity_main"
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingLeft="16dp"
    android:paddingRight="16dp"
    android:paddingTop="16dp"
    android:paddingBottom="16dp"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">

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

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="TextView" />
</RelativeLayout>

I would expect to move these buttons/textviews relative to each other but they just stuck at top left.

try changing `RelativeLayout` to `LinearLayout`. Else you have to use options like `android:layout_alignParentRight="true"` or in the textview `android:layout_alignRight="@id/button"` — Pierre, Jan 25 '19 at 13:42
May first you'll read something about [RelativeLayout](https://www.tutorialspoint.com/android/android_relative_layout.htm)? — grabarz121, Jan 25 '19 at 13:52

score 25 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 19 '19 at 08:45

25

there is a magnetic button on top of view editor its called (on/off auto connect ). if you change it you can move the views inside relative layout.

answered Apr 19 '19 at 08:45

mohammad javad rahnama

429
4
13

Great reasoning here. This really helped me with the latest Android Studio (v3.4) as per today. – Joshua Kusaasira May 09 '19 at 15:27

score 19 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 26 '20 at 09:36

19

Just Enable AutoConnection to Parent In Design Mode click the magnet icon and choose "AutoConnection to Parent" enter image description here

edited Mar 26 '20 at 09:36

Nikos Hidalgo

3,666
9
25
39

answered Mar 26 '20 at 09:29

mohammad

191
1
3

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 29 '19 at 08:33

This is the basic code of how you can prevent everything from cluttering in the left corner.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
    android:id="@+id/activity_main"
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingLeft="16dp"
    android:paddingRight="16dp"
    android:paddingTop="16dp"
    android:paddingBottom="16dp"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">
 <Button
        android:id="@+id/button"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView"
        android:text="Button" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="TextView" />
</RelativeLayout>

To know more about Positioning Views in a Relative Layout, refer:

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/layout/relative

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 29 '19 at 08:42

U did not Render the Relative Layout Rules. You have layout_alignParentRight layout_alignParentLeft , etc.U should Use Them . For Example, IF u Want Your TextView to be below of The Button U should Write Code Like This:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
    android:id="@+id/activity_main"
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">
 <Button
        android:id="@+id/button"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
       android:text="Button" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@+id/button"
        android:text="TextView" />
</RelativeLayout>

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/layout/relative

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Apr 17 '19 at 12:14

0

If you do not download "SDK Platform Tool" that same as You are using in "API Version For Preview" Tab which is used for preview XML layout, This problem can occur

Go to Android XML Visualizer Tool -> Use Design View -> API version for Preview tab

How to Navigate

After that, Check API Version and Make sure to download the SDK platform tool which is similar to that

edited Apr 17 '19 at 12:14

Zoe

27,060
21
118
148

answered Apr 17 '19 at 11:35

Wishwa Gayan

1
3

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Jul 04 '19 at 15:50

0

Just tick all the layout_alignParentXXXX attributes and then you can see the element move in the parent relative layout with the margins.

answered Jul 04 '19 at 15:50

Abhishek Anand

11
2

Can't move any elements in Android Studio for RelativeLayout

6 Answers6