Using layout_above in a RelativeLayout

Question

Can someone explain to me why the ImageView is not appearing above the LinearLayout?

<RelativeLayout
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content">
    <LinearLayout
        android:id="@+id/rev_main"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">
        <!-- some stuff in here -->
    </LinearLayout>
    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/rev_arrow"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:src="@drawable/arrow"
        android:layout_above="@id/rev_main"
        />
</RelativeLayout>

I don't get it.

Does it appear anywhere? nowhere at all? maybe post a pic of how it looks and it it would be easier to tell why. In my Layouts I use IDs like "@+id/rev_main" Even in the attributes like layout_above. Truthfully though Im not even sure of the difference between the two, perhaps try that? — FoamyGuy, May 11 '11 at 21:27
It disappears. If I declare the ImageView first and try to make the LinearLayout position itself above the ImageView, the LinearLayout disappears as well. — Andrew, May 11 '11 at 22:03
Just FYI - had this problem inside listview item layout. After I applied fixed height for item layout, the problem went away. — Hossain Khan, Jul 12 '16 at 18:29

score 27 · Accepted Answer · answered May 11 '11 at 21:48

27

This happens when you specify alignment relative to another layout. The solution I found was to go the other direction.

Instead of telling the ImageView to be above the LinearLayout, tell the LinearLayout to be below the ImageView.

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content">
    <LinearLayout
        android:id="@+id/rev_main"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@+id/rev_arrow">
        <!-- some stuff in here -->
    </LinearLayout>
    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/rev_arrow"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:src="@drawable/arrow"
        />
</RelativeLayout>

answered May 11 '11 at 21:48

Error 454

7,255
2
33
48

1

Here's my problem with this: The drawable used for the ImageView changes. Which means I need a variable for it in code. The position (above or below) the LinearLayout also changes. If I need to edit the LayoutParams for the LinearLayout, that means I also need a variable for the LinearLayout. I was hoping to just need a variable for the ImageView. – Andrew May 11 '11 at 21:52
1

Well, variables are cheap. Alternatively, you could create two image views, 1 above & 1 below and set the initial state to android:visibility="gone". Then you could programatically change the visibility state of each view based on your needs. – Error 454 May 11 '11 at 22:05
Don't you also need to move the rev_arrow ImageView above the LinearLayout in the xml? Otherwise you'll get a reference error since the file is parsed linearly. I just ran into that issue. :-P – stuckj Apr 08 '15 at 21:14
I have one view positioned aligned to some other view and want to have some other view above it: I have to use `layout_above`. Solved it by putting the two to a `LinearLayout` – Oliv Oct 13 '15 at 07:00

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered May 11 '11 at 21:40

The following should work for you:

<RelativeLayout
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content">
    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/rev_arrow"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:src="@drawable/arrow"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        />
    <LinearLayout
        android:id="@+id/rev_main"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_below="@id/rev_arrow"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">
        <!-- some stuff in here -->
    </LinearLayout>
</RelativeLayout>

I have a problem with this. Sometimes I want the LinearLayout above the ImageView. When I change the attribute on the LinearLayout to layout_above, the LinearLayout disappears entirely. — Andrew, May 11 '11 at 22:01

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 17 '12 at 13:09

I had an similar problem by creating a custom optionsMenu. The simplest way to set z-order of views was to do it programmatically. If you want to switch the order sometimes, your should easily call:

    ImageView yourImageView = (ImageView)findViewById(R.id.rev_arrow);
    yourImageView.bringToFront();

I don´t know if it is adaptive to your application, but in my case it works perfect. If you need more code, let me know.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 10 '14 at 20:32

If you have such problem in ListView make sure that you use proper inflation method. Parent view group must be specified for correct inflation.

mLayoutInflater.inflate(R.layout.listitem, parent, false);

Don't use

mLayoutInflater.inflate(R.layout.listitem, null);

Using layout_above in a RelativeLayout

4 Answers4

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