Android: Vertical alignment for multi line EditTex

Question

I want to have 5 lines for the height of the text area. I am using the following code.

<EditText
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:singleLine="false"
    android:lines="5"
    android:layout_marginLeft="10dip"
    android:layout_marginRight="10dip" />

The text area looks fine, but the problem is that the cursor is blinking in the middle of the text field. I want it to blink at first line, at the first character of the text field.

Answer 1

<EditText android:id="@+id/EditText02" android:layout_width="120dp"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:lines="5" android:layout_centerInParent="true"
    android:gravity="top|left" android:inputType="textMultiLine"
    android:scrollHorizontally="false" android:minWidth="10.0dip"
    android:maxWidth="180dip" />

it will work

Answer 2

This is similar to CommonsWare answer but with a minor tweak: android:gravity="top|left". Complete code example:

<EditText
    android:id="@+id/EditText02"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:lines="5"
    android:gravity="top|left"
    android:inputType="textMultiLine"
    android:scrollHorizontally="false" 
/>

Answer 3

Use this:

android:gravity="top"

or

android:gravity="top|left"

Answer 4

I think you can use layout:weight = 5 instead android:lines = 5 because when you port your app to smaller device - it does it nicely.. well, both attributes will accomplish your job..

Answer 5

U can use this Edittext....This will help you.

<EditText
android:id="@+id/EditText02"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:lines="5"
android:gravity="top|left"
android:inputType="textMultiLine" />

Answer 6

Now a day use of gravity start is best choise:

android:gravity="start"

For EditText (textarea):

<EditText
    android:id="@+id/EditText02"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:lines="5"
    android:gravity="start"
    android:inputType="textMultiLine"
/>