Android complex layout linear and relative

Question

I have to implement a layout like shown in the diagram, and I do not know the best combination to achieve the required design. I'm designing for the 7" tablet and want the design to stretch well on the 10"

I assume layouts like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are LinearLayouts, correct?

*What is the activity layout? I tried the RelativeLayout but I could NOT distribute the width between layouts 1 & 2 & 3 (using android:layout_weight)

*I tried the Horzontal LinearLayout for the whole activity, but I could not add the header and footer layouts correctly to the main horzontal linear layout

I read the documentation and tutorials but could not find a clue to this complex design, please help.

Also what is the performance hit of the nested layouts?

Thanks,

Answer 1

This is what GridLayout was made for. :-) Check out this article: http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-layout-widgets-space-and-gridlayout.html

Answer 2

You will nee a combination of Linear and relative layouts. To group the blocks in horizontal and vertical you can use LinearLayout and to put those groups you can either use linear layout and adjust the weight accordingly or use relative and set them in respect to each other.

Answer 3

You could try something like this, and, as someone else said,at this level you will not have performance issues

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical"
android:weightSum="1" >

<LinearLayout
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="0dp"
    android:layout_weight="0.2"
    android:background="@android:color/holo_orange_light"
    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:weightSum="1" >

    <View
        android:id="@+id/view1"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_margin="10dp"
        android:layout_weight="0.2"
        android:background="@android:color/black" />

    <View
        android:id="@+id/view2"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_margin="10dp"
        android:layout_weight="0.8"
        android:background="@android:color/black" />
</LinearLayout>

<LinearLayout
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="0dp"
    android:layout_weight="0.6"
    android:background="@android:color/holo_blue_light"
    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:weightSum="1" >

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_margin="10dp"
        android:layout_weight="0.2"
        android:background="@android:color/holo_purple"
        android:orientation="vertical"
        android:weightSum="1" >

        <View
            android:id="@+id/view1"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_weight="0.2"
            android:background="@android:color/black" />

        <View
            android:id="@+id/view1"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_weight="0.3"
            android:background="@android:color/black" />

        <View
            android:id="@+id/view2"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_weight="0.5"
            android:background="@android:color/black" />
    </LinearLayout>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_margin="10dp"
        android:layout_weight="0.4"
        android:background="@android:color/holo_red_dark"
        android:orientation="vertical"
        android:weightSum="1" >

        <View
            android:id="@+id/view1"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_weight="0.33"
            android:background="@android:color/black" />

        <View
            android:id="@+id/view1"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_weight="0.33"
            android:background="@android:color/black" />

        <View
            android:id="@+id/view2"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_weight="0.33"
            android:background="@android:color/black" />
    </LinearLayout>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_margin="10dp"
        android:layout_weight="0.4"
        android:background="@android:color/darker_gray"
        android:orientation="vertical"
        android:weightSum="1" >

        <View
            android:id="@+id/view1"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_weight="0.5"
            android:background="@android:color/black" />

        <View
            android:id="@+id/view2"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="0dp"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_weight="0.5"
            android:background="@android:color/black" />
    </LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

<LinearLayout
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="0dp"
    android:layout_weight="0.2"
    android:background="@android:color/holo_green_light"
    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:weightSum="1" >

    <View
        android:id="@+id/view1"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_margin="10dp"
        android:layout_weight="0.2"
        android:background="@android:color/black" />

    <View
        android:id="@+id/view1"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_margin="10dp"
        android:layout_weight="0.3"
        android:background="@android:color/black" />

    <View
        android:id="@+id/view2"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_margin="10dp"
        android:layout_weight="0.5"
        android:background="@android:color/black" />
</LinearLayout>

</LinearLayout>