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https://github.com/mmin18/FlexLayout

A powerful Android layout view that use java expression in layout params to describe relative positions.
https://github.com/mmin18/FlexLayout

android flex-layout linearlayout relativelayout

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A powerful Android layout view that use java expression in layout params to describe relative positions.

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README 

        
# FlexLayout



The idea is simple, use java expressions in layout params like `layout_left="view1.right+10dp"`. It is helpful when LinearLayout and RelativeLayout is not enough for you.



![IMG](imgs/s1.png)



	



Try the sample apk: [FlexLayout.apk](imgs/FlexLayout.apk)



## Adding to project



Add dependencies in your `build.gradle`:



```groovy

	dependencies {

	    compile 'com.github.mmin18:flexlayout:1.2.7'

	}

```



Or if you are using Eclipse, just copy [FlexLayout.java](library/src/com/github/mmin18/widget/FlexLayout.java) and [attrs.xml](library/res/values/attrs.xml) to your project.



## Layout Params



|   Horizontal   |    Vertical    |

| -------------- | -------------- |

| layout_left    | layout_top     |

| layout_right   | layout_bottom  |

| layout_centerX | layout_centerY |

| layout_width   | layout_height  |



Remember the `app:layout_width` is different from `android:layout_width`
*xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"*



## % Percentage



![IMG](imgs/s3.png)



	



or



	



## Reference other views



Reference previous view using `prev`, next view using `next` (Position in the XML layout file)



![IMG](imgs/s4.png)



	        // prev = Previous view in xml layout file

	

	

	

	        // next = Next view in xml layout file



Reference a specific view using `view's id`



![IMG](imgs/s5.png)



	

	

	

	



You can also use `parent` to reference the FlexLayout and `this` to reference the child view itself. Use `screen` to reference screen size.



| Keyword    | Target     |

| ---------- | ---------- |

| prev       | Previous view in XML layout |

| next       | Next view in XML layout |

| *view_id*  | *<View id="@+id/view_id" />* defined in the same layout |

| this       | The view itself |

| parent     | The parent FlexLayout, doesn't support *left* *top* *right* *bottom* *centerX* *centerY* |

| screen     | Screen size (getResources().getDisplayMetrics(), only support *width* and *height*)|



| Properties |            | Value |

| ---------- | ---------- | ----- |

| left       | top        | |

| right      | bottom     | |

| centerX    | centerY    | |

| width      | height     | |

| visible    |            | view.getVisibility() == View.VISIBLE |

| gone       |            | view.getVisibility() == View.GONE |

| tag        |            | view.getTag(), only support Number or Boolean. Other types or null returns 0 |



(When use with `view.tag`, after View.setTag() you should call View.requestLayout() to trigger layout.)



## Expression



The syntax is the same as Java or C. Numbers can have units like `10dp`, `15sp`



	(parent.height-view1.centerY)/2

	100%-80dp

	max(view1.right, view2.right)

	screen.width= >   | Left          |

| == !=       | Left          |

| &&          | Left          |

| ll          | Left          |

| ?=          | Right         |



Functions



| Name        |

| ----------- |

| max(a,b)    |

| min(a,b)    |

| round(a)    |

| ceil(a)     |

| floor(a)    |

| abs(a)      |

| mod(a)      |

| pow(a)      |



## dimens.xml



Of course you can reference dimensions defined in `res/values/dimens.xml`



	



## wrap_content



You can use wrap_content and match_parent as a normal value in expression, like `app:layout_width="min(wrap_content, 80dp)"` which is equievalent to `android:maxWidth="80dp"`.



Using wrap_content in expression is more flexable than using android:maxWidth / android:minWidth. For example, you want to put an icon to the right of a TextView:



![IMG](imgs/s6.png)



	

	



# Benchmark



The following benchmark is done by Piasy, and you can check the details [here](http://blog.piasy.com/2016/04/07/Layout-Perf/).



### Simple Layout



|                | inflate (ns) | measure (ns) | layout (ns) |

| -------------- | ------------ | ------------ | ----------- |

| RelativeLayout | 3325842      | 947464       | 108585      |

| FrameLayout    | 3159841      | 879161       | 112988      |

| FlexLayout     | 5278923      | 796837       | 111414      |



### Complex Layout



|                | inflate (ns) | measure (ns) | layout (ns) |

| -------------- | ------------ | ------------ | ----------- |

| RelativeLayout | 17479435     | 2268045      | 822163      |

| GridLayout     | 20350271     | 3270156      | 1177185     |

| FlexLayout     | 21698676     | 2703914      | 1001549     |



You can check the layout xml files [here](https://github.com/Piasy/AndroidPlayground/tree/4a3e49613764d4eec4b48b0eee29b1ea70a027c2/LayoutPerfDemo/src/main/res/layout)



FlexLayout usually takes longer to inflate, but it's equally fast in measure and layout. Normally you use less hierarchy and views than RelativeLayout or LinearLayout, so the overall time spend is competitively, especially when comes to complex layouts.



# Changelog



### 1.2.7 (2017-8-2)



Avoid crash when layout is empty.



### 1.2.6 (2016-9-28)



Support Arabic RTL (layoutDirection). Simply flip everything from right to left.



### 1.2.5 (2016-9-25)



Allow restriction conflict like both left, right and width is defined (width will be ignored)



### 1.2.4 (2016-6-02)



Fix #8, TextView clipped issue with wrap_content expression.



### 1.2.3 (2016-4-25)



Use wrap_content and match_parent as a normal value in expression.



### 1.2.2 (2016-4-17)



Support AndroidStudio Preview (Fix view reference in IDE preview)



### 1.2.1 (2016-4-8)



Support parent.visible, parent.gone, parent.tag



### 1.2.0 (2016-4-6)



Show source code position in XML when throw Exceptions. (Syntax exception, Circular dependency, etc.)



### 1.1.0 (2016-3-20)



Initial release to jcenter. Including percentage, view reference, ?= expressions, logic operators.