Constraint Layout - Group visibility is not working inside dynamic module

Question

Has anyone experienced issues with ConstraintLayout group visibility? I'm using ConstraintLayout 1.1.3 and I'm setting the visibility of group in both XML layout and java code. But it does not change the visibility status. It is always visible.

This is the layout file

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout  
  xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
  xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
  android:layout_width="match_parent"
  android:layout_height="match_parent">

<ImageView
    android:id="@+id/iv_message_icon_activity_dictionary"
    android:layout_width="@dimen/message_icon_width"
    android:layout_height="@dimen/message_icon_height"
    android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/message_text_view_margin_top"
    android:contentDescription="@string/app_name"
    android:src="@drawable/icon_error"
    app:layout_constraintBottom_toTopOf="@+id/tv_message_activity_dictionary"
    app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="@id/tv_message_activity_dictionary"
    app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="@id/tv_message_activity_dictionary" />

<TextView
    android:id="@+id/tv_message_activity_dictionary"
    android:layout_width="0dp"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_marginEnd="20dp"
    android:layout_marginLeft="20dp"
    android:layout_marginRight="20dp"
    android:layout_marginStart="20dp"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:textColor="@color/black"
    android:textSize="@dimen/medium_text_size"
    app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
    app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
    app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
    app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"
    tools:text="@string/msg_no_internet" />

<Button
    android:id="@+id/btn_try_again_activity_dictionary"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/try_again_button_margin_top"
    android:background="@drawable/rounded_button"
    android:minHeight="30dp"
    android:minWidth="@dimen/try_again_button_width"
    android:padding="10dp"
    android:text="@string/btn_try_again"
    android:textAllCaps="false"
    android:textColor="@color/white"
    android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_5"
    app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
    app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
    app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@id/tv_message_activity_dictionary" />

<android.support.constraint.Group
    android:id="@+id/group_component_activity_dictionary"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:visibility="gone"
    app:constraint_referenced_ids="btn_try_again_activity_dictionary,tv_message_activity_dictionary,iv_message_icon_activity_dictionary" />

</android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>

What could be the reason for this?

UPDATE:

I forgot to mention that I'm using this layout inside of a dynamic module. Also I tested this using in the base module and it is working as expected, but not in a dynamic module. So finally I figured out the reason for the issue. Also when I debugged the code and evaluated this expression (group.getVisibility == View.GONE), it gave me TRUE.(even though the views inside the group are still visible)

Any suggestion is appreciated.

Answer 1

Found a fix for this issue and I hope this will save time for someone else. It's strange but the reason for this issue is using the ConstraintLayout - Group, inside a dynamic module.

So the fix is in java code, once you got a reference to the group then set the reference ids using int array like below,

Group group = findViewById(R.id.group);
group.setReferencedIds(new int[]{R.id.btn_try_again_activity_dictionary, R.id.tv_message_activity_dictionary, R.id.iv_message_icon_activity_dictionary});

After this, it works as expected. Therefore no need to set visibility of individual views in the group.

Answer 2

I was having the same issue using ConstraintLayout v1.1.3. I was setting the visibility of the group in the XML but it wasn't working.

As ConstraintLayout v2.0.0 is already on beta, I migrated from v1.1.3 to v2.0.0-beta2 (check the latest version) and the issue is not happening anymore. I can now change the visibility of the group from XML or code without any problem.

Answer 3

I have the same problem even though I'm on 2.0.0-beta8. group.visibility = View.GONE/VISIBLE doesn't work but group.isGone = true/false works