Grid Layout support in android API 10

Question

I had developed an app with target API as 15. The layout includes a grid layout. Now when i am changing the Target API to 10 I am getting issues with the grid Layout and another element 'space'. Eclipse prompts me to download a supporting library for 2.3.3, Which i did... But still having the issue.

Answer 1

GridLayout has indeed been backported to be compatible with API level 7 and up. It's (sort of) part of the support library. After you've downloaded the support library, you'll find an Android library project in your local sdk folder located at:

<sdk_folder>\extras\android\compatibility\v7\gridlayout

Set it up as dependency of the project you're working on. After that, you'll need to change the references throughout your project from the level 15 version to this compatibility one in order to support pre-ICS devices. In the Layout files change your xml from GridLayout to android.support.v7.widget.GridLayout. Usage should be similar, if not identical.

Regarding the Space widget: I haven't actually used this one (yet), but it appears to be something that could be replaced by either setting margin/padding on existing views or adding in your own generic View that is completely transparent.

Answer 2

If using Android Studio, once you've downloaded the support library (as @MH. mentioned) you must use File->Import Module..., then select the location of GridLayout support, which for me was located here: <sdk_folder>\extras\android\support\v7\gridlayout.

Next, instead of using <Gridlayout> in your xml layout file, you use <android.support.v7.widget.GridLayout>. Here is an example:

<android.support.v7.widget.GridLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    app:useDefaultMargins="true"
    app:alignmentMode="alignBounds"
    app:columnOrderPreserved="false"
    app:columnCount="4"
>

Elements in the layout will reference app instead of android for GridLayout properties as seen above and in child elements:

    <TextView
        android:textSize="32dip"
        app:layout_columnSpan="4"
        app:layout_gravity="center_horizontal"
    />

Finally, the GridLayout support library reference must be added to the dependencies section of \src\build.gradle:

dependencies {
    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:+'
    compile 'com.android.support:gridlayout-v7:+'
}

Answer 3

Or another alternative is this third-party backwards compatible implementation:

This is compatible back to API level 3, if you need to go that far back, and it also includes the Space widget.