How to make AdView "occupy" space even while requesting an ad? (Android)

Question

I'm using Google AdMob Ads SDK 4.0.4 for Android

By default, The AdView will have no size until the ad is loaded. Which could cause problem if you have buttons above or below the ad.

User could accidentally click on the ad if the ad returned at the exact moment they are about to click a button.

In old admob SDK I solved this by using setGoneWithoutAd(false). This way, the space will be preserved even when the ad is not returned yet.

In the new SDK (Google Admob Ads SDK 4.0.4) I manage to do the same by using this quick fix: reserve the space by putting ad in some layout that has width="320dp" and height="50dp"

<LinearLayout 
                        android:layout_width="320dp" 
                        android:layout_height="50dp" > 
                  <com.google.ads.AdView android:id="@+id/adview" 
                         android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
                         android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
                         ads:adUnitId="xxxxxxxxxxx" 
                         ads:adSize="BANNER"/> 
</LinearLayout> 

It works but I'm not sure if this is a proper method.(Will I run into the famous "Not enough space to show ad!" issue? )

To sum up the question: How to(properly) make AdView "occupy" space even while requesting an ad?

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

First you have to decide the ad size that you want. There are a couple of pre-defined ones.

The easiest to work with is SMART_BANNER, it will adapt it's width to match the current screen width, and it's height will be 32, 50 or 90 dp for screen heights <=400, (>400 && <=720) or >720 dp respectively.

Once you know the type of banner you will request, you declare it on adSize property and reserve the space for this using layout_width and layout_height properties.

For example for an SMART_BANNER you can do something like this:

<com.google.android.gms.ads.AdView
    android:id="@+id/adView"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="@dimen/ad_banner_height"
    ads:adSize="SMART_BANNER"
    ads:adUnitId="xxxxxxxxx"/>

And you will set ad_banner_height to the following values:

values/dimens/ad_banner_height --> 32dp
values-h400dp/dimens/ad_banner_height --> 50dp
values-h720dp/dimens/ad_banner_height --> 90dp

For other banner sizes, check: https://developers.google.com/admob/android/banner#banner_sizes