Styling attributes not functioning on merge tags

Question

Background

I have found styling attributes not functioning on the merge tags, either apply attributes separately or apply a style.

Known Solutions

1. Apply styling attributes on the tag that make use of the layout works. For example, include tags and custom tags.

2. Just don't make use of merge.

3. Apply styling programmatically.

However, I am looking for better solutions.

Why?

1. It is messy. I have to apply the styling attributes every time I make use of the layout. I make it as an separated layout because they are meant to be reused.

2. I am intentionally using merge tag as they have to be the immediate children of the parent layout. For example, the tags are children of a LinearLayout. I apply layout_width="0dp" and layout_weight="1" to have them equally spanning in the parent layout.

3. Reason #2 plus the tags are generated programmatically. Thus, I can only apply styling programmatically. It is ugly and extra efforts are needed for maintenance.

Goal

Satisfactory workaround(s).

XML Tags for Illustration Purpose

<merge xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    style="@style/CustomStyle">
    <!-- Omitted -->
</merge>

And

<merge xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="0dp"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_weight="1">
    <!-- Omitted -->
</merge>

Both the above tags are not styled.

Answer 1

attributes in a merge tag are ignored. When the XML parser sees a merge tag, it tells it, "Skip this tag and add all of the children directly."