Using Android Data Binding, how to specify a dummy (or "default") text to be displayed during layout preview in Android Studio?

Question

Can I specify a string to be shown in the layout preview in Android studio, e.g. for a TextView? ( Lorem ipsum ...)

It would be very helpful to be able to do that to see some text in the layout editor, e.g. to see if the textsize is correct etc.

Answer 1

Found the answer myself just now:

Option 1:

android:text="@{user.name, default=JOHN_DOE}"

As explained at the very bottom of this page:

http://developer.android.com/intl/es/tools/data-binding/guide.html

Drawback: Not sure how to use strings with spaces.

Option 2

http://tools.android.com/tips/layout-designtime-attributes

1.) Add tools namespace in your root node:

<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"

2.) Add a tools:text attribute:

 <TextView
        tools:text="John Doe"

Drawback: You need to add the tools namespace to your root node.

Answer 2

You need to use tools:text

Add the tools namespace to your root element.

xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"

Then the tools:text attribute as below.

Whether you are using DataBinding or not it doesn't matter, tools:text will work to see text during layout preview.

For more info see https://developer.android.com/studio/write/tool-attributes