Hello Readers! In this post, we are going to learn how to create and use android AutocompleteTextview programmatically in any android application. We will also learn to add AutocompleteTextview in linearLayout programmatically in any application.

Output

Tutorialwing Android Dynamic AutoCompletetextview Output

Getting Started

At first, we will create an android application. Then, we will use autoCompleteTextview widget in the application.

1. Creating New Project

Follow the steps below to create a new project. Please ignore the steps if you have already created a new project.

Now, we will modify xml and java file to use android autoCompleteTextview programmatically.

2. Modify values folder

Open res/values/strings.xml file and add below code into it.

<resources>
	<string name="app_name">DynamicAutoCompleteTextView</string>
	<string name="hint">Please type something...</string>
	<string name="entered_text">Entered text:</string>

	<string-array name="countries_array">
		<item>India</item>
		<item>Albania</item>
		<item>Algeria</item>
		<item>American Samoa</item>
		<item>Andorra</item>
		<item>Angola</item>
		<item>Anguilla</item>
		<item>Antarctica</item>
	</string-array>

</resources>

No other values folders have been modified. So, we are not going to mention them here.

3. Modify Layout Folder

Open res/layout/activity_main.xml file. Then, add below code into it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
	android:layout_width="match_parent"
	android:layout_height="match_parent"
	android:gravity="center"
	android:orientation="vertical">

	<LinearLayout
		android:id="@+id/rootContainer"
		android:layout_width="match_parent"
		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
		android:orientation="vertical">

	</LinearLayout>

	<Button
		android:id="@+id/button"
		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
		android:text="Submit"/>

</LinearLayout>

In activity_main.xml file, we have defined a linearLayout with id rootContainer that will act as container for the autoCompleteTextview created dynamically in the application. We have also defined a button that will show text entered in the autoCompleteTextview.

4. Create Android AutoCompleteTextview Programmatically / Dynamically

Open app/src/main/java/com.tutorialwing.dynamicautocompletetextview/MainActivity.java file and add below code into it.

package com.tutorialwing.dynamicautocompletetextview;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.AutoCompleteTextView;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

	@Override
	protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
		super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
		setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

		// Create AutoCompleteTextView Dynamically
		final AutoCompleteTextView textView = new AutoCompleteTextView(this);
		LinearLayout.LayoutParams layoutParams = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT, ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT);
		textView.setLayoutParams(layoutParams);
		layoutParams.setMargins(30, 30, 30, 30);
		textView.setHint(R.string.hint);

		// Get the string array
		String[] countries = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.countries_array);
		// Create the adapter and set it to the AutoCompleteTextView
		ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<>(this, android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1, countries);
		textView.setAdapter(adapter);

		Button button = findViewById(R.id.button);
		if (button != null) {
			button.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
				@Override
				public void onClick(View v) {
					String text = getString(R.string.entered_text) + " " + textView.getText();
					Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, text, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
				}
			});
		}

		LinearLayout linearLayout = findViewById(R.id.rootContainer);
		// Add AutoCompleteTextView to LinearLayout
		if (linearLayout != null) {
			linearLayout.addView(textView);
		}
	}
}

In MainActivity.java file, we have create android autoCompleteTextview programmatically. Then we have set an adapter in it. Adapter contains list of suggestions that are to be displayed when user starts typing in the view. After that, we have set a click listener of the button. At last, we have added autoCompleteTextview widget in the LinearLayout having id rootContainer. Whenever we click on the button, a toast message will be shown that displays the values entered in the AutoCompleteTextview.

Since AndroidManifest.xml file is very important in any android project. We are also going to see the content inside this file.

AndroidManifest.xml file

Code inside src/main/AndroidManifest.xml file would look like below –

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest package="com.tutorialwing.dynamicautocompletetextview"
		  xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">

	<application
		android:allowBackup="true"
		android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
		android:label="@string/app_name"
		android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
		android:supportsRtl="true"
		android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
		<activity android:name=".MainActivity">
			<intent-filter>
				<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>

				<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>
			</intent-filter>
		</activity>
	</application>

</manifest>

When we run the application, we will get output as shown above.

That’s the end of tutorial on Creating Android AutoCompleteTextview Programmatically.