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

Output

Tutorialwing Android Dynamic MultiAutoCompleteTextview Output

Getting Started

At first, we will create an android application. Then, we will use MultiAutoCompleteTextview 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 MultiAutoCompleteTextview programmatically.

2. Modify values folder

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

<resources>
	<string name="app_name">DynamicMultiAutoCompleteTextView</string>
	<string name="hint">Please enter 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 behave as container for MultiAutoCompleteTextView widget created programmatically in the application. We have also defined a button that will display a toast message displaying the text entered in the multiAutoCompleteTextview widget.

4. Create Android MultiAutoCompleteTextview Programmatically / Dynamically

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

package com.tutorialwing.dynamicmultiautocompletetextview;

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.Button;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.MultiAutoCompleteTextView;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

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

		// Create MultiAutoCompleteTextView Dynamically
		final MultiAutoCompleteTextView multiAutoCompleteTextView = new MultiAutoCompleteTextView(this);
		LinearLayout.LayoutParams layoutParams = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT, ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT);
		multiAutoCompleteTextView.setLayoutParams(layoutParams);
		layoutParams.setMargins(30, 30, 30, 30);
		multiAutoCompleteTextView.setHint(R.string.hint);
		multiAutoCompleteTextView.setThreshold(1);
		multiAutoCompleteTextView.setTokenizer(new MultiAutoCompleteTextView.CommaTokenizer());

		// Get the string array
		String[] countries = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.countries_array);
		// Create the adapter and set it to the MultiAutoCompleteTextView
		ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<>(this, android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1, countries);
		multiAutoCompleteTextView.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) + " " + multiAutoCompleteTextView.getText();
					Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, text, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
				}
			});
		}

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

In MainActivity.java file, we have created android multiAutoCompleteTextview programmatically. Then, we have set an adapter in it. This adapter is responsible for displaying the suggestions as list in the dropdown of the multiAutoCompleteTextview while user is typing in the view. After that, we have set click listener of the button. At last, we have added MultiAutoCompleteTextview widget in the linearLayout having id rootContainer. Whenever we click on the button, a toast message will be shown displaying the text entered in the MultiAutoCompleteTextview.

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.dynamicmultiautocompletetextview"
		  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 MultiAutoCompleteTextview Programmatically.