Create An Android Spinner Programmatically in Android

Hello Readers! In this post, we are going to learn about how to create android spinner programmatically in android application. We will also learn how to add this widget into LinearLayout programmatically. Similarly, you can add Spinner in any ViewGroup.

Output

Tutorialwing Android Dynamic Spinner Output Android Spinner programmatically in android

Tutorialwing Android Dynamic Spinner Output

Getting Started

At first, we will create android application. Then, we will create and use android Spinner programmatically in this 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.

Step Description
1. Open Android Studio.
2. Go to File => New => New Project. Write application name as DynamicSpinner. Then, click next button.
3. Select minimum SDK you need. However, we have selected 17 as minimum SDK. Then, click next button
4. Then, select Empty Activity => click next => click finish.
5. If you have followed above process correctly, you will get a newly created project successfully. However, you can also visit post to create a new project to know steps in detail.

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

2. Modify values folder

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

<resources>
	<string name="app_name">DynamicSpinner</string>
	<string name="selected_item">Selected item:</string>

</resources>

Since other folders have not been modified, 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
	android:id="@+id/rootContainer"
	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
	android:layout_width="match_parent"
	android:layout_height="match_parent"
	android:background="@android:color/white"
	android:gravity="center"
	android:orientation="vertical">

</LinearLayout>

In MainActivity.java file, There is a linearLayout, with id rootContainer, that will act as container for the spinner widget created programmatically in the application.

4. Create Android Spinner Programmatically / Dynamically

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

package com.tutorialwing.dynamicspinner;

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

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

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

		LinearLayout linearLayout = findViewById(R.id.rootContainer);

		final Spinner spinner = new Spinner(this);
		spinner.setLayoutParams(new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT));

		final String[] personNames = {"Rahul", "Jack", "Rajeev", "Aryan", "Rashmi", "Jaspreet", "Akbar"};
		ArrayAdapter arrayAdapter = new ArrayAdapter(this, android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item, personNames);
		spinner.setAdapter(arrayAdapter);

		spinner.setOnItemSelectedListener(new AdapterView.OnItemSelectedListener() {
			@Override
			public void onItemSelected(AdapterView<?> parent, View view, int position, long id) {
				Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, getString(R.string.selected_item) + " " + personNames[position], Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
			}

			@Override
			public void onNothingSelected(AdapterView<?> parent) {
			}
		});

		// Add Spinner to LinearLayout
		if (linearLayout != null) {
			linearLayout.addView(spinner);
		}
	}
}

In MainActivity.java file, we have create android spinner programmatically. Then, we have set an adapter in the spinner. This adapter is responsible for displaying the items in the dropdown of the spinner. Then, we have added a listener to show a toast message that displays currently selected item in the spinner.

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.dynamicspinner"
		  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 Spinner Programmatically.

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