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

Output

Tutorialwing Android Dynamic ChronoMeter Output

Getting Started

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

2. Modify values folder

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

<resources>
	<string name="app_name">DynamicChronometer</string>
	<string name="stop">Stop</string>
	<string name="start">Start</string>
	<string name="playing">Playing…</string>
	<string name="stopped">Stopped…</string>
</resources>

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:orientation="vertical"
	android:padding="20dp">

	<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:paddingLeft="20dp"
		android:paddingRight="20dp"
		android:text="@string/start"/>

</LinearLayout>

In activity_main.xml file, we have defined button and linearLayout, with id rootContainer, that will act as container for the chronoMeter widget created programmatically in the android application. Now, we will access this linearLayout and button in java file and perform some operations on it.

4. Create Android ChronoMeter Programmatically / Dynamically

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

package com.tutorialwing.dynamicchronometer;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.Chronometer;
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);

		final Chronometer chronometer = new Chronometer(this);
		LinearLayout.LayoutParams layoutParams = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT);
		layoutParams.setMargins(0, 40, 0, 40);
		chronometer.setLayoutParams(layoutParams);

		final Button button = findViewById(R.id.button);
		if (button != null) {
			button.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {

				boolean isPlaying = false;

				@Override
				public void onClick(View v) {
					if (!isPlaying) {
						chronometer.start();
						isPlaying = true;
					} else {
						chronometer.stop();
						isPlaying = false;
					}

					button.setText(isPlaying ? R.string.start : R.string.stop);
					Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, getString(isPlaying ? R.string.playing : R.string.stopped), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
				}
			});
		}

		LinearLayout linearLayout = findViewById(R.id.rootContainer);
		if (linearLayout != null) {
			linearLayout.addView(chronometer);
		}
	}
}

In MainActivity.java file, we have created chronoMeter widget programmatically. Then, we have set layout params, margins etc. in it. After that, we have accessed button and set a click listener to pause/play chronoMeter. We are also showing a message, as a toast, that contains whether chronoMeter is paused or playing. At last, we have added this chronoMeter widget in linearLayout. Similarly, you can add any chronoMeter widget in linearLayout.

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.dynamicchronometer"
		  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 ChronoMeter Programmatically.