Create an Android TextClock Programmatically in Android

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

Output

Tutorialwing Android TextClock Output Android TextClock Tutorial with example

Tutorialwing Android TextClock Output

Getting Started

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

Step Description
1. Open Android Studio.
2. Go to File => New => New Project. Write application name as DynamicTextClock. 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 textClock programmatically.

2. Modify values folder

No 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
	android:id="@+id/rootContainer"
	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
	android:layout_width="match_parent"
	android:layout_height="match_parent"
	android:orientation="vertical">

</LinearLayout>

In activity_main.xml file, we have defined a linearLayout, with id rootContainer, that will act as container for the textClock widget created programmatically in the application.

4. Create Android TextClock Programmatically / Dynamically

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

package com.tutorialwing.dynamictextclock;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.TextClock;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

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

		final TextClock textClock = new TextClock(this);
		LinearLayout.LayoutParams layoutParams = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT);
		layoutParams.setMargins(40, 40, 40, 40);
		textClock.setLayoutParams(layoutParams);


		textClock.setFormat12Hour("hh:mm:ss a");

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

In MainActivity.java file, we have defined textClock. Then, we have set layout params, margins etc. in it. After that, we have set format of the time to be shown in 12 hour format of the textClock. At last, we have added this newly created textClock 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.dynamictextclock"
		  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 textClock Programmatically.

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