如何更改textView android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item的颜色？

Question

I'm creating a SpinnerAdapter using the built in resource ID android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item

SpinnerAdapter mSpinnerAdapter = ArrayAdapter.createFromResource(this, R.array.action_list, android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item);

but the textView which that resource ID creates has textColor Black and I need a different color. What's the best way of changing the color but keeping everything else the same?

When I try and create my own textView layout resource in an xml file, eg

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<TextView xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:textColor="@color/White"
    />

then it doesn't behave in the same way as android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item because eg the padding is different. So

1. Is there a way of creating my own layout resource in an xml file which inherits everything from android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item and allows me to override the textColor?
2. Or is the complete definition of android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item available somewhere?
3. Or perhaps there's an even easier way somehow?

This question relates to another question that I've asked today ( Can't change the text color with Android Action Bar drop-down navigation ). I've realised that one answer to that question (and hence this question) is to create my own ArrayAdapter class which inherits from ArrayAdapter<T> so that I can always set the color in code whenever the ArrayAdapter gets used (see my answer to that question). But that seems like a very cumbersome solution :-|.

Changing a text color shouldn't be a hard task!

Answer 1

To expand on Sam's solution, you will need to modify the file in very specific ways to override Android's styles.

After you copy the simple_spinner_dropdown_item.xml from the sdk folder into the correct layout folder you are working with, you will see this code:

<CheckedTextView xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" 
android:id="@android:id/text1"
style="?android:attr/spinnerDropDownItemStyle"
android:singleLine="true"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="?android:attr/dropdownListPreferredItemHeight"
android:ellipsize="marquee" />

In order to change the background of the TextView and avoid this error:

.../res/layout/simple_spinner_dropdown_item.xml:20: error: Error: Attribute is not public. (at 'layout_height' with value '?android:attr/dropdownListPreferredItemHeight').

your code will need to look like this:

<CheckedTextView xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" 
android:id="@+id/spinnerText"
style="@style/SpinnerTextViewItem"
android:singleLine="true"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:ellipsize="marquee" />

The other main change that needs to be made is to create your own style. You probably have a styles.xml file, so add a new style similar to this:

<style name="SpinnerTextViewItem" parent="@android:style/Widget.TextView" >
    <item name="android:textStyle">normal</item>
    <item name="android:background">@color/green</item>
</style>

Assuming you have something in your colors.xml file, you can set the color via "@color/green" or whatever color you choose (of course you can use @android:color/...) not to mention all the other items you can add to change the TextView.

Answer 2

Is there a way of creating my own layout resource in an xml file which inherits everything from android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item and allows me to override the textColor?

No, but you can cut & paste your favorite version of simple_spinner_dropdown_item.xml to a new file then simply change the text color.

Or is the complete definition of android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item available somewhere?

Yes, but there are many different versions. Which API do you like? Also you might have a copy on your hard drive already, check <android-sdk>/platforms/android-xx/data/res/layout/ (where xx is a particular API.)

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As an alternate approach you can create a custom Adapter and change the text color after you inflate each row, but the method above will be slightly faster since it doesn't involve any run time changes.

Answer 3

Without using custom adapter it is impossible to change the color of

 android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item

Better create a custom adapter and then you can change the color, testSixe, textStyle, etc.