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More Resource Types

This page defines more types of resources you can externalize, including:

Bool
XML resource that carries a boolean value.
Color
XML resource that carries a color value (a hexadecimal color).
Dimension
XML resource that carries a dimension value (with a unit of measure).
Integer
XML resource that carries an integer value.
Integer Array
XML resource that provides an array of integers.
Typed Array
XML resource that provides a TypedArray (which you can use for an array of drawables).

Bool

A boolean value defined in XML.

Note: A bool is a simple resource that is referenced using the value provided in the name attribute (not the name of the XML file). As such, you can combine bool resources with other simple resources in the one XML file, under one <resources> element.

file location:
res/values/filename.xml
The filename is arbitrary. The <bool> element's name will be used as the resource ID.
resource reference:
In Java: R.bool.bool_name
In XML: @[package:]bool/bool_name
syntax:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <bool
        name="bool_name"
        >[true | false]</bool>
</resources>
elements:
<resources>
Required. This must be the root node.

No attributes.

<bool>
A boolean value: true or false.

attributes:

name
String. A name for the bool value. This will be used as the resource ID.
example:
XML file saved at res/values-small/bools.xml: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <bool name="screen_small">true</bool>
    <bool name="adjust_view_bounds">true</bool>
</resources>

This application code retrieves the boolean:

Resources res = getResources();
boolean screenIsSmall = res.getBoolean(R.bool.screen_small);

This layout XML uses the boolean for an attribute:

<ImageView
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:src="@drawable/logo"
    android:adjustViewBounds="@bool/adjust_view_bounds" />

Color

A color value defined in XML. The color is specified with an RGB value and alpha channel. A color resource can be used any place that expects a hexadecimal color value.

The value always begins with a pound (#) character and then followed by the Alpha-Red-Green-Blue information in one of the following formats:

  • #RGB
  • #ARGB
  • #RRGGBB
  • #AARRGGBB

Note: A color is a simple resource that is referenced using the value provided in the name attribute (not the name of the XML file). As such, you can combine color resources with other simple resources in the one XML file, under one <resources> element.

file location:
res/values/colors.xml
The filename is arbitrary. The <color> element's name will be used as the resource ID.
resource reference:
In Java: R.color.color_name
In XML: @[package:]color/color_name
syntax:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <color
        name="color_name"
        >hex_color</color>
</resources>
elements:
<resources>
Required. This must be the root node.

No attributes.

<color>
A color expressed in hexadecimal, as described above.

attributes:

name
String. A name for the color. This will be used as the resource ID.
example:
XML file saved at res/values/colors.xml: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
   <color name="opaque_red">#f00</color>
   <color name="translucent_red">#80ff0000</color>
</resources>

This application code retrieves the color resource:

Resources res = getResources();
int color = res.getColor(R.color.opaque_red);

This layout XML applies the color to an attribute:

<TextView
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:textColor="@color/translucent_red"
    android:text="Hello"/>

Dimension

A dimension value defined in XML. A dimension is specified with a number followed by a unit of measure. For example: 10px, 2in, 5sp. The following units of measure are supported by Android:

dp
Density-independent Pixels - an abstract unit that is based on the physical density of the screen. These units are relative to a 160 dpi screen, so one dp is one pixel on a 160 dpi screen. The ratio of dp-to-pixel will change with the screen density, but not necessarily in direct proportion. The compiler accepts both "dip" and "dp", though "dp" is more consistent with "sp".
sp
Scale-independent Pixels - this is like the dp unit, but it is also scaled by the user's font size preference. It is recommend you use this unit when specifying font sizes, so they will be adjusted for both the screen density and the user's preference.
pt
Points - 1/72 of an inch based on the physical size of the screen.
px
Pixels - corresponds to actual pixels on the screen. This unit of measure is not recommended because the actual representation can vary across devices; each devices may have a different number of pixels per inch and may have more or fewer total pixels available on the screen.
mm
Millimeters - based on the physical size of the screen.
in
Inches - based on the physical size of the screen.

Note: A dimension is a simple resource that is referenced using the value provided in the name attribute (not the name of the XML file). As such, you can combine dimension resources with other simple resources in the one XML file, under one <resources> element.

file location:
res/values/filename.xml
The filename is arbitrary. The <dimen> element's name will be used as the resource ID.
resource reference:
In Java: R.dimen.dimension_name
In XML: @[package:]dimen/dimension_name
syntax:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <dimen
        name="dimension_name"
        >dimension</dimen>
</resources>
elements:
<resources>
Required. This must be the root node.

No attributes.

<dimen>
A dimension, represented by a float, followed by a unit of measurement (dp, sp, pt, px, mm, in), as described above.

attributes:

name
String. A name for the dimension. This will be used as the resource ID.
example:
XML file saved at res/values/dimens.xml: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <dimen name="textview_height">25dp</dimen>
    <dimen name="textview_width">150dp</dimen>
    <dimen name="ball_radius">30dp</dimen>
    <dimen name="font_size">16sp</dimen>
</resources>

This application code retrieves a dimension:

Resources res = getResources();
float fontSize = res.getDimension(R.dimen.font_size);

This layout XML applies dimensions to attributes:

<TextView
    android:layout_height="@dimen/textview_height"
    android:layout_width="@dimen/textview_width"
    android:textSize="@dimen/sixteen_sp"/>

Integer

An integer defined in XML.

Note: An integer is a simple resource that is referenced using the value provided in the name attribute (not the name of the XML file). As such, you can combine integer resources with other simple resources in the one XML file, under one <resources> element.

file location:
res/values/filename.xml
The filename is arbitrary. The <integer> element's name will be used as the resource ID.
resource reference:
In Java: R.integer.integer_name
In XML: @[package:]integer/integer_name
syntax:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <integer
        name="integer_name"
        >integer</dimen>
</resources>
elements:
<resources>
Required. This must be the root node.

No attributes.

<integer>
An integer.

attributes:

name
String. A name for the integer. This will be used as the resource ID.
example:

XML file saved at res/values/integers.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <integer name="max_speed">75</dimen>
    <integer name="min_speed">5</dimen>
</resources>

This application code retrieves an integer:

Resources res = getResources();
int maxSpeed = res.getInteger(R.integer.max_speed);

Integer Array

An array of integers defined in XML.

Note: An integer array is a simple resource that is referenced using the value provided in the name attribute (not the name of the XML file). As such, you can combine integer array resources with other simple resources in the one XML file, under one <resources> element.

file location:
res/values/filename.xml
The filename is arbitrary. The <integer-array> element's name will be used as the resource ID.
compiled resource datatype:
Resource pointer to an array of integers.
resource reference:
In Java: R.array.string_array_name
In XML: @[package:]array.integer_array_name
syntax:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <integer-array
        name="integer_array_name">
        <item
            >integer</item>
    </integer-array>
</resources>
elements:
<resources>
Required. This must be the root node.

No attributes.

<string-array>
Defines an array of integers. Contains one or more child <item> elements.

attributes:

android:name
String. A name for the array. This name will be used as the resource ID to reference the array.
<item>
An integer. The value can be a referenced to another integer resource. Must be a child of a <integer-array> element.

No attributes.

example:
XML file saved at res/values/integers.xml: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <integer-array name="bits">
        <item>4</item>
        <item>8</item>
        <item>16</item>
        <item>32</item>
    </integer-array>
</resources>

This application code retrieves the integer array:

Resources res = getResources();
int[] bits = res.getIntArray(R.array.bits);

Typed Array

A TypedArray defined in XML. You can use this to create an array of other resources, such as drawables. Note that the array is not required to be homogeneous, so you can create an array of mixed resource types, but you must be aware of what and where the data types are in the array so that you can properly obtain each item with the TypedArray's get...() methods.

Note: A typed array is a simple resource that is referenced using the value provided in the name attribute (not the name of the XML file). As such, you can combine typed array resources with other simple resources in the one XML file, under one <resources> element.

file location:
res/values/filename.xml
The filename is arbitrary. The <array> element's name will be used as the resource ID.
compiled resource datatype:
Resource pointer to a TypedArray.
resource reference:
In Java: R.array.array_name
In XML: @[package:]array.array_name
syntax:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <array
        name="integer_array_name">
        <item>resource</item>
    </array>
</resources>
elements:
<resources>
Required. This must be the root node.

No attributes.

<array>
Defines an array. Contains one or more child <item> elements.

attributes:

android:name
String. A name for the array. This name will be used as the resource ID to reference the array.
<item>
A generic resource. The value can be a reference to a resource or a simple data type. Must be a child of an <array> element.

No attributes.

example:
XML file saved at res/values/arrays.xml: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <array name="icons">
        <item>@drawable/home</item>
        <item>@drawable/settings</item>
        <item>@drawable/logout</item>
    </array>
    <array name="colors">
        <item>#FFFF0000</item>
        <item>#FF00FF00</item>
        <item>#FF0000FF</item>
    </array>
</resources>

This application code retrieves each array and then obtains the first entry in each array:

Resources res = getResources();
TypedArray icons = res.obtainTypedArray(R.array.icons);
Drawable drawable = icons.getDrawable(0);

TypedArray colors = res.obtainTypedArray(R.array.icons);
int color = colors.getColor(0,0);
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