Set text size in .xml or programmatically

Question

I have variable at dimens.xml

<resources>
    <dimen name="btn_text_size">12sp</dimen>    
</resources>

And i can use it in layout file:

 <TextView
           android:textSize="@dimen/btn_text_size"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:text="@string/dialog_tags_complete"
/>

or programmatically

tagButton.setTextSize(c.getResources().getDimension(R.dimen.tag_text_size));

But this 2 methods give different results. I know that getDimension are based on the current DisplayMetrics associated with the resources.

But what should i do to make this 2 ways looks the same?

Sensitize

Use getDimensionPixelSize(). – Luculent

@Luculent i tested it on my HTC One S. Yhere is no difference between getDimensionPixelSize() and getDimension() =/ – Sensitize

And you do realize that sp = scaled pixels, which will adjust based on the screen metrics and text-scaling factor, right? If you want to make them look the same, you'll need to use dp. – Luculent

@Luculent why the same dimension look different if it set programmatically (vs .xml setting)? – Sensitize

Because you're using the wrong setTextSize() method. The one you're using expects scaled pixels, while you are providing pixels. Do this instead: setTextSize( TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_PX, getDimensionPixelSize( R.dimen.tag_text_size ) ); – Luculent

@Luculent oh, right. I'm stupid =D Tnx, it helps. – Sensitize

Nothing about "being stupid" here -- it's easy to miss. – Luculent

Answer 1

setTextSize( float ) expects a scaled pixel value. So, setTextSize( 12 ) would give you the desired result. However, getDimension() and getDimensionPixelSize() return the size in units of pixels, so you need to use the unit-typed variant of setTextSize() as follows:

setTextSize( TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_PX, getDimensionPixelSize( R.dimen.tag_text_size ) );

Luculent

Answer 2

tagButton.setTextSize(c.getResources().getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.tag_text_size));

this will work just fine :) You should also remember that textView has a setTextSize(int unit,float size), which should be used while setting size from code but not from xml dimen.

Burning

It's still looking different from setting in .xml. Or should i set ALL size of ALL views programmatically to make no difference? – Sensitize

Answer 3

I have currently the same thing. Did set a dimension in dimens.xml and applied it programmatically, which is 3 times that big, than when settings via xml.

I checked also:

TextView.getTextSize() = 92f
getResources().getDimension(R.dimen ...) = 92f

TextView.setTextSize(92) != TextView with size from XML, other flags like TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_PX make it even bigger.

The default setTextSize does apply COMPLEX_UNIT_SP by default btw. So once again, the Android API is inconsistent, so setting programmatically only and adapt sizes, so they fit, will be my solution.

Edit: Setting text size programmatically under Galaxy Note 2 (4.4.2) vs Note 4 (5.0.1) leads to a totally different result -.-

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