Android Specifying Pixel Units (like Sp, Px, Dp) Without Using Xml

Is it possible to specify the pixel unit in code. What I mean is, say I have a layout and I want the size to be 20dp, then is there any way to do so without writing in a layout xm

Solution 1:

In a view:

DisplayMetricsmetrics= getContext().getResources().getDisplayMetrics();
floatdp=20f;
floatfpixels= metrics.density * dp;
intpixels= (int) (fpixels + 0.5f);

In an Activity, of course, you leave off the getContext().

To convert from scaled pixels (sp) to pixels, just use metrics.scaledDensity instead of metrics.density.

EDIT: As @Santosh's answer points out, you can do the same thing using the utility class TypedValue:

DisplayMetricsmetrics= getContext().getResources().getDisplayMetrics();
floatdp=20f;
floatfpixels= TypedValue.applyDimension(TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_DIP, dp, metrics);
intpixels= Math.round(fpixels);

For sp, substitute TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_SP for TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_DIP.

Internally, applyDimension() does exactly the same calculation as my code above. Which version to use is a matter of your coding style.

Solution 2:

You can use

float pixels = TypedValue.applyDimension(TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_DIP, 20, getResources().getDisplayMetrics());

now, the value of pixels is equivalent to 20dp

The TypedValue contains other similar methods that help in conversion