Android: set empty view to a list view

Answer 1

There are some correct answers, however, I think this is the best approach I've found:

View emptyView = getLayoutInflater().inflate(R.layout.empty_list_cart, null);
addContentView(emptyView, listView.getLayoutParams()); // You're using the same params as listView
listView.setEmptyView(emptyView);
listView.setAdapter(adapter);

Answer 2

if you are using ListActivity then no need to set the empty view manually. Remove list.setEmptyView(findViewById(android.R.id.empty)); from your code.

Change your layout like below then it's automatically add EmptyView if list has no item:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
        android:orientation="vertical"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:paddingLeft="8dp"
        android:paddingRight="8dp">

    <ListView android:id="@android:id/list"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:background="#00FF00"
            android:layout_weight="1"
            android:drawSelectorOnTop="false"/>

     <TextView android:id="@android:id/empty"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:background="#FF0000"
            android:text="No data"/>

</LinearLayout>

Answer 3

You have to set the empty view before setting the adapter, if your MainActivity is not extending ListActivity.

Try this

list.setEmptyView(findViewById(android.R.id.empty));
list.setAdapter(adapter);

Sorry for the late answer!

Alternate method: Make your activity extend from ListActivity. And add a textview to your list layout with id android.R.id.empty

Answer 4

Try this

    View view = getLayoutInflater() .inflate(<resource id of the empty view>, null);
    ViewGroup viewGroup= ( ViewGroup)list.getParent();
    viewGroup.addView(view);
    list.setEmptyView(view); 
    list.setAdapter(adapter);

Answer 5

Whatever @dhawalSodhaParmar has explained is correct. But there is a confusion when you look at the way the answer is put down.

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<RelativeLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".SampleActivity">

    <ListView
        android:id="@+id/list"
        android:orientation="vertical"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
        android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
        android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:divider="@null"
        android:dividerHeight="0dp" />

    <!-- Empty view is only visible when the list has no items. -->
    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/empty_text_view"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:text="NO DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE!"
        android:textColor="#525252"
        android:textAppearance="?android:textAppearanceMedium"
        android:visibility="gone"/>

</RelativeLayout>

Suppose if you already have a list view and adapter backing the same with data. And assuming everything is working fine, whoever wants to implement this empty list view screen has to start like below: Step 1: Modify the existing Activity XML file which has the list view with the one I have used here. You can use either a Linear Layout or Relative Layout, but preferably Relative because of the flexibility. And a textView like I have written.

Step 2: Go to your Activity Java file, and after your setContentView

ListView emptyListView = (ListView) findViewById(R.id.list);
// set your adapter here
// set your click listener here
// or whatever else
emptyListView.setEmptyView(findViewById(R.id.empty_text_view));

That's it, now run and you are set!