Dynamic ImageSwitcher in Android

Android ImageSwitcher is a user interface widget that provides a smooth transition animation effect to the images while switching between them to display in the view. In this article, we will take a look at How to Create a Dynamic Image Switcher in Android. A sample video is given below to get an idea about what we are going to do in this article.

Note: This Android article covered in both Java and Kotlin languages. 

Step by Step Implementation

Step 1: Create a New Project in Android Studio

To create a new project in Android Studio please refer to How to Create/Start a New Project in Android Studio.

Step 2: Working with the activity_main.xml file

Navigate to app > res > layout > activity_main.xml and add the below code to it. Comments are added in the code to get to know in detail. 

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!--on below line we are creating our linear layout-->
<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/idLLContainer"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_centerInParent="true"
    android:layout_gravity="center"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">
</LinearLayout>

Step 3: Working with the MainActivity file 

Navigate to app > java > your app’s package name > MainActivity file and add the code below. Comments are added in the code to get to know in detail.  

Kotlin

package com.gtappdevelopers.kotlingfgproject

import android.graphics.Typeface
import android.os.Bundle
import android.view.ViewGroup
import android.view.animation.AnimationUtils
import android.widget.*
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity

class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {

    // on below line creating a variable.
    lateinit var containerLL: LinearLayout
    val images = arrayOf(R.drawable.img1, R.drawable.img2, R.drawable.img3, R.drawable.img4)
    var index = 0

    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)

        // on below line we are initializing our variables.
        containerLL = findViewById(R.id.idLLContainer)

        // on below line we are creating layout
        // params for text view.
        // and specifying width as match parent
        // and height as wrap content
        val txtLayoutParam = LinearLayout.LayoutParams(
            ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
            ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT
        )

        // on below line we are creating our dynamic text view
        val headingTV = TextView(this)

        // on below line we are setting  for our text view.
        headingTV.text = "Dynamic Image Switcher in Android"

        // on below line we are updating text size.
        headingTV.textSize = 20f

        // on below line we are updating text color and font
        headingTV.setTextColor(resources.getColor(R.color.black))
        headingTV.typeface = Typeface.DEFAULT_BOLD

        // on below line we are adding padding
        headingTV.setPadding(20, 20, 20, 20)

        // on below line we are specifying text alignment.
        headingTV.textAlignment = TextView.TEXT_ALIGNMENT_CENTER

        // on below line we are adding layout
        // param for heading text view.
        headingTV.layoutParams = txtLayoutParam

        // on below line we are creating a simple text switcher.
        val imageSwitcher = ImageSwitcher(this)

        // on below line we are setting factor for our text switcher.
        imageSwitcher.setFactory {
            // on below line we are adding a image view in our image switcher.
            val imageView = ImageView(this@MainActivity)
            // on below line we are adding scale and padding to our image view.
            imageView.scaleType = ImageView.ScaleType.FIT_CENTER
            imageView.setPadding(20, 20, 20, 20)
            imageView
        }

        // on below line we are setting text for text switcher.
        imageSwitcher.setImageResource(images[index])

        // on below line we are creating a variable
        // for our slide in animation
        val imageIn = AnimationUtils.loadAnimation(
            this, android.R.anim.slide_in_left
        )
        // on below line we are setting animation
        // to our text switcher.
        imageSwitcher.inAnimation = imageIn

        // on below line we are creating a variable
        // for slide out animation
        val imageOut = AnimationUtils.loadAnimation(
            this, android.R.anim.slide_out_right
        )

        // on below line we are setting out
        // animation for text switcher
        imageSwitcher.outAnimation = imageOut

        // on below line we are creating a layout params for button
        val buttonParam = LinearLayout.LayoutParams(
            ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
            ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT
        )
        // on below line we are adding margin for buttons.
        buttonParam.setMargins(10, 10, 10, 10)

        // on below line we are creating a previous button
        // and adding text and style to it on below line
        val prevBtn = Button(this)
        prevBtn.text = "Previous"
        prevBtn.isAllCaps = false

        // on below line setting params to it.
        prevBtn.layoutParams = buttonParam

        // on below line we are setting text color to it.
        prevBtn.setTextColor(resources.getColor(R.color.white))

        // on below line we are adding background color to it.
        prevBtn.setBackgroundColor(resources.getColor(R.color.purple_200))

        // on below line we are adding click listener
        prevBtn.setOnClickListener {
            // on below line we are updating index
            index = if (index - 1 >= 0) index - 1 else 3
            imageSwitcher.setImageResource(images[index])
        }

        // on below line we are creating a next button
        // and adding text and style to it on below line
        val nextBtn = Button(this)
        nextBtn.text = "Next"
        nextBtn.isAllCaps = false

        // on below line setting params to it.
        nextBtn.layoutParams = buttonParam

        // on below line we are setting text color to it.
        nextBtn.setTextColor(resources.getColor(R.color.white))

        // on below line we are adding background color to it.
        nextBtn.setBackgroundColor(resources.getColor(R.color.purple_200))

        // on below line we are adding click listener
        nextBtn.setOnClickListener {
            // on below line we are updating index
            index = if (index + 1 < images.size) index + 1 else 0
            imageSwitcher.setImageResource(images[index])
        }

        // on below line we are adding our views
        // to container linear layout
        containerLL.addView(headingTV)
        containerLL.addView(imageSwitcher)
        containerLL.addView(prevBtn)
        containerLL.addView(nextBtn)

    }
}

Java

package com.gtappdevelopers.kotlingfgproject;

import android.graphics.Typeface;
import android.os.Build;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.Gravity;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.view.animation.Animation;
import android.view.animation.AnimationUtils;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.ImageSwitcher;
import android.widget.ImageView;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.widget.ViewSwitcher;
import androidx.annotation.RequiresApi;
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    // on below line we are creating variables.
    private LinearLayout containerLL;
    int images[] = {R.drawable.img1, R.drawable.img2, R.drawable.img3, R.drawable.img4};
    int index = 0;

    @RequiresApi(api = Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN_MR1)
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        // on below line we are initializing our variables.
        containerLL = findViewById(R.id.idLLContainer);

        // on below line we are creating layout params for text view.
        // and specifying width as match parent and height as wrap content
        LinearLayout.LayoutParams txtLayoutParam = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(
                ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
                ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT
        );

        // on below line we are adding gravity
        txtLayoutParam.gravity = Gravity.CENTER;

        // on below line we are creating our dynamic text view
        TextView headingTV = new TextView(this);

        // on below line we are setting  for our text view.
        headingTV.setText("Dynamic Image Switcher in Android");

        // on below line we are updating text size.
        headingTV.setTextSize(20f);

        // on below line we are updating text color and font
        headingTV.setTextColor(getResources().getColor(R.color.black));
        headingTV.setTypeface(Typeface.DEFAULT_BOLD);

        // on below line we are adding padding
        headingTV.setPadding(20, 20, 20, 20);

        // on below line we are specifying text alignment.
        headingTV.setTextAlignment(View.TEXT_ALIGNMENT_CENTER);

        // on below line we are adding layout param
        // for heading text view.
        headingTV.setLayoutParams(txtLayoutParam);

        // on below line we are creating a simple text switcher.
        ImageSwitcher imageSwitcher = new ImageSwitcher(this);

        // on below line we are setting factor for our text switcher.
        imageSwitcher.setFactory(new ViewSwitcher.ViewFactory() {
            @Override
            public View makeView() {
                // on below line we are adding a image view in our image switcher.
                ImageView imageView = new ImageView(MainActivity.this);

                // on below line we are adding scale and padding to our image view.
                imageView.setScaleType(ImageView.ScaleType.FIT_CENTER);
                imageView.setPadding(20, 20, 20, 20);
                return imageView;
            }
        });

        // on below line we are setting text for text switcher.
        imageSwitcher.setImageResource(images[index]);

        // on below line we are creating a variable
        // for our slide in aniamtion
        Animation imageIn = AnimationUtils.loadAnimation(
                this, android.R.anim.slide_in_left
        );

        // on below line we are setting animation
        // to our text switcher.
        imageSwitcher.setInAnimation(imageIn);

        // on below line we are creating a variable
        // for slide out animation
        Animation imageOut = AnimationUtils.loadAnimation(
                this, android.R.anim.slide_out_right
        );

        // on below line we are setting out
        // animation for text switcher
        imageSwitcher.setOutAnimation(imageOut);

        // on below line we are creating a layout params for button
        LinearLayout.LayoutParams buttonParam = new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(
                ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
                ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT
        );

        // on below line we are adding margin for buttons.
        buttonParam.setMargins(10, 10, 10, 10)

        // on below line we are creating a previous button
        // and adding text and style to it on below line
        Button prevBtn = new Button(this);
        prevBtn.setText("Previous");
        prevBtn.setAllCaps(false);

        // on below line setting params to it.
        prevBtn.setLayoutParams(buttonParam);

        // on below line we are setting text color to it.
        prevBtn.setTextColor(getResources().getColor(R.color.white));

        // on below line we are adding background color to it.
        prevBtn.setBackgroundColor(getResources().getColor(R.color.purple_200));

        // on below line we are adding click listener
        prevBtn.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                // on below line we are updating index
                if (index - 1 >= 0) {
                    index = index - 1;
                } else {
                    index = 3;
                }
                imageSwitcher.setImageResource(images[index]);
            }
        });

        // on below line we are creating a next button
        // and adding text and style to it on below line
        Button nextBtn = new Button(this);
        nextBtn.setText("Next");
        nextBtn.setAllCaps(false);

        // on below line setting params to it.
        nextBtn.setLayoutParams(buttonParam);

        // on below line we are setting text color to it.
        nextBtn.setTextColor(getResources().getColor(R.color.white));

        // on below line we are adding background color to it.
        nextBtn.setBackgroundColor(getResources().getColor(R.color.purple_200));

        // on below line we are adding click listener
        nextBtn.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                // on below line we are updating index
                if (index + 1 < images.length) {
                    index = index + 1;
                } else {
                    index = 0;
                }
                imageSwitcher.setImageResource(images[index]);
            }
        });

        // on below line we are adding our views
        // to container linear layout
        containerLL.addView(headingTV);
        containerLL.addView(imageSwitcher);
        containerLL.addView(prevBtn);
        containerLL.addView(nextBtn);

    }
}

Now run your project to see the output of the application. 

Output: