Android - Creating a Top or Bottom Bar in XML Layout

This is intended for new Android developers.

If you're looking to align elements to the top or bottom of your layout, look no further!

I have bolded the important parts below.

Basically, this layout utilizes RelativeLayout. You can align to the RelativeLayout using
android:layout_alignParentTop and layout_alignParentBottom. Then, you can align elements to that element's ID using android:layout_below.

Here is an example, with a Button at the top of the layout and a ListView taking up all the rest of the space.


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:orientation="vertical"
  >
<LinearLayout
android:id="@+id/topcontrolbar"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
>
  <Button
android:id="@+id/Button"
  android:text="@string/ShowRecent"
  android:layout_width="wrap_content"
  android:layout_height="wrap_content"
  />
</LinearLayout>
<ListView
android:id="@+id/List"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_below="@id/topcontrolbar"
android:orientation="vertical"
/>
</RelativeLayout>