MessageInput is a subsidiary component for entering text messages, it supports a simple validation and processes all “submit” button’s states. Also, it supports enough attributes for appearance stylization.
To add MessageInput
to layout is as simple, as a common EditText
:
<com.stfalcon.chatkit.messages.MessageInput
android:id="@+id/input"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
app:inputHint="@string/hint_enter_a_message"/>
For input hint you need to use inputHint
attribute.
Message validation have two simple rules:
- if input is empty, the button disables.
- when pressing submit after typing text — widget returns text to check. A listener returns
true
, if the text is valid, and the text is cleared. If else — nothing happens.
inputView.setInputListener(new MessageInput.InputListener() {
@Override
public boolean onSubmit(CharSequence input) {
//validate and send message
adapter.addToStart(message, true);
return true;
}
});
If you want to add multimedia messages, you may need an "attachments" button. You can enable it with the attribute showAttachmentButton="true"
, and to react to its pressing it is necessary to install the listener:
messageInput.setAttachmentsListener(new MessageInput.AttachmentsListener() {
@Override
public void onAddAttachments() {
//select attachments
}
});
If you want to track typing event:
messageInput.setTypingListener(new MessageInput.TypingListener() {
@Override
public void onStartTyping() {
}
@Override
public void onStopTyping() {
}
});
Default delay typing is 1500, you can change it with only one line delayTypingStatus="delayInMilis"
By using available widget attribute you can change color and size of text and input hint, maximum number of permitted lines, size and indents “submit” button, and its icon and background.
For example, we need to change color and size of the text, replace submit and attachment buttons background with a new one or change color of default (and the same for their icons) and change some sizes and indents.
<com.stfalcon.chatkit.messages.MessageInput
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
app:attachmentButtonDefaultIconColor="@color/green"
app:attachmentButtonDefaultIconPressedColor="@color/green_dark"
app:inputButtonBackground="@drawable/input_button_background"
app:inputButtonHeight="30dp"
app:inputButtonIcon="@drawable/ic_send_selector"
app:inputButtonMargin="16dp"
app:inputButtonWidth="30dp"
app:inputMaxLines="3"
app:inputTextColor="@color/black"
app:inputTextSize="18sp"/>
Also, you can change default
You can view all available attributes here