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User Interface

Table of Contents:

Button
CheckBox
DatePicker
Image
Label
ListPicker
ListView
Notifier
PasswordTextBox
Screen
Slider
Spinner
Switch
TextBox
TimePicker
WebViewer

Button

Button with the ability to detect clicks. Many aspects of its appearance can be changed, as well as whether it is clickable (Enabled). Its properties can be changed in the Designer or in the Blocks Editor.

Properties

BackgroundColor: Specifies the Button's background color as an alpha-red-green-blue integer. If an Image has been set, the color change will not be visible until the Image is removed.
Enabled: Specifies whether the Button should be active and clickable.
FontBold: Specifies whether the text of the Button should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the text of the Button should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the text font size of the Button, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: Specifies the text font face of the Button as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
Height: Specifies the Button's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the Button's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Image: Specifies the path of the Button's image. If there is both an Image and a BackgroundColor specified, only the Image will be visible.
Shape: Specifies the shape of the Button. The valid values for this property are 0 (default), 1 (rounded), 2 (rectangle), and 3 (oval). The Shape will not be visible if an Image is used.
ShowFeedback: Specifies if a visual feedback should be shown when a Button with an assigned Image is pressed.
Text: Specifies the text displayed by the Button.
TextAlignment: Specifies the alignment of the Button's text. Valid values are: 0 (normal; e.g., left-justified if text is written left to right), 1 (center), or 2 (opposite; e.g., right-justified if text is written left to right).
TextColor: Specifies the text color of the Button as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Visible: Specifies whether the Button should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the Button is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the Button, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the Button as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

Click(): Indicates that the user tapped and released the Button.
GotFocus(): Indicates the cursor moved over the Button so it is now possible to click it.
LongClick(): Indicates that the user held the Button down.
LostFocus(): Indicates the cursor moved away from the Button so it is now no longer possible to click it.
TouchDown(): Indicates that the Button was pressed down.
TouchUp(): Indicates that the Button has been released.

Methods

None

CheckBox

Example of a CheckBox

CheckBox components can detect user taps and can change their boolean state in response.

A CheckBox component raises an event when the user taps it. There are many properties affecting its appearance that can be set in the Designer or Blocks Editor.

Properties

BackgroundColor: Specifies the background color of the CheckBox as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Checked: Set to true if the box is checked, false otherwise.
Enabled: Specifies whether the CheckBox should be active and clickable.
FontBold: Specifies whether the text of the CheckBox should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the text of the CheckBox should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the text font size of the CheckBox, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: Specifies the text font face of the CheckBox as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
Height: Specifies the CheckBox's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the CheckBox's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Text: Specifies the text displayed by the CheckBox.
TextColor: Specifies the text color of the CheckBox as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Visible: Specifies whether the CheckBox should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the CheckBox is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the CheckBox, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the CheckBox as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

Changed(): User tapped and released the CheckBox.
GotFocus(): CheckBox became the focused component.
LostFocus(): CheckBox stopped being the focused component.

Methods

None

DatePicker

A button that, when clicked on, launches a popup dialog to allow the user to select a date on the Gregorian Calendar.

Note: Date and time are manipulated using methods in the Clock component.

Properties

BackgroundColor: Specifies the DatePicker's background color as an alpha-red-green-blue integer. If an Image has been set, the color change will not be visible until the Image is removed.
Day: Returns the Day of the month that was last picked using the DatePicker.
Enabled: Specifies whether the DatePicker should be active and clickable.
FontBold: Specifies whether the text of the DatePicker should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the text of the DatePicker should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the text font size of the DatePicker, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: Specifies the text font face of the DatePicker as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
Height: Specifies the DatePicker's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the DatePicker's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Image: Specifies the path of the DatePicker's image. If there is both an Image and a BackgroundColor specified, only the Image will be visible.
Instant: Returns instant of the date that was last picked using the DatePicker.
Month: Returns the number of the Month that was last picked using the DatePicker.
MonthInText: Returns the name of the Month that was last picked using the DatePicker.
Shape: Specifies the shape of the DatePicker. The valid values for this property are 0 (default), 1 (rounded), 2 (rectangle), and 3 (oval). The Shape will not be visible if an Image is used.
ShowFeedback: Specifies if a visual feedback should be shown when a DatePicker with an assigned Image is pressed.
Text: Specifies the text displayed by the DatePicker.
TextAlignment: Specifies the alignment of the DatePicker's text. Valid values are: 0 (normal; e.g., left-justified if text is written left to right), 1 (center), or 2 (opposite; e.g., right-justified if text is written left to right).
TextColor: Specifies the text color of the DatePicker as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Visible: Specifies whether the DatePicker should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the DatePicker is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the DatePicker, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the DatePicker as a percentage of the Screen's Width.
Year: Returns the Year that was last picked using the DatePicker.

Events

AfterDateSet(): Event that runs after the user chooses a Date in the dialog.
GotFocus(): Indicates the cursor moved over the DatePicker so it is now possible to click it.
LostFocus(): Indicates the cursor moved away from the DatePicker so it is now no longer possible to click it.
TouchDown(): Indicates that the DatePicker was pressed down.
TouchUp(): Indicates that the DatePicker has been released.

Methods

LaunchPicker(): Launches the DatePicker dialog. The AfterDateSet event will be run after the user confirms their selection.
SetDateToDisplay(year,month,day): Allows the user to set the date to be displayed when the date picker opens. Valid values for the month field are 1-12 and 1-31 for the day field.
SetDateToDisplayFromInstant(instant): Allows the user to set the date from the instant to be displayed when the date picker opens.

Image

Component for displaying images and basic animations.

The picture to display, and other aspects of the Image's appearance, can be specified in the Designer or in the Blocks Editor.

Properties

AlternateText: A written description of what the image looks like.
Animation: This is a limited form of animation that can attach a small number of motion types to images. The allowable motions are ScrollRightSlow, ScrollRight, ScrollRightFast, ScrollLeftSlow, ScrollLeft, ScrollLeftFast, and Stop.
Clickable: Specifies whether the image should be clickable or not.
Height: Specifies the Image's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the Image's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Picture: Specifies the path of the Image's Picture.
RotationAngle: The angle at which the image picture appears rotated. This rotation does not appear on the designer screen, only on the device.
ScalePictureToFit: Specifies whether the image should be resized to match the size of the ImageView.
Scaling: This property determines how the picture scales according to the Height or Width of the Image. Scale proportionally (0) preserves the picture aspect ratio. Scale to fit (1) matches the Image area, even if the aspect ratio changes.
Visible: Specifies whether the Image should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the Image is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the Image, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the Image as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

Click(): An event that occurs when an image is clicked.

Methods

None

Label

Labels are components used to show text.

Example of a label

A label displays text which is specified by the Text property. Other properties, all of which can be set in the Designer or Blocks Editor, control the appearance and placement of the text.

Properties

BackgroundColor: Specifies the label's background color as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
FontBold: Specifies whether the label's text should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the label's text should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the label's text's font size, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: Specifies the label's text's font face as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
HTMLContent: Returns the content of the Label as HTML. This is only useful if the HTMLFormat property is true.
HTMLFormat: Specifies the label's text's format
HasMargins: Specifies whether the label should have margins. This margin value is not well coordinated with the designer, where the margins are defined for the arrangement, not just for individual labels.
Height: Specifies the Label's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the Label's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Text: Specifies the text displayed by the label.
TextAlignment: Specifies the alignment of the label's text: center, normal (e.g., left-justified if text is written left to right), or opposite (e.g., right-justified if text is written left to right).
TextColor: Specifies the label's text color as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Visible: Specifies whether the Label should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the Label is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the Label, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the Label as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

None

Methods

None

ListPicker

A button that, when clicked on, displays a list of texts for the user to choose among. The texts can be specified through the Designer or Blocks Editor by setting the ElementsFromString property to their string-separated concatenation (for example, choice 1, choice 2, choice 3) or by setting the Elements property to a List in the Blocks editor.

Setting property ShowFilterBar to true, will make the list searchable. Other properties affect the appearance of the button (TextAlignment, BackgroundColor, etc.) and whether it can be clicked on (Enabled).

Properties

BackgroundColor: Specifies the ListPicker's background color as an alpha-red-green-blue integer. If an Image has been set, the color change will not be visible until the Image is removed.
Elements: Specifies the list of choices to display.
ElementsFromString: Set the list of choices from a string of comma-separated values.
Enabled: Specifies whether the ListPicker should be active and clickable.
FontBold: Specifies whether the text of the ListPicker should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the text of the ListPicker should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the text font size of the ListPicker, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: Specifies the text font face of the ListPicker as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
Height: Specifies the ListPicker's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the ListPicker's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Image: Specifies the path of the ListPicker's image. If there is both an Image and a BackgroundColor specified, only the Image will be visible.
ItemBackgroundColor: The background color of the ListPicker items.
ItemTextColor: The text color of the ListPicker items.
Selection: The selected item. When directly changed by the programmer, the SelectionIndex property is also changed to the first item in the ListPicker with the given value. If the value is not in Elements, SelectionIndex will be set to 0.
SelectionIndex: Selection index property setter method.
Shape: Specifies the shape of the ListPicker. The valid values for this property are 0 (default), 1 (rounded), 2 (rectangle), and 3 (oval). The Shape will not be visible if an Image is used.
ShowFeedback: Specifies if a visual feedback should be shown when a ListPicker with an assigned Image is pressed.
ShowFilterBar: If true, the ListPicker will show a search filter bar.
Text: Specifies the text displayed by the ListPicker.
TextAlignment: Specifies the alignment of the ListPicker's text. Valid values are: 0 (normal; e.g., left-justified if text is written left to right), 1 (center), or 2 (opposite; e.g., right-justified if text is written left to right).
TextColor: Specifies the text color of the ListPicker as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Title: Optional title displayed at the top of the list of choices.
Visible: Specifies whether the ListPicker should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the ListPicker is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the ListPicker, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the ListPicker as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

AfterPicking(): Event to be raised after the ListPicker activity returns its result and the properties have been filled in.
BeforePicking(): Event to raise when the ListPicker is clicked or the picker is shown using the Open method. This event occurs before the picker is displayed, and can be used to prepare the picker before it is shown.
GotFocus(): Indicates the cursor moved over the ListPicker so it is now possible to click it.
LostFocus(): Indicates the cursor moved away from the ListPicker so it is now no longer possible to click it.
TouchDown(): Indicates that the ListPicker was pressed down.
TouchUp(): Indicates that the ListPicker has been released.

Methods

Open(): Opens the ListPicker, as though the user clicked on it.

ListView

This is a visible component that displays a list of text and image elements in your Screen to display. Simple lists of strings may be set using the ElementsFromString property. More complex lists of elements containing multiple strings and/or images can be created using the ListData and ListViewLayout properties.

Information on Layouts

Warning: This component will not work correctly on Screens that are scrollable if its Height is set to Fill Parent.

Properties

BackgroundColor: The color of the ListView background.
Elements: Specifies the list of choices to display.
ElementsFromString: Set the list of choices specified as a string with the elements separated by commas such as: Cheese,Fruit,Bacon,Radish.
FontSizeDetail: Specifies the ListView item's text font size
FontTypeface: Specifies the label's text's font face as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
FontTypefaceDetail: Specifies the label's text's font face as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
Height: Specifies the ListView's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the ListView's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
ImageHeight: Specifies the image height of ListView layouts containing images
ImageWidth: Specifies the image width of ListView layouts containing images
ListData: Specifies data to be displayed in the ListView elements. This property sets the elements specified in ListViewLayout. For example, if the chosen layout is Image,MainText this property will allow any number of elements to be defined, each containing a filename for Image and a string for MainText. Designer only property.
ListViewLayout: Specifies type of layout for ListView row. Designer only property.
Orientation: Specifies the layout's orientation. This may be: Vertical, which displays elements in rows one after the other; or Horizontal, which displays one element at a time and allows the user to swipe left or right to brows the elements.
Selection: Returns the text in the ListView at the position of SelectionIndex.
SelectionColor: The color of the item when it is selected.
SelectionDetailText: Returns the Secondary or Detail text in the ListView at the position set by SelectionIndex
SelectionIndex: The index of the currently selected item, starting at 1. If no item is selected, the value will be 0. If an attempt is made to set this to a number less than 1 or greater than the number of items in the ListView, SelectionIndex will be set to 0, and Selection will be set to the empty text.
ShowFilterBar: Sets visibility of the filter bar. true will show the bar, false will hide it.
TextColor: The text color of the ListView items.
TextColorDetail: Specifies the color of the secondary text in a ListView layout
TextSize: Specifies the ListView item's text font size
Visible: Specifies whether the ListView should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the ListView is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the ListView, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the ListView as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

AfterPicking(): Simple event to be raised after the an element has been chosen in the list. The selected element is available in the Selection property.

Methods

CreateElement(mainText,detailText,imageName): Creates a
GetDetailText(listElement): Get the Detail Text of a ListView element.
GetImageName(listElement): Get the filename of the image of a ListView element that has been uploaded to Media.
GetMainText(listElement): Get the Main Text of a ListView element.
Refresh(): Reload the ListView to reflect any changes in the data.

Notifier

The Notifier component displays alert messages and creates Android log entries through an assortment of methods.

Properties

BackgroundColor: Specifies the background color for alerts (not dialogs).
NotifierLength: Specifies the length of time that the alert is shown – either "short" or "long".
TextColor: Specifies the text color for alerts (not dialogs).

Events

AfterChoosing(choice): Event after the user has made a selection for ShowChooseDialog.
AfterTextInput(response): Event raised after the user has responded to ShowTextDialog.
ChoosingCanceled(): Event raised when the user cancels choosing an option. ShowChooseDialog.
TextInputCanceled(): Event raised when the user cancels ShowPasswordDialog, or ShowTextDialog.

Methods

DismissProgressDialog(): Dismisses the alert created by the ShowProgressDialog block
LogError(message): Writes an error message to the Android system log. See the Google Android documentation for how to access the log.
LogInfo(message): Writes an information message to the Android log.
LogWarning(message): Writes a warning message to the Android log. See the Google Android documentation for how to access the log.
ShowAlert(notice): Display a temporary notification.
ShowChooseDialog(message,title,button1Text,button2Text,cancelable): Shows a dialog box with two buttons, from which the user can choose. If cancelable is true there will be an additional CANCEL button. Pressing a button will raise the AfterChoosing event. The "choice" parameter to AfterChoosing will be the text on the button that was pressed, or "Cancel" if the CANCEL button was pressed. If canceled, the TextInputCanceled event will also run.
ShowMessageDialog(message,title,buttonText): Display an alert dialog with a single button that dismisses the alert.
ShowPasswordDialog(message,title,cancelable): Shows a dialog box where the user can enter password (input is masked), after which the AfterTextInput event will be raised. If cancelable is true there will be an additional CANCEL button. The AfterTextInput and TextInputCanceled events behave the same way as described in ShowTextDialog.
ShowProgressDialog(message,title): Shows a dialog box with an optional title and message (use empty strings if they are not wanted). This dialog box contains a spinning artifact to indicate that the program is working. It cannot be canceled by the user but must be dismissed by the App Inventor Program by using the DismissProgressDialog method.
ShowTextDialog(message,title,cancelable): Shows a dialog box where the user can enter text, after which the AfterTextInput event will be raised. If cancelable is true there will be an additional CANCEL button. Entering text will raise the AfterTextInput event. The "response" parameter to AfterTextInput will be the text that was entered, or "Cancel" if the CANCEL button was pressed. If canceled, the TextInputCanceled event will also run.

PasswordTextBox

Users enter passwords in a password text box component, which hides the text that has been typed in it.

Example of a PasswordTextBox

A password text box is the same as the ordinary TextBox component, except that it does not display the characters typed by the user.

You can get or set the value of the text in the box with the Text property. If Text is blank, you can use the Hint property to provide the user with a suggestion of what to type. The Hint appears as faint text in the box.

Password text box components are usually used with a Button component. The user taps the Button after entering text.

Properties

BackgroundColor: The background color of the PasswordTextBox`. You can choose a color by name in the Designer or in the Blocks Editor. The default background color is 'default' (shaded 3-D look).
Enabled: If set, user can enter text into the PasswordTextBox.
FontBold: Specifies whether the text of the PasswordTextBox should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the text of the PasswordTextBox should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the text font size of the PasswordTextBox, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: The text font face of the PasswordTextBox. Valid values are 0 (default), 1 (serif), 2 (sans serif), or 3 (monospace).
Height: Specifies the PasswordTextBox's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the PasswordTextBox's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Hint: PasswordTextBox hint for the user.
NumbersOnly: If true, then this PasswordTextBox accepts only numbers as keyboard input. Numbers can include a decimal point and an optional leading minus sign. This applies to keyboard input only. Even if NumbersOnly is true, you can set the text to anything at all using the [Text`](#PasswordTextBox.Text) property.
PasswordVisible: Specifies whether the password is hidden (default) or shown.
Text: The text in the PasswordTextBox, which can be set by the programmer in the Designer or Blocks Editor, or it can be entered by the user (unless the Enabled property is false).
TextAlignment: Specifies the alignment of the PasswordTextBox's text. Valid values are: 0 (normal; e.g., left-justified if text is written left to right), 1 (center), or 2 (opposite; e.g., right-justified if text is written left to right).
TextColor: Specifies the text color of the PasswordTextBox as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Visible: Specifies whether the PasswordTextBox should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the PasswordTextBox is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the PasswordTextBox, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the PasswordTextBox as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

GotFocus(): Event raised when the PasswordTextBox is selected for input, such as by the user touching it.
LostFocus(): Event raised when the PasswordTextBox is no longer selected for input, such as if the user touches a different text box.

Methods

RequestFocus(): Request focus to current PasswordTextBox.

Screen

Top-level component containing all other components in the program.

Properties

AboutScreen

Information about the screen. It appears when "About this Application" is selected from the system menu. Use it to tell users about your app. In multiple screen apps, each screen has its own AboutScreen info.

AccentColor

This is the accent color used for highlights and other user interface accents in newer versions of Android. Components affected by this property include dialogs created by the Notifier, the DatePicker, and others.

AlignHorizontal

A number that encodes how contents of the screen are aligned horizontally. The choices are: 1 (left aligned), 3 (horizontally centered), 2 (right aligned).

AlignVertical

A number that encodes how the contents of the arrangement are aligned vertically. The choices are: 1 (aligned at the top), 2 (vertically centered), 3 (aligned at the bottom). Vertical alignment has no effect if the screen is scrollable.

AppName

This is the display name of the installed application in the phone. If the AppName is blank, it will be set to the name of the project when the project is built.

BackgroundColor

Specifies the Screen's background color as an alpha-red-green-blue integer. If an BackgroundImage has been set, the color change will not be visible until the BackgroundImage is removed.

BackgroundImage

Specifies the path of the Screen's background image. If there is both an BackgroundImage and a BackgroundColor specified, only the BackgroundImage will be visible.

BigDefaultText

When checked, all default size text will be increased in size.

BlocksToolkit

A JSON string representing the subset for the screen. Authors of template apps can use this to control what components, designer properties, and blocks are available in the project.

CloseScreenAnimation

Sets the animation type for the transition of this form closing and returning to a form behind it in the activity stack.

DefaultFileScope

Specifies the default scope used when components access files. Note that the File component has its own property for controlling file scopes.

Height

Returns the Screen height in pixels (y-size).

HighContrast

When checked, there will be high contrast mode turned on.

Icon

The image used for your App's display icon should be a square png or jpeg image with dimensions up to 1024x1024 pixels. Larger images may cause compiling or installing the app to fail. The build server will generate images of standard dimensions for Android devices.

OpenScreenAnimation

Sets the animation type for the transition of this form opening.

Platform

Gets the name of the underlying platform running the app. Currently, this is the text "Android". Other platforms may be supported in the future.

PlatformVersion

Gets the version number of the platform running the app. This is typically a dotted version number, such as 10.0. Any value can be returned, however, so you should take care to handle unexpected data. If the platform version is unavailable, the empty text will be returned.

PrimaryColor

This is the primary color used as part of the Android theme, including coloring the Screen's title bar.

PrimaryColorDark

This is the primary color used when the Theme property is specified to be Dark. It applies to a number of elements, including the Screen's title bar.

ScreenOrientation

Declares the requested screen orientation, specified as a text value. Commonly used values are landscape, portrait, sensor, user and unspecified. See the Android developer documentation for the complete list of possible options.

Scrollable

When checked, there will be a vertical scrollbar on the screen, and the height of the application can exceed the physical height of the device. When unchecked, the application height is constrained to the height of the device.

ShowListsAsJson

If true (the default), lists will be shown as strings in JSON/Python notation for example [1, "a", true]. If false, lists will be shown in the LISP notation, for example (1 a true).

Note: This property appears only in Screen1 and the value for Screen1 determines the behavior for all screens in the app.

ShowStatusBar

The status bar is the topmost bar on the screen. This property reports whether the status bar is visible.

Sizing

If set to responsive (the default), screen layouts will use the actual resolution of the device. See the documentation on responsive design in App Inventor for more information. If set to fixed, screen layouts will be created for a single fixed-size screen and autoscaled.

Note: This property appears on Screen1 only and controls the sizing for all screens in the app.

Theme

Selects the theme for the application. Theme can only be set at compile time and the Companion will approximate changes during live development. Possible options are:

Classic, which is the same as older versions of App Inventor;
Device Default, which gives the same theme as the version of Android running on the device and uses PrimaryColor for the Action Bar and has light buttons;
Black Title Text, which is the Device Default theme but with black title text; and
Dark, which is a dark version of the Device Default theme using PrimaryColorDark and having dark grey components.

Title

Title property setter method: sets a new caption for the form in the form's title bar.

TitleVisible

The title bar is the top gray bar on the screen. This property reports whether the title bar is visible.

TutorialURL

A URL which will be opened on the left side panel (which can be toggled once it is open). This is intended for projects that have an in-line tutorial as part of the project. For security reasons, only tutorials hosted on http://appinventor.mit.edu or linked to from our URL shortener (http://appinv.us) may be used here. Other URLs will be silently ignored.

VersionCode

An integer value which must be incremented each time a new Android Application Package File (APK) is created for the Google Play Store.

VersionName

A string which can be changed to allow Google Play Store users to distinguish between different versions of the App.

Width

Returns the Screen width in pixels (x-size).

Events

BackPressed(): Device back button pressed.
ErrorOccurred(component,functionName,errorNumber,message): Event raised when an error occurs. Only some errors will raise this condition. For those errors, the system will show a notification by default. You can use this event handler to prescribe an error behavior different than the default.
Initialize(): The Initialize event is run when the Screen starts and is only run once per screen.
OtherScreenClosed(otherScreenName,result): Event raised when another screen has closed and control has returned to this screen.
PermissionDenied(component,functionName,permissionName): Event to handle when the app user has denied a needed permission.
PermissionGranted(permissionName): Event to handle when the app user has granted a needed permission. This event is only run when permission is granted in response to the AskForPermission method.
ScreenOrientationChanged(): Screen orientation changed

Methods

AskForPermission(permissionName): Ask the user to grant access to a sensitive permission, such as ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION. This block is typically used as part of a PermissionDenied event to ask for permission. If the user grants permission, the PermissionGranted event will be run. If the user denies permission, the PermissionDenied event will be run.
Note: It is a best practice to only ask for permissions at the time they are needed, which App Inventor components will do when necessary. You should not use AskForPermission in your Initialize event unless access to that permission is critical to the behavior of your app and is needed up front, such as location services for a navigation app.
HideKeyboard(): Hide the soft keyboard

Slider

This class is used to display a Slider.

Example Slider icon

A Slider is a progress bar that adds a draggable thumb. You can touch the thumb and drag left or right to set the slider thumb position. As the Slider thumb is dragged, it will trigger the PositionChanged event, reporting the position of the Slider thumb. The reported position of the thumb can be used to dynamically update another component attribute, such as the TextBox's FontSize of a TextBox or the Radius of a Ball.

The Slider uses the following default values. However these values can be changed through the Designer or Blocks editor:

MinValue = 10
MaxValue = 50
ThumbPosition = 30

Properties

ColorLeft: Specifies the color of the slider bar to the left of the thumb as an alpha-red-green-blue integer, i.e., 0xAARRGGBB. An alpha of 00 indicates fully transparent and FF means opaque.
ColorRight: Specifies the color of the slider bar to the right of the thumb as an alpha-red-green-blue integer, i.e., 0xAARRGGBB. An alpha of 00 indicates fully transparent and FF means opaque.
HeightPercent: Specifies the Slider's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
MaxValue: Sets the maximum value of slider. If the new maximum is less than the current minimum, then minimum and maximum will both be set to this value. Setting MaxValue resets the thumb position to halfway between MinValue and MaxValue and signals the PositionChanged` event.
MinValue: Sets the minimum value of slider. If the new minimum is greater than the current maximum, then minimum and maximum will both be set to this value. Setting MinValue resets the thumb position to halfway between MinValue and MaxValue and signals the PositionChanged` event.
ThumbEnabled: Whether or not the slider thumb is being be shown.
ThumbPosition: Sets the position of the slider thumb. If this value is greater than MaxValue, then it will be set to same value as MaxValue. If this value is less than MinValue, then it will be set to same value as MinValue.
Visible: Specifies whether the Slider should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the Slider is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the Slider, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the Slider as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

PositionChanged(thumbPosition): Indicates that position of the slider thumb has changed.

Methods

None

Spinner

A Spinner component that displays a dialog with a list of elements. These elements can be set in the Designer or Blocks Editor by setting the ElementsFromString property to a comma-separated list of values (for example, choice 1, choice 2, choice 3) or by setting the Elements property to a List in the Blocks editor. Spinners are created with the first item already selected, so selecting it does not generate an AfterSelecting event. Consequently it's useful to make the first Spinner item be a non-choice like "Select from below…".

Properties

Elements: Specifies the list of choices to display.
ElementsFromString: Set the list of choices from a string of comma-separated values.
Height: Specifies the Spinner's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the Spinner's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Prompt: Specifies the text used for the title of the Spinner window.
Selection: Specifies the current selected item in the Spinner.
SelectionIndex: Set the Spinner selection to the element at the given index. If an attempt is made to set this to a number less than 1 or greater than the number of items in the Spinner, SelectionIndex will be set to 0, and Selection will be set to the empty text.
Visible: Specifies whether the Spinner should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the Spinner is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the Spinner, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the Spinner as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

AfterSelecting(selection): Event called after the user selects an item from the dropdown list.

Methods

DisplayDropdown(): Displays the dropdown list for selection, same action as when the user clicks on the spinner.

Switch

Switch components can detect user taps and can change their boolean state in response. They are identical to CheckBoxes except in appearance.

Switches have an on (true) state and an off (false) state. A Switch component raises an event when the user taps it to toggle between states.

Properties

BackgroundColor: Specifies the background color of the Switch as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Enabled: Specifies whether the Switch should be active and clickable.
FontBold: Specifies whether the text of the Switch should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the text of the Switch should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the text font size of the Switch, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: Specifies the text font face of the Switch as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
Height: Specifies the Switch's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the Switch's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
On: True if the switch is in the On state, false otherwise.
Text: Specifies the text displayed by the Switch.
TextColor: Specifies the text color of the Switch as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
ThumbColorActive: Specifies the Switch's thumb color when switch is in the On state.
ThumbColorInactive: Specifies the Switch's thumb color when switch is in the Off state.
TrackColorActive: Specifies the Switch's track color when in the On state.
TrackColorInactive: Specifies the Switch's track color when in the Off state.
Visible: Specifies whether the Switch should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the Switch is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the Switch, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the Switch as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

Changed(): User change the state of the Switch from On to Off or back.
GotFocus(): Switch became the focused component.
LostFocus(): Switch stopped being the focused component.

Methods

None

TextBox

Users enter text in a text box component.

Example of a TextBox

The initial or user-entered text value in a text box component is in the Text property. If Text is blank, you can use the Hint property to provide the user with a suggestion of what to type. The Hint appears as faint text in the box.

The MultiLine property determines if the text can have more than one line. For a single line text box, the keyboard will close automatically when the user presses the Done key. To close the keyboard for multiline text boxes, the app should use the HideKeyboard method or rely on the user to press the Back key.

The NumbersOnly property restricts the keyboard to accept numeric input only.

Other properties affect the appearance of the text box (TextAlignment, BackgroundColor, etc.) and whether it can be used (Enabled).

Text boxes are usually used with the Button component, with the user clicking on the Button when text entry is complete.

If the text entered by the user should not be displayed, use PasswordTextBox instead.

Properties

BackgroundColor: The background color of the TextBox`. You can choose a color by name in the Designer or in the Blocks Editor. The default background color is 'default' (shaded 3-D look).
Enabled: If set, user can enter text into the TextBox.
FontBold: Specifies whether the text of the TextBox should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the text of the TextBox should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the text font size of the TextBox, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: The text font face of the TextBox. Valid values are 0 (default), 1 (serif), 2 (sans serif), or 3 (monospace).
Height: Specifies the TextBox's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the TextBox's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Hint: TextBox hint for the user.
MultiLine: If true, then this TextBox accepts multiple lines of input, which are entered using the return key. For single line text boxes there is a Done key instead of a return key, and pressing Done hides the keyboard. The app should call the HideKeyboard method to hide the keyboard for a mutiline text box.
NumbersOnly: If true, then this TextBox accepts only numbers as keyboard input. Numbers can include a decimal point and an optional leading minus sign. This applies to keyboard input only. Even if NumbersOnly is true, you can set the text to anything at all using the [Text`](#TextBox.Text) property.
ReadOnly: Whether the TextBox is read-only. By default, this is true.
Text: The text in the TextBox, which can be set by the programmer in the Designer or Blocks Editor, or it can be entered by the user (unless the Enabled property is false).
TextAlignment: Specifies the alignment of the TextBox's text. Valid values are: 0 (normal; e.g., left-justified if text is written left to right), 1 (center), or 2 (opposite; e.g., right-justified if text is written left to right).
TextColor: Specifies the text color of the TextBox as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Visible: Specifies whether the TextBox should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the TextBox is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the TextBox, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the TextBox as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

GotFocus(): Event raised when the TextBox is selected for input, such as by the user touching it.
LostFocus(): Event raised when the TextBox is no longer selected for input, such as if the user touches a different text box.

Methods

HideKeyboard(): Hide the keyboard. Only multiline text boxes need this. Single line text boxes close the keyboard when the users presses the Done key.
RequestFocus(): Request focus to current TextBox.

TimePicker

A button that, when clicked on, opens a dialog to allow the user to select a time.

Note: Date and time are manipulated using methods in the Clock component.

Properties

BackgroundColor: Specifies the TimePicker's background color as an alpha-red-green-blue integer. If an Image has been set, the color change will not be visible until the Image is removed.
Enabled: Specifies whether the TimePicker should be active and clickable.
FontBold: Specifies whether the text of the TimePicker should be bold. Some fonts do not support bold.
FontItalic: Specifies whether the text of the TimePicker should be italic. Some fonts do not support italic.
FontSize: Specifies the text font size of the TimePicker, measured in sp(scale-independent pixels).
FontTypeface: Specifies the text font face of the TimePicker as default, serif, sans serif, or monospace.
Height: Specifies the TimePicker's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the TimePicker's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
Hour: Returns the hour of the time that was last picked using the TimePicker`. The time returned is always in the 24hour format.
Image: Specifies the path of the TimePicker's image. If there is both an Image and a BackgroundColor specified, only the Image will be visible.
Instant: Returns the instant in time that was last picked using the TimePicker.
Minute: Returns the hour of the time that was last picked using the TimePicker. The time returned is always in the 24hour format.
Shape: Specifies the shape of the TimePicker. The valid values for this property are 0 (default), 1 (rounded), 2 (rectangle), and 3 (oval). The Shape will not be visible if an Image is used.
ShowFeedback: Specifies if a visual feedback should be shown when a TimePicker with an assigned Image is pressed.
Text: Specifies the text displayed by the TimePicker.
TextAlignment: Specifies the alignment of the TimePicker's text. Valid values are: 0 (normal; e.g., left-justified if text is written left to right), 1 (center), or 2 (opposite; e.g., right-justified if text is written left to right).
TextColor: Specifies the text color of the TimePicker as an alpha-red-green-blue integer.
Visible: Specifies whether the TimePicker should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the TimePicker is showing and false if hidden.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the TimePicker, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the TimePicker as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

AfterTimeSet(): This event is run when a user has set the time in the popup dialog.
GotFocus(): Indicates the cursor moved over the TimePicker so it is now possible to click it.
LostFocus(): Indicates the cursor moved away from the TimePicker so it is now no longer possible to click it.
TouchDown(): Indicates that the TimePicker was pressed down.
TouchUp(): Indicates that the TimePicker has been released.

Methods

LaunchPicker(): Launches the TimePicker dialog.
SetTimeToDisplay(hour,minute): Allows the user to set the time to be displayed when the TimePicker opens. Valid values for the hour field are 0-23 and 0-59 for the second field.
SetTimeToDisplayFromInstant(instant): Allows the instant to set the hour and minute to be displayed when the TimePicker opens. Instants are used in Clock, DatePicker, and TimePicker components.

WebViewer

Component for viewing Web pages.

WebViewer icon

The HomeUrl can be specified in the Designer or in the Blocks Editor. The view can be set to follow links when they are tapped, and users can fill in Web forms.

Warning: This is not a full browser. For example, pressing the phone's hardware Back key will exit the app, rather than move back in the browser history.

You can use the WebViewString property to communicate between your app and Javascript code running in the WebViewer page. In the app, you get and set WebViewString. In the WebViewer, you include Javascript that references the window.AppInventor object, using the methods getWebViewString() and setWebViewString(text).

For example, if the WebViewer opens to a page that contains the Javascript command

                              document                .                write                (                "The answer is"                +                window                .                AppInventor                .                getWebViewString                ());

and if you set WebViewString to "hello", then the web page will show

And if the Web page contains Javascript that executes the command

                              windowAppInventor                .                setWebViewString                (                "hello from Javascript"                ),

then the value of the WebViewString property will be

Calling setWebViewString from JavaScript will also run the WebViewStringChange event so that the blocks can handle when the WebViewString property changes.

Beginning with release nb184a, you can specify a HomeUrl beginning with http://localhost/ to reference assets both in the Companion and in compiled apps. Previously, apps needed to use file:///android_asset/ in compiled apps and /sdcard/AppInventor/assets/ in the Companion. Both of these options will continue to work but the http://localhost/ approach will work in both scenarios. You may also use "file:///appinventor_asset/" which provides more security by preventing the use of asynchronous requests from JavaScript in your assets from going out to the web.

Properties

CurrentPageTitle: Returns the title of the page currently being viewed
CurrentUrl: Returns the URL currently being viewed. This could be different from the HomeUrl if new pages were visited by following links.
FollowLinks: Determines whether to follow links when they are tapped in the WebViewer. If you follow links, you can use GoBack and GoForward to navigate the browser history.
Height: Specifies the WebViewer's vertical height, measured in pixels.
HeightPercent: Specifies the WebViewer's vertical height as a percentage of the Screen's Height.
HomeUrl: Specifies the URL of the page the WebViewer should initially open to. Setting this will load the page.
IgnoreSslErrors: Determine whether or not to ignore SSL errors. Set to true to ignore errors. Use this to accept self signed certificates from websites.
PromptforPermission: Determine if the user should be prompted for permission to use the geolocation API while in the WebViewer. If true, prompt the user of the WebViewer to give permission to access the geolocation API. If false, assume permission is granted.
UsesLocation: Specifies whether or not this WebViewer can access the JavaScript geolocation API.
Visible: Specifies whether the WebViewer should be visible on the screen. Value is true if the WebViewer is showing and false if hidden.
WebViewString: Gets the WebView's String, which is viewable through Javascript in the WebView as the window.AppInventor object.
Width: Specifies the horizontal width of the WebViewer, measured in pixels.
WidthPercent: Specifies the horizontal width of the WebViewer as a percentage of the Screen's Width.

Events

BeforePageLoad(url): When a page is about to load this event is run.
ErrorOccurred(errorCode,description,failingUrl): When an error occurs this event is run.
PageLoaded(url): When a page is finished loading this event is run.
WebViewStringChange(value): Event that runs when the AppInventor.setWebViewString method is called from JavaScript. The new WebViewString is given by the value parameter.

Methods

CanGoBack(): Returns true if the WebViewer can go back in the history list.
CanGoForward(): Returns true if the WebViewer can go forward in the history list.
ClearCaches(): Clear the internal webview cache, both ram and disk. This is useful when using the WebViewer to poll a page that may not be sending appropriate cache control headers.
ClearCookies(): Clear the webview's cookies. This is useful if you want to sign the user out of a website that uses them to store logins.
ClearLocations(): Clear Stored Location permissions. When the geolocation API is used in the WebViewer, the end user is prompted on a per URL basis for whether or not permission should be granted to access their location. This function clears this information for all locations.
As the permissions interface is not available on phones older then Eclair, this function is a no-op on older phones.
GoBack(): Go back to the previous page in the history list. Does nothing if there is no previous page.
GoForward(): Go forward to the next page in the history list. Does nothing if there is no next page.
GoHome(): Loads the page from the home URL. This happens automatically when home URL is changed.
GoToUrl(url): Load the page at the given URL.
Reload(): Reload the current page.
RunJavaScript(js): Run JavaScript in the current page.
StopLoading(): Stop loading a page.