Android Studio Constraint Layout

In activity_main.xml, Design view, click on an item (either in component tree or on Design)

One can toggle back and forth between a list of “all properties” (seen on right) and select properties and a constraint diagram (on left).

If you have the layout as a whole selected there is no constraint diagram. (Items can be constrained to the overall layout, but it in not constrained to anything)

The initial TextView is constrained to its parent (container) at top and bottom – making it centered vertically – as well as at left and right – making it centered horizontally

The corresponding text

A newly dragged out TextView is unconstrained.

Corresponding text: layout_editor attribute does nothing when it runs Corresponding text: layout_editor attribute does nothing when it runs. Also red squiggly line is telling you item is unconstrained.

The item’s top can be constrained to the top of its parent container when in Design by clicking on the little circle at the top and dragging to the top of the container.

Similarly drag circle on left of item to left of container

After dragging out a plain-text EditText, it is similarly unconstrained.

Drag its top circle to the top of the parent container Drag its top circle to the top of the parent container. Drag its left circle to the right of the TextView previously put down (and given id of txtName)

Magnified one can see the left of the EditText connected to the right of the TextView

Seen in Text

Because the EditText in the “first row” takes up more space vertically, the next TextView’s top should be constrained to its bottom.

Text version (second TextView)