Android Return Line (\n) in String

Question

In android, a String resource can be created in XML by using

<string name="name">data</string>

to create a new line, \n may be used. However, if the user personally inputs data into an EditText and includes a \n, the writing is saved to a String and when the writing is displayed again in a TextView the result would be something such as:

Line 1\nLine2

How come the \n doesn't apply to user written Strings?

The end goal for me is to be able to have the user type a \n into a String to make sure the String is displayed in multiple lines.

How would this be achieved? Thanks in advance!

try to set android:maxLines="4" in textView layout

kartikag01
– kartikag01

2015-10-11 20:42:05 +00:00
Commented Oct 11, 2015 at 20:42 — kartikag01
– kartikag01, Commented Oct 11, 2015 at 20:42

Karan Khurana · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-14 12:22:51Z

2

Use this :

TextView view = your text view;
view.setSingleLine(false);

view.setText("first line" + "\n" + "second line" + "\n" + "third line");

edited Oct 14, 2015 at 12:22

answered Oct 14, 2015 at 12:07

Karan Khurana

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4 Comments

Bobby Over a year ago

What would be the best way to split the string at the \n? Should using just a basic .split() work?

Bobby Over a year ago

I will have to try this out later. Thanks for the response.

Karan Khurana Over a year ago

@26hmkk No problem. Vote it up if it helps.

Bobby Over a year ago

Thanks for all your help!

Ritt · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-11 20:46:19Z

1

How are you doing setText() in the textView.

Try this...

TextView view = your text view;
view.setSingleLine(false);
view.setText("first line\n"+"second line\n"+"third line");

answered Oct 11, 2015 at 20:46

Ritt

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Comments

Stephan Huewe · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-11 20:52:09Z

1

with

System.getProperty("line.separator")

you get a String which results in a new line. I would replace \n by this expression.

answered Oct 11, 2015 at 20:52

Stephan Huewe

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Comments

Budius · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-11 20:57:03Z

1

The text entered in an input field is used as an actual text. That means, when the user enters the Hello \n World and the code calls getText().toString(), what will actually be returned is: Hello \\n World that means, it's the actual slash symbol and not the "carriage return" symbol.

I don't believe android has any built-in API to give you the actual code typed by the user, that means, that you have to write that code yourself. If all you need is the \n as a carriage return it is simple:

getText().toString().replace("\\n", "\n");

edited Oct 11, 2015 at 20:57

answered Oct 11, 2015 at 20:48

Budius

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