Fast Scroll display problem with ListAdapter and SectionIndexer

EDIT: Full sample code for this solution available here.

I had this same problem - I needed to display full text in the overlay rectangle rather than just a single character. I managed to solve it using the following code as an example: http://code.google.com/p/apps-for-android/source/browse/trunk/RingsExtended/src/com/example/android/rings_extended/FastScrollView.java

The author said that this was copied from the Contacts app, which apparently uses its own implementation rather than just setting fastScrollEnabled="true" on the ListView. I altered it a little bit so that you can customize the overlay rectangle width, overlay rectangle height, overlay text size, and scroll thumb width.

For the record, the final result looks like this: http://nolanwlawson.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/pokedroid_1.png

All you need to do is add these values to your res/values/attrs.xml:

<declare-styleable name="CustomFastScrollView">

    <attr name="overlayWidth" format="dimension"/>
    <attr name="overlayHeight" format="dimension"/>
    <attr name="overlayTextSize" format="dimension"/>
    <attr name="overlayScrollThumbWidth" format="dimension"/>

</declare-styleable>

And then use this CustomFastScrollView instead of the one in the link:

public class CustomFastScrollView extends FrameLayout 
        implements OnScrollListener, OnHierarchyChangeListener {

    private Drawable mCurrentThumb;
    private Drawable mOverlayDrawable;

    private int mThumbH;
    private int mThumbW;
    private int mThumbY;

    private RectF mOverlayPos;

    // custom values I defined
    private int mOverlayWidth;
    private int mOverlayHeight;
    private float mOverlayTextSize;
    private int mOverlayScrollThumbWidth;

    private boolean mDragging;
    private ListView mList;
    private boolean mScrollCompleted;
    private boolean mThumbVisible;
    private int mVisibleItem;
    private Paint mPaint;
    private int mListOffset;

    private Object [] mSections;
    private String mSectionText;
    private boolean mDrawOverlay;
    private ScrollFade mScrollFade;

    private Handler mHandler = new Handler();

    private BaseAdapter mListAdapter;

    private boolean mChangedBounds;

    public static interface SectionIndexer {
        Object[] getSections();

        int getPositionForSection(int section);

        int getSectionForPosition(int position);
    }

    public CustomFastScrollView(Context context) {
        super(context);

        init(context, null);
    }


    public CustomFastScrollView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        super(context, attrs);

        init(context, attrs);
    }

    public CustomFastScrollView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyle) {
        super(context, attrs, defStyle);

        init(context, attrs);
    }

    private void useThumbDrawable(Drawable drawable) {
        mCurrentThumb = drawable;
        mThumbW = mOverlayScrollThumbWidth;//mCurrentThumb.getIntrinsicWidth();
        mThumbH = mCurrentThumb.getIntrinsicHeight();
        mChangedBounds = true;
    }

    private void init(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {

        // set all attributes from xml
        if (attrs != null) {
            TypedArray typedArray = context.obtainStyledAttributes(attrs,
                    R.styleable.CustomFastScrollView);
            mOverlayHeight = typedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(
                    R.styleable.CustomFastScrollView_overlayHeight, 0);
            mOverlayWidth = typedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(
                    R.styleable.CustomFastScrollView_overlayWidth, 0);
            mOverlayTextSize = typedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(
                    R.styleable.CustomFastScrollView_overlayTextSize, 0);
            mOverlayScrollThumbWidth = typedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(
                    R.styleable.CustomFastScrollView_overlayScrollThumbWidth, 0);

        }

        // Get both the scrollbar states drawables
        final Resources res = context.getResources();
        Drawable thumbDrawable = res.getDrawable(R.drawable.scrollbar_handle_accelerated_anim2);
        useThumbDrawable(thumbDrawable);

        mOverlayDrawable = res.getDrawable(android.R.drawable.alert_dark_frame);

        mScrollCompleted = true;
        setWillNotDraw(false);

        // Need to know when the ListView is added
        setOnHierarchyChangeListener(this);

        mOverlayPos = new RectF();
        mScrollFade = new ScrollFade();
        mPaint = new Paint();
        mPaint.setAntiAlias(true);
        mPaint.setTextAlign(Paint.Align.CENTER);
        mPaint.setTextSize(mOverlayTextSize);
        mPaint.setColor(0xFFFFFFFF);
        mPaint.setStyle(Paint.Style.FILL_AND_STROKE);
    }

    private void removeThumb() {
        mThumbVisible = false;
        // Draw one last time to remove thumb
        invalidate();
    }

    @Override
    public void draw(Canvas canvas) {
        super.draw(canvas);

        if (!mThumbVisible) {
            // No need to draw the rest
            return;
        }

        final int y = mThumbY;
        final int viewWidth = getWidth();
        final CustomFastScrollView.ScrollFade scrollFade = mScrollFade;

        int alpha = -1;
        if (scrollFade.mStarted) {
            alpha = scrollFade.getAlpha();
            if (alpha < ScrollFade.ALPHA_MAX / 2) {
                mCurrentThumb.setAlpha(alpha * 2);
            }
            int left = viewWidth - (mThumbW * alpha) / ScrollFade.ALPHA_MAX;
            mCurrentThumb.setBounds(left, 0, viewWidth, mThumbH);
            mChangedBounds = true;
        }

        canvas.translate(0, y);
        mCurrentThumb.draw(canvas);
        canvas.translate(0, -y);

        // If user is dragging the scroll bar, draw the alphabet overlay
        if (mDragging && mDrawOverlay) {
            mOverlayDrawable.draw(canvas);
            final Paint paint = mPaint;
            float descent = paint.descent();
            final RectF rectF = mOverlayPos;
            canvas.drawText(mSectionText, (int) (rectF.left + rectF.right) / 2,
                    (int) (rectF.bottom + rectF.top) / 2 + descent, paint);
        } else if (alpha == 0) {
            scrollFade.mStarted = false;
            removeThumb();
        } else {
            invalidate(viewWidth - mThumbW, y, viewWidth, y + mThumbH);            
        }
    }

    @Override
    protected void onSizeChanged(int w, int h, int oldw, int oldh) {
        super.onSizeChanged(w, h, oldw, oldh);
        if (mCurrentThumb != null) {
            mCurrentThumb.setBounds(w - mThumbW, 0, w, mThumbH);
        }
        final RectF pos = mOverlayPos;
        pos.left = (w - mOverlayWidth) / 2;
        pos.right = pos.left + mOverlayWidth;
        pos.top = h / 10; // 10% from top
        pos.bottom = pos.top + mOverlayHeight;
        mOverlayDrawable.setBounds((int) pos.left, (int) pos.top,
                (int) pos.right, (int) pos.bottom);
    }

    public void onScrollStateChanged(AbsListView view, int scrollState) {
    }

    public void onScroll(AbsListView view, int firstVisibleItem, int visibleItemCount, 
            int totalItemCount) {


        if (totalItemCount - visibleItemCount > 0 && !mDragging) {
            mThumbY = ((getHeight() - mThumbH) * firstVisibleItem) / (totalItemCount - visibleItemCount);
            if (mChangedBounds) {
                final int viewWidth = getWidth();
                mCurrentThumb.setBounds(viewWidth - mThumbW, 0, viewWidth, mThumbH);
                mChangedBounds = false;
            }
        }
        mScrollCompleted = true;
        if (firstVisibleItem == mVisibleItem) {
            return;
        }
        mVisibleItem = firstVisibleItem;
        if (!mThumbVisible || mScrollFade.mStarted) {
            mThumbVisible = true;
            mCurrentThumb.setAlpha(ScrollFade.ALPHA_MAX);
        }
        mHandler.removeCallbacks(mScrollFade);
        mScrollFade.mStarted = false;
        if (!mDragging) {
            mHandler.postDelayed(mScrollFade, 1500);
        }
    }


    private void getSections() {
        Adapter adapter = mList.getAdapter();
        if (adapter instanceof HeaderViewListAdapter) {
            mListOffset = ((HeaderViewListAdapter)adapter).getHeadersCount();
            adapter = ((HeaderViewListAdapter)adapter).getWrappedAdapter();
        }
        if (adapter instanceof SectionIndexer) {
            mListAdapter = (BaseAdapter) adapter;
            mSections = ((SectionIndexer) mListAdapter).getSections();
        }
    }

    public void onChildViewAdded(View parent, View child) {
        if (child instanceof ListView) {
            mList = (ListView)child;

            mList.setOnScrollListener(this);
            getSections();
        }
    }

    public void onChildViewRemoved(View parent, View child) {
        if (child == mList) {
            mList = null;
            mListAdapter = null;
            mSections = null;
        }
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onInterceptTouchEvent(MotionEvent ev) {
        if (mThumbVisible && ev.getAction() == MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN) {
            if (ev.getX() > getWidth() - mThumbW && ev.getY() >= mThumbY &&
                    ev.getY() <= mThumbY + mThumbH) {
                mDragging = true;
                return true;
            }            
        }
        return false;
    }

    private void scrollTo(float position) {
        int count = mList.getCount();
        mScrollCompleted = false;
        final Object[] sections = mSections;
        int sectionIndex;
        if (sections != null && sections.length > 1) {
            final int nSections = sections.length;

            int section = (int) (position * nSections);
            if (section >= nSections) {
                section = nSections - 1;
            }
            sectionIndex = section;
            final SectionIndexer baseAdapter = (SectionIndexer) mListAdapter;
            int index = baseAdapter.getPositionForSection(section);

            // Given the expected section and index, the following code will
            // try to account for missing sections (no names starting with..)
            // It will compute the scroll space of surrounding empty sections
            // and interpolate the currently visible letter's range across the
            // available space, so that there is always some list movement while
            // the user moves the thumb.
            int nextIndex = count;
            int prevIndex = index;
            int prevSection = section;
            int nextSection = section + 1;
            // Assume the next section is unique
            if (section < nSections - 1) {
                nextIndex = baseAdapter.getPositionForSection(section + 1);
            }

            // Find the previous index if we're slicing the previous section
            if (nextIndex == index) {
                // Non-existent letter
                while (section > 0) {
                    section--;
                     prevIndex = baseAdapter.getPositionForSection(section);
                     if (prevIndex != index) {
                         prevSection = section;
                         sectionIndex = section;
                         break;
                     }
                }
            }
            // Find the next index, in case the assumed next index is not
            // unique. For instance, if there is no P, then request for P's 
            // position actually returns Q's. So we need to look ahead to make
            // sure that there is really a Q at Q's position. If not, move 
            // further down...
            int nextNextSection = nextSection + 1;
            while (nextNextSection < nSections &&
                    baseAdapter.getPositionForSection(nextNextSection) == nextIndex) {
                nextNextSection++;
                nextSection++;
            }
            // Compute the beginning and ending scroll range percentage of the
            // currently visible letter. This could be equal to or greater than
            // (1 / nSections). 
            float fPrev = (float) prevSection / nSections;
            float fNext = (float) nextSection / nSections;
            index = prevIndex + (int) ((nextIndex - prevIndex) * (position - fPrev) 
                    / (fNext - fPrev));
            // Don't overflow
            if (index > count - 1) index = count - 1;

            mList.setSelectionFromTop(index + mListOffset, 0);
        } else {
            int index = (int) (position * count);
            mList.setSelectionFromTop(index + mListOffset, 0);
            sectionIndex = -1;
        }

        if (sectionIndex >= 0) {
            String text = mSectionText = sections[sectionIndex].toString();
            mDrawOverlay = (text.length() != 1 || text.charAt(0) != ' ') &&
                    sectionIndex < sections.length;
        } else {
            mDrawOverlay = false;
        }
    }

    private void cancelFling() {
        // Cancel the list fling
        MotionEvent cancelFling = MotionEvent.obtain(0, 0, MotionEvent.ACTION_CANCEL, 0, 0, 0);
        mList.onTouchEvent(cancelFling);
        cancelFling.recycle();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onTouchEvent(MotionEvent me) {
        if (me.getAction() == MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN) {
            if (me.getX() > getWidth() - mThumbW
                    && me.getY() >= mThumbY 
                    && me.getY() <= mThumbY + mThumbH) {

                mDragging = true;
                if (mListAdapter == null && mList != null) {
                    getSections();
                }

                cancelFling();
                return true;
            }
        } else if (me.getAction() == MotionEvent.ACTION_UP) {
            if (mDragging) {
                mDragging = false;
                final Handler handler = mHandler;
                handler.removeCallbacks(mScrollFade);
                handler.postDelayed(mScrollFade, 1000);
                return true;
            }
        } else if (me.getAction() == MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE) {
            if (mDragging) {
                final int viewHeight = getHeight();
                mThumbY = (int) me.getY() - mThumbH + 10;
                if (mThumbY < 0) {
                    mThumbY = 0;
                } else if (mThumbY + mThumbH > viewHeight) {
                    mThumbY = viewHeight - mThumbH;
                }
                // If the previous scrollTo is still pending
                if (mScrollCompleted) {
                    scrollTo((float) mThumbY / (viewHeight - mThumbH));
                }
                return true;
            }
        }

        return super.onTouchEvent(me);
    }

    public class ScrollFade implements Runnable {

        long mStartTime;
        long mFadeDuration;
        boolean mStarted;
        static final int ALPHA_MAX = 200;
        static final long FADE_DURATION = 200;

        void startFade() {
            mFadeDuration = FADE_DURATION;
            mStartTime = SystemClock.uptimeMillis();
            mStarted = true;
        }

        int getAlpha() {
            if (!mStarted) {
                return ALPHA_MAX;
            }
            int alpha;
            long now = SystemClock.uptimeMillis();
            if (now > mStartTime + mFadeDuration) {
                alpha = 0;
            } else {
                alpha = (int) (ALPHA_MAX - ((now - mStartTime) * ALPHA_MAX) / mFadeDuration); 
            }
            return alpha;
        }

        public void run() {
            if (!mStarted) {
                startFade();
                invalidate();
            }

            if (getAlpha() > 0) {
                final int y = mThumbY;
                final int viewWidth = getWidth();
                invalidate(viewWidth - mThumbW, y, viewWidth, y + mThumbH);
            } else {
                mStarted = false;
                removeThumb();
            }
        }
    }
}

You can also tweak the translucency of the scroll thumb using ALPHA_MAX.

Then put something like this in your layout xml file:

    <com.myapp.CustomFastScrollView android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent" 
            myapp:overlayWidth="175dp" myapp:overlayHeight="110dp" myapp:overlayTextSize="36dp"
            myapp:overlayScrollThumbWidth="60dp" android:id="@+id/fast_scroll_view">
        <ListView android:id="@android:id/list" android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent"/>
        <TextView android:id="@android:id/empty"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="" />
    </com.myapp.CustomFastScrollView>   

Don't forget to declare your attributes in that layout xml file as well:

 ... xmlns:myapp= "http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/com.myapp" ... 

You'll also need to grab the R.drawable.scrollbar_handle_accelerated_anim2 drawables from that Android source code. The link above only contains the mdpi one.


The FastScroller widget is responsible for drawing the overlay. You should probably take a look at its source:
https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/gingerbread-release/core/java/android/widget/FastScroller.java

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// If user is dragging the scroll bar, draw the alphabet overlay