Show all items in AutocompleteTextView without writing text

I have a AutocompleteTextView and it works fine. When I write a word it shows the relevant result but I want to show all items without writing any word in AutocompleteTextView. How can I do that.

You need to extend AutoCompleteTextView,

> "When threshold is less than or equals 0, a threshold of 1 is > applied.".

setThreshold

import android.content.Context;  
import android.graphics.Rect;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.widget.AutoCompleteTextView;

public class InstantAutoComplete extends AutoCompleteTextView {

    public InstantAutoComplete(Context context) {
        super(context);
    }

    public InstantAutoComplete(Context arg0, AttributeSet arg1) {
        super(arg0, arg1);
    }

    public InstantAutoComplete(Context arg0, AttributeSet arg1, int arg2) {
        super(arg0, arg1, arg2);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean enoughToFilter() {
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    protected void onFocusChanged(boolean focused, int direction,
            Rect previouslyFocusedRect) {
        super.onFocusChanged(focused, direction, previouslyFocusedRect);
       if (focused && getFilter()!=null) {
        performFiltering(getText(), 0);
    }
    }

}

in xml

<AutoCompleteTextView ... /> to <your.namespace.InstantAutoComplete ... />

EDIT 1

Create new class named InstantAutoComplete then put this code into the class.

In your layout xml use this class like

then find this widget in your actity (onCreate method).

Look at this example

> BETTER SOLUTION HERE

You don't need to customize your AutoCompleteTextView. Instead just call autoCompleteTextView.showDropDown() Whenever you need it.....cheers :)

It Works for me:

add to your object next event methods:

	myView.setOnFocusChangeListener(new OnFocusChangeListener() {
		
		@Override
		public void onFocusChange(View v, boolean hasFocus) {
			if (hasFocus)
				myView.showDropDown();
			
		}
	});
	
	myView.setOnTouchListener(new OnTouchListener() {
		
		@Override
		public boolean onTouch(View v, MotionEvent event) {
			myView.showDropDown();
			return false;
		}
	});

This works for me perfectly, this is an easy way to resolve the problem:

final ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<>(getContext(), android.R.layout.simple_dropdown_item_1line, usernameLists);
etUsername.setThreshold(1);
etUsername.setAdapter(adapter);
etUsername.setOnTouchListener(new View.OnTouchListener() {

    @SuppressLint("ClickableViewAccessibility")
    @Override
    public boolean onTouch(View paramView, MotionEvent paramMotionEvent) {
        if (usernameLists.size() > 0) {
                // show all suggestions
                if (!etUsername.getText().toString().equals(""))
                    adapter.getFilter().filter(null);
                etUsername.showDropDown();
            }
        return false;
    }
});

You need to call requestFocus(); to show keyboard, otherwise keyboard does not pop up.

The method forcefully shows drop-down list.

autocomptv.setOnTouchListener(new OnTouchListener() {

		@SuppressLint("ClickableViewAccessibility")
		@Override
		public boolean onTouch(View paramView, MotionEvent paramMotionEvent) {
			// TODO Auto-generated method stub
			autocomptv.showDropDown();
			autocomptv.requestFocus();
			return false;
		}
	});

you need to put those steps to make it work perfectly

1-in your xml put this

    <androidx.appcompat.widget.AppCompatAutoCompleteTextView
            android:id="@+id/account_type_spinner"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_marginStart="@dimen/_16sdp"
            android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/_24sdp"
            android:layout_marginEnd="@dimen/_16sdp"
            android:background="@drawable/rounded_edt_with_border"
            android:completionThreshold="0"
            android:drawableRight="@drawable/ic_arrow_down"
            android:hint="@string/account_type"
            android:imeOptions="actionNext"
            android:inputType="text"
            android:padding="12dp"
            android:textSize="@dimen/_15sp"
             />

you just need to set android:completionThreshold to zero

2- in your java code put

  mViewDataBinding.accountTypeSpinner.setOnFocusChangeListener((v, hasFocus) -> {
        if (hasFocus)
            mViewDataBinding.accountTypeSpinner.showDropDown();
    });

use this :

 text.setOnTouchListener(new View.OnTouchListener(){
			   

			@Override
			public boolean onTouch(View arg0, MotionEvent arg1) {
				// TODO Auto-generated method stub
				text.showDropDown();
				return false;
			}
			});

Nothing Custom Required.

> I tried All solutions but in some case that does not work. For Example > one solution work for first time but when you remove text it will not > appear. So I dug more and found following solution.

> Suggestions are welcome.

XML:

<android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
                    android:id="@+id/tl"
                    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content">

                    <android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatAutoCompleteTextView
                        android:id="@+id/autoComplete"
                        android:layout_width="match_parent"
                        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                        android:hint="Hint Here" />


                </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

Kotlin:

val adapter = ArrayAdapter<BusinessNoResult>(context, android.R.layout.select_dialog_item, listItems)
autoComplete.setAdapter(adapter)
//threshold specifies the minimum number of characters the user has to type in 
//the
//edit box before the drop down list is shown
autoComplete.threshold = 0

//we have to add check for 0 number of character in edit text. When that 
//happens, we will show pop up manually
autoComplete.addTextChangedListener(object : TextWatcher {
	override fun afterTextChanged(s: Editable?) {}
    
	override fun beforeTextChanged(s: CharSequence?, start: Int, count: Int, after: Int) {}

	override fun onTextChanged(s: CharSequence?, start: Int, before: Int, count: Int) {
        //first check if length of input is 0
		if(s?.length ?: 0 == 0){
            //if you don't use handler with post delay, the API will hide pop 
            //up, even if you show it. There could be better ways to this, but 
            //I have implemented this and after 100 millis it gives an animated 
            //look
			Handler().postDelayed({
                //manually show drop down
				autoComplete.showDropDown()
			}, 100) // with 100 millis of delay
		}
	}
})
//when user focus out the view, drop down vanishes. When come back it will not 
//show, so to cover this scenario add following.
autoComplete.setOnFocusChangeListener { _, hasFocus ->
    //when gain focus manually show drop down
	if(hasFocus)
	    autoComplete.showDropDown()
}

All answers are outdated. With material design, it becomes a lot easier and smooth. Make sure you put inputType as none for not to open the keyboard anymore.

XML

 <com.google.android.material.textfield.TextInputLayout
        android:id="@+id/et_countries_list"
        style="@style/Widget.MaterialComponents.TextInputLayout.OutlinedBox.ExposedDropdownMenu"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_margin="20dp"
        android:hint="Demo hint"
        app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"

        >

        <com.google.android.material.textfield.MaterialAutoCompleteTextView
            android:id="@+id/countries_list"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:inputType="none"
            android:layout_height="60dp"
            />

    </com.google.android.material.textfield.TextInputLayout>

Then just add prepare your adapter and add it.

   ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(this,
                android.R.layout.simple_dropdown_item_1line, new String[]{
                "Belgium", "France", "Italy", "Germany", "Spain", "Belgium", "France", "Italy", "Germany", "Spain"});
       
        AutoCompleteTextView autoCompleteTextView = (AutoCompleteTextView)
                findViewById(R.id.countries_list);
        autoCompleteTextView.setAdapter(adapter);

You are done. It will work better than a spinner. You can set hint, error, helper as well.

If other solutions does not work for you try this instead. Popup is displayed always on click.

   public class InstantAutoComplete extends AppCompatAutoCompleteTextView {

    public InstantAutoComplete(Context context) {
        super(context);
    }

    public InstantAutoComplete(Context arg0, AttributeSet arg1) {
        super(arg0, arg1);
    }

    public InstantAutoComplete(Context arg0, AttributeSet arg1, int arg2) {
        super(arg0, arg1, arg2);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean enoughToFilter() {
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onTouchEvent(MotionEvent event) {
        if (event.getAction() == MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN) {
            performClick();
        }
        return super.onTouchEvent(event);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean performClick() {
        if (getFilter() != null && !isPopupShowing()) {
            performFiltering(getText(), 0);
            showDropDown();
        }
        return super.performClick();
    }
}

Here an approach with onclicklistener as I found tat onTouch was a bit irritating when trying to scroll. mOccupation is the AutocompleteTextView in question.

    mOccupation=(AutoCompleteTextView) findViewById(R.id.actv_occupation);
    ArrayAdapter<String> occupationAdapter=new ArrayAdapter<String> 
    (NewClientActivity.this,
            android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1,
            getResources().getStringArray(R.array.occupation_array));
    mOccupation.setAdapter(occupationAdapter);
    mOccupation.setKeyListener(null);
    mOccupation.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
        @Override
        public void onClick(View view) {
            //mOccupation.setText(null);
            ((AutoCompleteTextView) view).showDropDown();
            return;
        }
    });

I managed to put it all into a Textinputlayout with the following xml specifications:

<android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
    android:id="@+id/lo_occupation"
    android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
    android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content">

    <AutoCompleteTextView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:hint="occupation"
        android:focusableInTouchMode="false"<--this is the important part
        android:id="@+id/actv_occupation"
        android:ems="10"
        android:completionThreshold="0"<--this too
        />
</android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

I got a great solution to this. It's simple. This is just the drop-down and choosing from the options.

Make sure you add these two lines to XML.

android:completionThreshold="0" android:focusableInTouchMode="false"

XML

<com.google.android.material.textfield.TextInputLayout
    android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
    style="@style/Widget.MaterialComponents.TextInputLayout.OutlinedBox"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content">
    
    <androidx.appcompat.widget.AppCompatAutoCompleteTextView
        android:id="@+id/select_area"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="52dp"
        android:padding="10dp"
        android:textSize="15sp"
        android:singleLine="true"
        android:drawableEnd="@drawable/ic_arrow_down"
        android:completionThreshold="0"
        android:focusableInTouchMode="false"
        android:hint="Select an Area"
        android:inputType="text"
        android:maxLines="1" />

</com.google.android.material.textfield.TextInputLayout>

JAVA

area_autocomplete.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
    @Override
    public void onClick(View view) {
        area.showDropDown();
    }
});

You could simply use this single line of code

autoCompleteTextView.setThreshold(100);