ExoPlayer Make UI components DataBinding friendly

I am trying to use custom player controls and for this purpose I wish to use databinding with my viewmodel. Is it possible to set controller_layout_id of PlayerControlView programmatically so I can attach it with my viewmodel?

Jan 21 '19 13:01 zishanj

I don't think this is possible. I'm somewhat unclear exactly how this works though. Is it not possible for you to set it in layout XML?

Jan 21 '19 17:01 ojw28

with databinding we can use something like this:

MyPlayerBinding myPlayerBinding = DataBindingUtil.inflate(getLayoutInflater(), R.layout.my_player, myActivityBinding.myPlayerControl, false);
myActivityBinding.myPlayerControl.setControllerLayoutId(myPlayerBinding.getRoot());

We only need public access to layout property controller_layout_id so we can set it programmatically. Then we can access viewmodel methods, properties in our layout view. In above example MyPlayerBinding is automatically generated by DataBinding based on our my_player layout filename. myPlayerControl is id for ExoPlayer2.ui.PlayerControlView.

Jan 21 '19 18:01 zishanj

I guess what I don't understand, is why do you need to be setting the controller layout programmatically? Why isn't the thing you inflate just the whole player view, which I think would avoid you having this problem? It's also unclear how the need to do this is directly related to databinding. It seems almost orthogonal?

Jan 21 '19 19:01 ojw28

Without databinding I have to manually use id of views in activity to enable, disable or set listeners etc. or may be have to use another third party lib like ButterKnife. With databinding its very easy to manage the layout from viewmodel based on your specific logic especially when you use MVVM design pattern.

Jan 21 '19 19:01 zishanj

Yes, but why can't you inflate a whole player view using DataBindingUtil? That's what I don't understand.

Jan 21 '19 19:01 ojw28

Entire PlayerControlView still does not give you access to its child layout which is set using controller_layout_id in xml. Using databinding I can only access the parent PlayerControlView not its child controller layout. For this purpose I have to set databinding separately for its child controller.

Jan 21 '19 19:01 zishanj

Oh right, the problem is that the controller layout is inflated internally in PlayerControlView, and so isn't inflated by DataBindingUtil.inflate. Is that correct?

Jan 21 '19 19:01 ojw28

yes... we can't use viewmodel inside child layout and have to inflate it separately.

Jan 21 '19 19:01 zishanj

Got it. I don't think that's possible currently, I'm afraid. I'll mark this as an enhancement, but it will be considered low priority since we haven't seen anyone else asking for it.

Jan 21 '19 19:01 ojw28

I think this good question and make high priority since google has move forward to use data binding. Currently, adroid studio also already upgrade which are use data binding as well.

Jan 22 '19 07:01 hafiz013

It would be very helpful to set it programmatically and show different controls depending on some conditions.

Jan 29 '19 09:01 janbolat

I would also vote for High Priority as it is really basic feature that should be included.

Feb 18 '19 08:02 musooff

Voting for High Priority, as it is required for use cases where we need to programmatically create PlayerView based on some conditions, and need to attach different controllers on them.

Dec 15 '19 08:12 arpanbag001

@ojw28 Any update on this issue? its 2020 now. :)

Feb 10 '20 18:02 zishanj

I also would like to see this. Most Android apps are going to MVVM and if we want to use data binding along with custom UI controls, this is almost required.

May 18 '20 19:05 BlaineOmega

any leads guys?

Jun 16 '20 20:06 thealteria

Must have in 2020. We need this ASAP!

Jun 25 '20 10:06 HE-LU

So now that Kotlin Synthetics are getting deprecated (:c) and will no longer be in use past September 2021, we really need this ASAP!

Nov 27 '20 10:11 sc941737

Any update on this issues??

Dec 15 '20 13:12 yeyintkoko1788

Still no way to use databinding with exoplayer controls??

Feb 11 '21 14:02 AlexDundar

we should have an option to set the custom controller programmatically by now. Its 2021 already

Feb 12 '21 06:02 ashirmehmood1996

it looks like Google has forgotten about us :(

Mar 30 '21 10:03 schnaps1981

Here is how I'm using with viewBinding.

Add an ID to the root tag of custom controls

<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout 
    android:id="@+id/dragon_exo_control_layout"
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    ...
    >

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/hello"
        ... 
        />

</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>

Next In your activity onCreate()

YourBindingControlClass exoControlBinding = YourBindingControlClass.bind(findViewByID(R.id.dragon_exo_control_layout));

// Then use it like
exoControlBinding.setText("Hello, World !");