Android: TabHost without TabActivity

Question

I want to create tabs without extending TabActivity. (The reason is that TabActivity cannot handle a custom titlebar as it seems). I have

public class startTab extends Activity {

 @Override
 public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) 
    {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.mylayout);
        Resources res = getResources();
        LocalActivityManager mlam = new LocalActivityManager(this, false);
        TabHost tabHost = (TabHost) findViewById(R.id.tabhost);
        tabHost.setup(mlam);
        TabHost.TabSpec spec;
        Intent intent;

    intent = new Intent().setClass(this, Show1.class);
    spec = tabHost.newTabSpec("Items").setIndicator("Items", res.getDrawable(R.drawable.items32_ldpi)).setContent(intent);
    tabHost.addTab(spec);

    intent = new Intent().setClass(this, Show2.class);
    spec = tabHost.newTabSpec("Users").setIndicator("Users",res.getDrawable(R.drawable.user32_ldpi)).setContent(intent);
    tabHost.addTab(spec);
}

}

The error I get is

    07-02 07:11:12.715: ERROR/AndroidRuntime(411): 
Caused by: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Activities can't be added until the containing group has been created.

The xml for the view is

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<TabHost xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
 android:id="@+id/tabhost" android:orientation="vertical" android:layout_width="fill_parent"
 android:layout_height="fill_parent" >
 <LinearLayout android:orientation="vertical"
  android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent"
  android:paddingTop="5dip">
  <TabWidget android:id="@android:id/tabs"
   android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent"></TabWidget>
  <FrameLayout android:id="@android:id/tabcontent"
   android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent"
   android:paddingTop="5dip">
  </FrameLayout>
 </LinearLayout>
</TabHost>

I read somewhere that I have to use a LocalActivityManager, I assume that I am missing something there. Anyone an idea?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Before calling tabHost.setup(mLocalActivityManager); you need to add this line.

mlam.dispatchCreate(savedInstanceState);
tabHost.setup(mlam );

similarly, you need to add for onResume,

mlam.dispatchResume(); 

onPause(),

 mlam.dispatchPause(isFinishing());