It is important to keep in mind when using the Android Studio Layout Editor tool that all it is really doing is providing a user friendly approach to creating XML layout resource files. At any time during the design process, the underlying XML can be viewed and directly edited simply by clicking on the Text tab located at the bottom of the Layout Editor tool panel. To return to design mode, simply click on the Design tab.
Figure 23-8 highlights the key areas of the Android Studio Layout Editor tool in text mode:
A – Editor – The editor panel displays the XML that makes up the current user interface layout design. This is the full Android Studio editor environment containing all of the features previously outlined in the “The Basics of the Android Studio Code Editor” chapter of this book.
B – Preview – As changes are made to the XML in the editor, these changes are visually reflected in the preview...
