AbsListView LayoutParams Set Layout Gravity

Question

How can I set the layout gravity for AbsListView.LayoutParams?

I am using this in a custom array adapter where I need to set the layout gravity based on a variable. My list child contains a linear layout root but in the adapter, I cannot set the LinearLayout params as i get the error that LinearLayout.LayoutParams cannot be cast to AbsListView.Layout params.

So, I tried to set the layout_gravity for an AbsListView, but it has no option for a gravity.

How can I set the layout_gravity programatically in this case?

EDIT: (Added source code)

The Listview Parent

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@drawable/messaging_background"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:padding="2dp" >

    <ListView
        android:id="@+id/messageThread"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_above="@+id/list_separator"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
        android:cacheColorHint="#00000000"
        android:divider="@null"
        android:dividerHeight="2dp"
        android:fastScrollEnabled="false"
        android:listSelector="#00000000"
        android:transcriptMode="disabled" />

    <View
        android:id="@+id/list_separator"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="1.0dip"
        android:layout_above="@+id/footer"
        android:background="@android:color/white" />

    <LinearLayout
        android:id="@+id/footer"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
        android:orientation="horizontal" >

        <ImageButton
            android:id="@+id/filter"
            android:layout_width="0dip"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
            android:layout_weight="0.1"
            android:background="@null"
            android:contentDescription="@string/message_filter_button"
            android:scaleType="fitCenter"
            android:src="@drawable/filter" />

        <EditText
            android:id="@+id/send_message_text"
            android:layout_width="0dip"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="0.8"
            android:imeOptions="actionSend"
            android:inputType="textMultiLine"
            android:maxLines="6"
            android:scrollbarAlwaysDrawVerticalTrack="true"
            android:scrollbarDefaultDelayBeforeFade="200"
            android:scrollbarFadeDuration="300"
            android:scrollbarStyle="outsideOverlay"
            android:scrollbars="vertical" />

        <ImageButton
            android:id="@+id/send"
            android:layout_width="0dip"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
            android:layout_weight="0.1"
            android:background="@null"
            android:contentDescription="@string/send_message_button"
            android:scaleType="fitCenter"
            android:src="@drawable/send_btn" />
    </LinearLayout>

</RelativeLayout>

The Listview Child

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@drawable/incoming"
    android:orientation="horizontal" >

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/messaging_bubble_content"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:fontFamily="sans-serif-light"
        android:maxWidth="200dp"
        android:paddingLeft="10dp"
        android:paddingRight="10dp"
        android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
        android:textIsSelectable="true" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/messaging_bubble_time"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:fontFamily="sans-serif-light"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:paddingRight="5dp"
        android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceSmall"
        android:textIsSelectable="false" />

    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/messaging_bubble_megaphone"
        android:layout_width="20dp"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:contentDescription="@string/message_child_megaphone"
        android:src="@drawable/megaphone"
        android:visibility="gone" />

</LinearLayout>

What should I call in the getView of my adapter to push the child to the right according to a variable in the adapter?

EDIT 2:

A possible solution: Wrap the whole child under another element under the root and then you can set gravity instead of layout gravity which can be easily done using the setGravity() method.

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent" >

    <LinearLayout
        android:id="@+id/messaging_bubble_wrapper"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:background="@drawable/incoming"
        android:orientation="vertical"
        tools:ignore="UselessParent" >

The second linear layout is useless but having it gets the job done!

Answer 1

To change the gravity you could wrap the existent row layout in another layout(FrameLayout for example) and then simply set the gravity on the LinearLayout from that extra layout(which now can be moved inside the parent).

To avoid adding an extra level in the layout you could keep the current row layout and replace the root LinearLayout with a RelativeLayout and change the position of the views inside it according to your desired gravity.