Could not create tab content because could not find view with id -1 XML error in Android Eclipse?

Question

I have an XML file which contains a TabHost. I created it directly by right clicking the layout map -> new -> Android XML -> TabHost. The code seems to be ok but whenever I go to graphical layout in Eclipse, it gives me the error (see the title). I'm using Android 2.2. This is my XML code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<TabHost xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:id="@android:id/tabhost"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent" >

    <LinearLayout
        android:id="@+id/linearLayout1"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:orientation="vertical" >

        <TabWidget
            android:id="@android:id/tabs"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content" >
        </TabWidget>

        <FrameLayout
            android:id="@android:id/tabcontent"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent" >

            <LinearLayout
                android:id="@+id/tab1"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="match_parent" >
            </LinearLayout>

            <LinearLayout
                android:id="@+id/tab2"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="match_parent" >
            </LinearLayout>

            <LinearLayout
                android:id="@+id/tab3"
                android:layout_width="match_parent"
                android:layout_height="match_parent" >
            </LinearLayout>
        </FrameLayout>
    </LinearLayout>

</TabHost>

I'm having this too in ADT20 in my layout. Yours doesn't give me the error. What version are you using? — Jeff Axelrod
I have the newest (I think 20.0.3) but I managed to solve this by cleaning the project and restarting eclipse. It worked fine after that, apparently some layout files weren't loaded correctly or something. — ZimZim

Misha Misha · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-14T11:08:10

The solution for me was giving id to each tab's view. In the following example there was a need to give id to each textView (like android:id="@+id/tab1" ...)

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

        <TextView
            android:tag="tab1"
            android:text="@string/tab1"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent"
            android:textSize="12sp"
            />
        <TextView
            android:tag="tab2"
            android:text="@string/tab2"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent"
            android:textSize="12sp"
            />
        <TextView
            android:tag="tab3"
            android:text="@string/tab3"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent"
            android:textSize="12sp"
            />
        <TextView
            android:tag="tab4"
            android:text="@string/tab4"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent"
            android:textSize="12sp"
            />
        <TextView
            android:tag="tab5"
            android:text="@string/tab5"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent"
            android:textSize="12sp"
            />

    </TabWidget>

    <FrameLayout
        android:id="@android:id/tabcontent"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent">

        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/tab1"
            android:text="Hallo3"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/tab2"
            android:text="Hallo2"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/tab3"
            android:text="Hallo3"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/tab4"
            android:text="Hallo3"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/tab5"
            android:text="Hallo3"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent" />

    </FrameLayout>
</LinearLayout>
</TabHost>

Could not create tab content because could not find view with id -1 XML error in Android Eclipse?

2 Answers