How to convert layout to drawable for use in splash screen

Issue

Background information

When a user enters my Android application. They are first taken to LoginActivity. LoginActivity takes some time to load as it is also responsible for performing background sqlite migrations as well as other housekeeping tasks (this takes 500-1000ms).

Unfortunately, the user sees a blank screen during this entire time. As setContentView has not executed yet.

I am trying to remediate this problem by following the guides

• https://android.jlelse.eu/launch-screen-in-android-the-right-way-aca7e8c31f52
• https://www.bignerdranch.com/blog/splash-screens-the-right-way/

They tell me I need to create a background_splash.xml in drawables and point to it using a custom style with <item name="android:windowBackground">@drawable/background_splash</item>

Unfortunately I noticed that I am not able to control padding margin width height, gravity of my logo in drawables.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">

    <item
        android:drawable="@color/gray"/>

        <!-- cant control android:margin=... (my min API is 21) -->
        <!-- cant control android:width=...  (my min API is 21) -->
        <!-- cant control android:height=... (my min API is 21) -->
    <item>
        <bitmap
            android:gravity="center"
            android:src="@mipmap/ic_launcher"/>
    </item>

</layer-list>

My problem

How to properly achieve same behavior (or at least similar) as my current activity_login.xml file and convert that into a drawable?

My code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.v7.widget.LinearLayoutCompat
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"

    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@color/material_red_500">

    <!--***********************************************************
    * Layout section: The login logo
    ************************************************************-->
    <RelativeLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="0dp"
        android:layout_weight="1">

        <android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatImageView
            android:layout_centerInParent="true"

            android:src="@drawable/image_symbol_lock"
            android:scaleType="fitCenter"

            android:layout_width="150dp"
            android:layout_height="150dp"/>

    </RelativeLayout>

    <!--***********************************************************
    * Layout section: The login button (facebook)
    ************************************************************-->
    <android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatTextView
        android:id="@+id/button_facebook"

        android:paddingTop="28dp"
        android:paddingStart="16dp"
        android:paddingEnd="16dp"
        android:paddingBottom="28dp"
        android:background="@color/material_blue_500"

        android:text="LOG IN"
        android:textSize="32sp"
        android:textColor="@color/white"

        android:gravity="center_horizontal"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>

</android.support.v7.widget.LinearLayoutCompat>

Solution

You can create a layout_splash with your own design and in the Splash style only set a background color. So first you will see the background color and not the blank and next see the layout. You could do this with the login activity.

Answered By - JaFer