This view is not constrained vertically. At runtime it will jump to the left unless you add a vertical constraint

Question

New Layout editor in Android Studio 2.2 keeps showing this error on views like EditText and Buttons. kindly help.Also, any links that help in onboarding with the new constraint layout would be appreciated.

code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout
    android:id="@+id/activity_main"
    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:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context="com.set.email.MainActivity"
    tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="0dp"
    tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="81dp">

    <TextView
        android:text="To:"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="7dp"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="4dp"
        android:id="@+id/textTo"/>

    <EditText
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:inputType="textEmailAddress"
        android:ems="10"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="0dp"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="24dp"
        android:id="@+id/editTo"
        android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.DeviceDefault.Medium"/>

    <EditText
        android:layout_width="384dp"
        android:layout_height="42dp"
        android:inputType="textPersonName"
        android:ems="10"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="0dp"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="94dp"
        android:id="@+id/editSubject"
        android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.DeviceDefault.Medium"/>

    <EditText
        android:layout_width="384dp"
        android:layout_height="273dp"
        android:inputType="textPersonName"
        android:ems="10"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="0dp"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="179dp"
        android:id="@+id/editMessage"
        app:layout_constraintLeft_toLeftOf="@+id/activity_main"
        tools:layout_constraintLeft_creator="50"
        android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.DeviceDefault.Medium"/>

    <Button
        android:text="Send"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="140dp"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="454dp"
        android:id="@+id/btnSend"
        app:layout_constraintLeft_toLeftOf="@+id/editMessage"
        tools:layout_constraintLeft_creator="0"
        app:layout_constraintRight_toRightOf="@+id/activity_main"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        tools:layout_constraintRight_creator="0"
        android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.DeviceDefault.Medium"/>


</android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>

Answer 1

Constraint layout aims at reducing layout hierarchies and improves performance of layouts(technically, you don't have to make changes for different screen sizes,No overlapping, works like charm on a mobile as well as a tab with the same constraints).Here's how you get rid of the above error when you're using the new layout editor.

Click on the small circle and drag it to the left until the circle turns green,to add a left constraint(give a number, say x dp. Repeat it with the other sides and leave the bottom constraint blank if you have another view below it.

Edit: According to the developers site, Instead of adding constraints to every view as you place them in the layout, you can move each view into the positions you desire, and then click Infer Constraints to automatically create constraints. more here