Calling android dialog without it fading the backgorund

Question

I have this nice dialog view I set my UserInputDialog class to:

    <LinearLayout android:id="@+id/LinearLayout01" 
    android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" 
    android:orientation="vertical"
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"&gt;

        <TextView
        android:id="@+id/nameMessage"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="What is your name Captain?"
        >
        </TextView>
        <EditText
        android:id="@+id/nameEditText"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:textSize="18sp"
        >
        </EditText>
    <LinearLayout android:id="@+id/LinearLayout02" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
        android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal">
    <Button
        android:id="@+id/okButton"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="OK">
        </Button>
        <Button android:id="@+id/cancelButton"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Cancel">
        </Button>               
    </LinearLayout>
</LinearLayout>

I want my dialog to show up but for the background to not fade out. Is this possible? Cause the view that calls this dialog has a neato background I would like to be shown as a backdrop to the dialog.

I found this online:

<style name="doNotDim" parent="@android:style/Theme.Dialog">
    <item name="android:backgroundDimAmount">0</item>
</style >

but not sure how to apply that to my dialog? I have a class called public class UserInputDialog extends Dialog implements OnClickListener. It sets its content view to the layout described above.

I think I am doing this all right, just not sure how to add that style so I can NOT fade the background.

Secondary question: Can you get new looks on your dialog (by say having an image or icon display with your text there) by using Themes?

Answer 1

Create a res/values/styles.xml file and add this to it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
  <style name="Theme.DoNotDim" parent="android:Theme">
    <item name="android:backgroundDimEnabled">false</item>
  </style>
</resources>

And apply the theme to your activity.

<activity android:name=".SampleActivity" android:theme="@style/Theme.DoNotDim">