menuitem - How to change Custom Font of Android Menu Item?

Question

I have the following Android Java and XML code. I want to change the font of Menu Items of my app. I know only that we can change the font of TextView using setTypeface but not able to find anyway for Menu Item.

JAVA Code-:

@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {    
    MenuInflater inflater = getMenuInflater();
    inflater.inflate(R.menu.main, menu);
    return true;
}

@Override    
public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
   switch (item.getItemId()) {     
        case R.id.action_refresh1:                                          
            Toast.makeText(this, "Item1 Selected", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
            .show();      
        break;

        case R.id.action_refresh2:                                          
            Toast.makeText(this, "Item2 Selected", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
            .show();      
            break;

        default:      
            break;
   }
}

XML Code-:

<menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
<item
    android:id="@+id/action_refresh1"
    android:orderInCategory="100"
    android:showAsAction="always"
    android:title="Item1"/>

<item
    android:id="@+id/action_refresh2"
    android:orderInCategory="100"
    android:showAsAction="always"
    android:title="Item2"/>
</menu>

I want to change the font of two menu item , but don't know how to integrate settypface for Menu Item.

Answer 1

you have to provide a custom layout for the menu item.

First, in your menu XML set one of the following

CASE 1 if you are using the support library:

<menu
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto">
    <item
        android:id="@+id/action_save"
        android:title="@string/action_save"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_action_save"
        android:orderInCategory="100"
        app:showAsAction="always"
        app:actionLayout="@layout/layout_menu_save"/>
</menu>

CASE 2 if you are not using the support library:

<menu
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item
        android:id="@+id/action_save"
        android:title="@string/action_save"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_action_save"
        android:orderInCategory="100"
        android:showAsAction="always"
        android:actionLayout="@layout/layout_menu_save"/>
</menu>

Then in the actionLayout (layout_menu_save.xml in my example) write the following:

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

<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@drawable/background_transparent_stateful">

    <com.example.YourCustomTypefaceTextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_marginStart="8dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="8dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="8dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="8dp"
        android:gravity="center_vertical"
        android:text="@string/action_save"/>

    <ImageView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_marginEnd="8dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="8dp"
        android:gravity="center_vertical"
        android:src="@drawable/ic_action_save"
        android:contentDescription="@string/action_save"/>

</LinearLayout>

The background drawable (background_transparent_stateful) is useful for having touch feedback on your custom layout:

<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
    <item android:state_pressed="true"
        android:drawable="#20FFFFFF">
    </item>
    <item
        android:drawable="@android:color/transparent">
    </item>
</selector>

This way you will have a text with custom font on the left as a label with an icon on the right.

Obviously you can customize the layout as you prefer!

EDIT:
If you are using the support library and your activity Theme extends the AppCompatTheme you can get the typical Lollipop "ripple effect" for a better looking touch feedback. Just replace the custom background with:

<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackgroundBorderless">
    ...
</LinearLayout>