Create OpenGL Mono For Android Application

In this article I will demonstrate how to create an OpenGL Mono For Android application.

Let us understand how to create an OpenGL application for Android phones from Visual Studio 2010.

System Requirement

• Android SDK
• Mono
• Visual Studio 2010

Step 1 : First open the Visual Studio 2010

Step 2 : Click New Project



If all the required software is properly installed then you are able to see Mono for Android in your Visual Studio, else install it.



Step 2 : For creating an OpenGL Android application first select the project OpenGL Mono for Android Application. Then in Solution Explorer you are able to see following folders and files.

Please see below to understand the use of each and every file.



Main.axml

Need to add controls in the following format to get it to display on your screen.

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

Strings.xml

Need to add a string with a unique name and value.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <string name="Hello">Hello World, Click Me!</string>
    <string name="ApplicationName">OpenGLApplication1</string>
</resources>

Resource.Designer.cs

For every control and string variable there is a corresponding unique resource and for every resource there is a unique id created.

namespace OpenGLApplication1
{      
    public partial class Resource
    {             
         public partial class Attribute
         {
                private Attribute()
                {
                }
         }
             
         public partial class Drawable
         {
                // aapt resource value: 0x7f020000
                public const int Icon = 2130837504;
                    
                private Drawable()
                {
                }
         }
             
         public partial class Layout
         {
                // aapt resource value: 0x7f030000
                public const int Main = 2130903040;
                    
                private Layout()
                {
                }
         }
             
         public partial class String
         {
                // aapt resource value: 0x7f040001
                public const int ApplicationName = 2130968577;
                  
                // aapt resource value: 0x7f040000
                public const int Hello = 2130968576;
                    
                private String()
                {
                }
          }
     }
}

Activity1.cs

This class is the First in the hierarchy of execution. It is because of the attribute.

And from this call the event is executed.

using System; 
using Android.App;
using Android.Content;
using Android.Runtime;
using Android.Views;
using Android.Widget;
using Android.OS;
 
namespace OpenGLApplication1
{
    [Activity(Label = "OpenGLApplication1", MainLauncher = true, Icon = "@drawable/icon")]

    public class Activity1 : Activity
    {
        protected override void OnCreate(Bundle bundle)
        {
            base.OnCreate(bundle);
 
            // Create our OpenGL view, and display it
            GLView1 view = new GLView1(this);
            SetContentView(view);
        }
    }
}

GLView1.cs




When you finish the coding, build the application. And then execute the application.



When you are able to see the above screen then press the Start emulator Image then you are able to see the following screen.



Then Select any emulator and press ok.



Then execution begins and the package is created. As the process of execution finishes you are able to see the screen of the Android phone with a rotating rectangle as per the code.



This way you can create any graphical application.