IllegalStateException when replacing a Fragment

I think you may have misunderstood my comment, so I’ll offer a more detailed explanation here.

One problem that commonly arises with removing or replacing fragments is trying to remove a fragment that has been added to the layout through XML instead of programmatically in Java. This is not the same as inflating the fragment’s own layout in the onCreateView() function of the fragment’s Java code (this is what you seem to be describing in your response to my comment). To illustrate what I’m talking about, I’ll show you two ways that people try to remove/replace fragments.

This is the Wrong Way to do it:

XML Layout:

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="@+id/fragment_container"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <fragment android:name="com.example.ExampleFragment"
    android:id="@+id/example_fragment"
    android:layout_weight="1"
    android:layout_width="0dp"
    android:layout_height="match_parent" />

</LinearLayout>

Java:

swapFragment()
{
    Fragment newFragment = new ExampleFragment();
    FragmentTransaction transaction = getFragmentManager().beginTransaction();
    transaction.replace(R.id.fragment_container, newFragment);
    transaction.addToBackStack(null);
    transaction.commit();
}

This code, will not execute in the way that you expect. The initial fragment that is added in the XML layout will not be removed. This is because XML layouts are intended to describe static layout elements. You can change their contents at run time, or hide them, but you can’t delete these things from the layout. This is what Dianne Hackborn was saying in the discussion thread I linked to before.

This is the right way to do it (At least in my experience):

XML Layout:

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="@+id/fragment_container"
android:orientation="horizontal"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <!-- Fragment will go here eventually, but it's not added in the layout -->

</LinearLayout>

Java:

protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
{
     super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
     setContentView(R.layout.my_layout);

     ExampleFragment newFragment = new ExampleFragment();
     FragmentTransaction transaction = getFragmentManager().beginTransaction();
     transaction.add(R.id.fragment_container, newFragment);
     transaction.commit();
}

…

swapFragment()
{
    Fragment newFragment = new ExampleFragment();
    FragmentTransaction transaction = getFragmentManager().beginTransaction();
    transaction.replace(R.id.fragment_container, newFragment);
    transaction.addToBackStack(null);
    transaction.commit();
}

This strategy does not add the fragment in the initial layout. Instead it adds it in the Java code when the Activity is created. This allows it to be removed from the layout (either using remove() or replace())

This might not solve your problem, but it is a common difficulty that Fragments create. You can make sure that you are adding the Fragments in the proper way to allow them to be removed, and then if that doesn’t solve the problem we can troubleshoot further.

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