How to set orientation in nativescript

Question

Hello I would like to know how to set device orientation in nativescript. Specifically I want the application that I am writing to stay in the same orientation (portrait) at all times so that rotating the device does not cause it to go into landscape.

I tried the nativescript-orientation plugin and setOrientation.

var orientation = require('nativescript-orientation');
console.log(JSON.stringify(orientation));// outputs JS: {}
orientation.setOrientation("portrait"); 

However I get the error "Cannot read property setOrientation of undefined. tns plugin list shows that the plugin is installed. Also I tried removing the platforms/android directory and running tns platform add android with the same result.

I also tried putting various combinations of android:screenOrientation="portrait" into AndroidManifest.xml without success.

AndroidManifest.xml from inside App_resources looks like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="__PACKAGE__"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0">

    <supports-screens
        android:smallScreens="true"
        android:normalScreens="true"
        android:largeScreens="true"
        android:xlargeScreens="true"/>

    <uses-sdk
        android:minSdkVersion="17"
        android:targetSdkVersion="__APILEVEL__"/>

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>

    <application
        android:screenOrientation="portrait"
        android:name="com.tns.NativeScriptApplication"
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/icon"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

        <activity
            android:name="com.tns.NativeScriptActivity"
            android:label="@string/title_activity_kimera"
            android:configChanges="keyboardHidden|orientation|screenSize"
            android:theme="@style/LaunchScreenTheme">
            <meta-data android:name="SET_THEME_ON_LAUNCH" android:resource="@style/AppTheme" />

            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
        <activity android:name="com.tns.ErrorReportActivity"/>
    </application>
</manifest>

Answer 1

My app is portrait orientation only.

For android, you just need to add android:screenOrientation="portrait" in AndroidManifest.xml inside the activity tags.

For iOS, open Xcode -> Select project on project navigator (left panel) -> Select target in middle panel -> Choose "General" tab -> Tick only "Portrait" in Deployment info section

Answer 2

For iOS: (Without Xcode, just manipulate one file.)

1. Open file app/App_Resources/iOS/Info.plist

2. Comment out or delete:

   <string>UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeLeft</string> <string>UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeRight</string>

app/App_Resources/iOS/Info.plist

    ...     
    <key>UISupportedInterfaceOrientations</key>
    <array>
        <string>UIInterfaceOrientationPortrait</string>
        <string>UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeLeft</string>
        <string>UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeRight</string>
    </array>
    <key>UISupportedInterfaceOrientations~ipad</key>
    <array>
        <string>UIInterfaceOrientationPortrait</string>
        <string>UIInterfaceOrientationPortraitUpsideDown</string>
        <string>UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeLeft</string>
        <string>UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeRight</string>
    </array>

(Props to @mudlabs, who already mentioned this solution in a comment.)

Answer 3

In case you are using NativeScript Sidekick it is possible to set orientation for Android an iOS from project properties.

Answer 4

The top answer is correct but for some cases, adding only android:screenOrientation does not work.

I got it working by adding android:screenOrientation="portrait" android:configChanges="keyboardHidden|orientation|screenSize" and take note the order, screenOrientation first before the configChanges.

Actually i've tested it in both android studio and the Nativescript.