android - Circular Buttons in LinearLayout:Vertical -

i have created own drawable object, setting background of image button. (described here)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"      android:shape="oval">     <solid android:color="#a7bf1d"/> </shape> 

i want these spaced equally vertically down side of screen, want use android:layout_weight achieve this. (described here)

<linearlayout          android:id="@+id/left_bar"         android:orientation="vertical"         android:layout_width="fill_parent"          android:layout_height="fill_parent"         android:layout_weight="8">         <button             android:id="@+id/btncall"             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"             android:background="@drawable/btn_circle"                         android:text="call"             android:textsize="12sp" />        <space             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"></space>         <button             android:id="@+id/btnspeak"             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"             android:background="@drawable/btn_circle"             android:text="speak"             android:textsize="12sp" />        <space             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"></space>         <button             android:id="@+id/btnrecordedmessage"             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"             android:background="@drawable/btn_circle"             android:text="recorded message"             android:textsize="12sp" />         <space             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"></space>         <button             android:id="@+id/btnselectall"             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"             android:background="@drawable/btn_circle"             android:text="select units"             android:textsize="12sp" />        <space             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"></space>         <button             android:id="@+id/btndeselectunits"             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"             android:background="@drawable/btn_circle"             android:text="deselect units"             android:textsize="12sp" />         <space             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"></space>         <button             android:id="@+id/btnanswer"             android:layout_width="match_parent"             android:layout_height="0dp"             android:layout_gravity="1"             android:background="@drawable/btn_circle"             android:text="answer"             android:textsize="12sp" />     </linearlayout> 

what ever cannot seem have them spaced out equally on screen size let alone scaled each of them. think issue have specify height & width form circle, messes layout_weight been (for want of better term) 'hardcoded'.

i assume possible have vertical layout of 6 circular buttons, spaced equally down screen cannot work out how? have tried without <space>, , added padding <button> instead.

well. one, layout_widths in linearlayouts children set match_parent. after first child renders, there won't room else because take space.

secondly, highly suggest against using tags. instead set padding (or margins) buttons.