R cannot be resolved as a variable

Question

Just started Android Programming but as soon as I create a new projects 2 errors come up both saying:

R cannot be resolved as a variable

I searched the error online and found TONS of questions with this topic, however no solutions work for me.

P.S I am using the latest version of Eclipse

Edit I just created the project and this error comes right away.

enter image description here

Here is the code:

package com.example.firstapp;

import android.os.Bundle; import android.app.Activity; import android.view.Menu;

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); //error
}


@Override
public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu); //error
    return true;
}

}

Specify what's the error, when does it occurs and maybe post some code — Stefano Munarini, Aug 12 '13 at 01:27
The error is above and I just created the project. I do not have any code. — Abdullah Shafique, Aug 12 '13 at 01:28
Please share the Screen shot of errors along with your question — Salman Khakwani, Aug 12 '13 at 01:40
Take a look at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7824730/r-cannot-be-resolved-to-a-variable — Stefano Munarini, Aug 12 '13 at 01:45
@StefanoMunarini he has just created the project, i don't think he has written anything himself in the code. — Salman Khakwani, Aug 12 '13 at 01:53
2 errors in Main (line 12 and 18)...thats why i wanna see code — Stefano Munarini, Aug 12 '13 at 01:55

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 20 '13 at 10:56

2

To fix by re-installing android SDK is a way but what about a quick-win by adding import android.R; good luck next time, It did not fix for me yet

answered Sep 20 '13 at 10:56

kayaiansa

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score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 12 '13 at 21:56

1

What have you tried from the other answers? When I have this problem I:

Fix any issues with the XML files, they all must compile with no errors in order for R to be generated. If that doesn't work:
Clean project
Restart Eclipse
Check if "Build Automatically" is selected.

edited Aug 12 '13 at 21:56

jh314

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answered Aug 12 '13 at 01:32

Steve M

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I tried everything you said and "Build Everything" is selected. The error is still there. – Abdullah Shafique Aug 12 '13 at 01:34
Did you try starting a new project? Are there any errors when you start Eclipse or start a new project? – Steve M Aug 12 '13 at 01:35
Whenever I start a new project the errors come. I created at least 6 projects and they all have the error. – Abdullah Shafique Aug 12 '13 at 01:36
Running Eclipse as Admin might be worth a shot. If not, maybe try to reinstall SDK and Eclipse? – Steve M Aug 12 '13 at 01:42

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 12 '13 at 01:32

1

Do you have errors in any of your resource files? The 'R' file may not be created if there are errors in the resources. For example, check if any of your layout files has errors.

answered Aug 12 '13 at 01:32

Rob K

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@AbdullahShafique One error which won't show up as an error is having any invalid characters in your XML file names, such as capital letters. – Kyle Falconer Aug 12 '13 at 01:39
@netinept The only capital letter xml is "AndroidManifest.xml" – Abdullah Shafique Aug 12 '13 at 01:41

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 12 '13 at 01:45

1

Try creating a new workspace. For some reason the same thing happened to me until I created a new workspace in a DIFFERENT location. Just a thought. The problem definitely sucks.

answered Aug 12 '13 at 01:45

Shadesblade

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Salman Khakwani · Answer 5 · 2013-08-12T02:00:10.163

1

I think you are facing Build Errors Just go into your project properties -> Builders and Uncheck Java Builder.
Then rebuild, this should solve the problem.

EDIT:
Check all your XML files and verify that the first line should be this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
If you don't see this first line in any XML file, just paste this on the first line and clean & rebuild the project. If the error still remains after editing the XML files then just restart Eclipse.

Also if there are any import android.R; statements in your code are present, then just remove them.

edited Aug 12 '13 at 02:00

answered Aug 12 '13 at 01:50

Salman Khakwani

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try unchecking all of them one by one and rebuilding the project – Salman Khakwani Aug 12 '13 at 01:54

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Aug 12 '13 at 01:50

1

I have normally seen this problem when something in the Android sdk is broken.

Are you using eclipse with ADT or a stand-alone download?

If it is eclipse alone, do you have the android sdk installed and in your build path?

answered Aug 12 '13 at 01:50

PirateDave

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score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Aug 12 '13 at 02:06

1

Double check you haven't imported android.R.

It sneaks in from time-to-time as you add android resources. Eclipse thinks its doing you a favor, so that you don't have to fully specify Android.R.resources, but the import prevents you from seeing your local r (i.e. whats in your project folders) which messes up your project.

answered Aug 12 '13 at 02:06

sean262 none

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I checked no imported android.R. – Abdullah Shafique Aug 12 '13 at 02:07

score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Aug 12 '13 at 02:52

Previously this happened to me. Believe it or not, what I tried was creating another new project with whatever you tried in previous project. I've been facing many problem with this Eclipse, and many of them can be simply solve by restarting it or create another new project by replicating it

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 12 '13 at 02:53

1

Thanks for everyone who helped me! I just had to re-install the android SDK!

answered Aug 12 '13 at 02:53

Abdullah Shafique

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score 0 · Answer 10 · answered May 08 '14 at 21:32

For future visitors - Hello future visitors! - try checking your Android Manifest for errors, such as the wrong package name. When you refactor a project, it will change all the references to the package name except in the manifest.

You should also look at your layout xml files for errors. If all else fails start over.

R cannot be resolved as a variable

10 Answers10