How to solve Could not find method compile() for arguments [file collection]

Question

I imported a project into Android Studio, but the project is not getting built. the error message I get is:

Error:(20, 0) Could not find method compile() for arguments [file collection]  
on object of type 
org.gradle.api.internal.artifacts.dsl.dependencies.DefaultDependencyHandler.

<a href="openFile:C:\Users\xxx\AndroidStudioProjects\WSAppAndroid 
\build.gradle">Open File</a>

As shown in image-1 posted below, in gradle.build (project) I have these libraries in the dependencies section.

I googled how to solve this issue and among the posts I found was this one which tackles the same problem. But the accepted answer does not solve the problem i have.

As an attempt to solve this issue, can I use compile instead of compile files in build.gradle? how it can be done? my question is

image-1

build.gradle (project):

// Top-level build file where you can add configuration options common to  
all sub-projects/modules.

buildscript {
repositories {
    jcenter()
    mavenCentral()
}
dependencies {
    classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:2.3.0'
    classpath 'com.neenbedankt.gradle.plugins:android-apt:1.7' // 1.8?
}
}
allprojects {
repositories {
    jcenter()
    mavenCentral()
}
}

dependencies {
compile files('gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar')
compile files('app/libs/android-viewbadger.jar')
compile files('app/libs/iDappsImagesLib_v0.2.jar')
compile files('app/libs/iDappsToolsLib_v0.1.jar')
compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:25.2.0'
}

compile-on-org-gradle-api-internal-artifacts-dsl-depen/33991915#33991915

@OussemaAroua please find the image and build.gradle(project) posted — Amrmsmb, Jun 27 '17 at 10:48
@LazerBanana please find the image and build.gradle(project) posted — Amrmsmb, Jun 27 '17 at 10:48
What are the files / folder under `C:\Users\xxx\AndroidStudioProjects\WSAppAndroid` ? Do you have another `build.gradle` ? — ToYonos, Jun 27 '17 at 14:48
@ToYonos the folder under C:\Users\xxx\AndroidStudioProjects\WSAppAndroid contains the project foldeers such as .idea, app and so on — Amrmsmb, Jun 27 '17 at 15:08

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 17 '21 at 14:31

1

compile has been replaced by implementation in newer version of gradle, replace compile with implementation and compile group with implmenetation group in your build.gradle file.

answered Jul 17 '21 at 14:31

Derrick

3,669
5
35
50

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 27 '17 at 10:49

If you want to add your local jars as dependencies I would suggest.

Adding apply plugin: 'java'

Adding your folder as a repository

repositories {
   flatDir {
       dirs 'libs'
   }
}

then add them to the dependencies.

dependencies {
   compile name: 'whatever'
}

another thing is why do you add the Gradle wrapper as a dependency?

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 27 '17 at 12:23

0

well the problem here is that in the project uses local libs , so you need to add compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs') now gradle will import the jars located in libs folder.

so you will have

dependencies {
compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs')
compile files('gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.jar')
compile files('app/libs/android-viewbadger.jar')
compile files('app/libs/iDappsImagesLib_v0.2.jar')
compile files('app/libs/iDappsToolsLib_v0.1.jar')
compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:25.2.0'
}

answered Jun 27 '17 at 12:23

Oussema Aroua

5,225
1
24
44

i did as you suggested but i till get the same error – Amrmsmb Jun 27 '17 at 15:05
if it's a simple project building it from 0 will be your best choise – Oussema Aroua Jun 30 '17 at 09:36

How to solve Could not find method compile() for arguments [file collection]

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