How to solve Gradle error cannot find symbol

Question

I am trying to ask user to enable GPS, I am new to app development I found some resources from internet of my requirement. I took code from one website and implemented on my app but when I try to build I am getting an error of cannot find symbol

See my java code below

package gps.gpstest;

import android.content.Context;
import android.content.DialogInterface;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.location.LocationManager;
import android.support.v7.app.AlertDialog;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;


public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    Context context;
    private Context activity;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
        context = this;
        LocationManager manager = (LocationManager) getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE );
        boolean statusOfGPS = manager.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);

        if(!statusOfGPS) 
        {
            buildAlertMessageNoGps();
        }
    }

    private void buildAlertMessageNoGps() {
        final AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this.getActivity());
        builder.setMessage(R.string.gps_disabled)
                .setCancelable(false)
                .setTitle(R.string.gps_disabled_title)
                .setPositiveButton(R.string.enable,
                        new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
                            public void onClick(
                                    @SuppressWarnings("unused") final DialogInterface dialog,
                                    @SuppressWarnings("unused") final int id) {
                                startActivity(new Intent(
                                        android.provider.Settings.ACTION_LOCATION_SOURCE_SETTINGS));
                            }
                        })
                .setNegativeButton(R.string.cancel,
                        new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
                            public void onClick(final DialogInterface dialog,
                                                @SuppressWarnings("unused") final int id) {
                                dialog.cancel();

                            }
                        });
        final AlertDialog alert = builder.create();
        alert.show();
    }

}

Errors during build process

Error:(31, 73) error: cannot find symbol method getActivity() Error:(44, 44) error: cannot find symbol variable cancel Error:(35, 44) error: cannot find symbol variable enable Error:(34, 35) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled_title Error:(32, 36) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled Error:Execution failed for task ':app:compileDebugJavaWithJavac'.

Help me out

Use MainActivity.this insted – Syed Danish Haider Sep 05 '18 at 12:13 — Syed Danish Haider, Sep 05 '18 at 12:13

AskNilesh · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-05T12:21:43.333

0

Error:(31, 73) error: cannot find symbol method getActivity()

The getActivity() is used in fragments to get context not in activity

To get context in activity use

this
YourActvity.this
getApplicationContext()

Use this

final AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(context);

Instead of this

final AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this.getActivity());

error: cannot find symbol variable enable Error:(34, 35) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled_title Error:(32, 36) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled

You need to create following resource in string.xml check String resources

gps_disabled
cancel
enable
gps_disabled_title
gps_disabled

edited Sep 05 '18 at 12:21

answered Sep 05 '18 at 12:14

AskNilesh

67,701
16
123
163

Can you help me with these errors too `Error:(44, 44) error: cannot find symbol variable cancel Error:(35, 44) error: cannot find symbol variable enable Error:(34, 35) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled_title Error:(32, 36) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled` – Jason Sep 05 '18 at 12:17
@Jason sure i will try – AskNilesh Sep 05 '18 at 12:17
I just commented you errors – Jason Sep 05 '18 at 12:17
@Jason check updated answer – AskNilesh Sep 05 '18 at 12:21

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 05 '18 at 12:14

0

final AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(MainActivity.this);

answered Sep 05 '18 at 12:14

Syed Danish Haider

1,334
11
15

Can you help me with these errors too `Error:(44, 44) error: cannot find symbol variable cancel Error:(35, 44) error: cannot find symbol variable enable Error:(34, 35) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled_title Error:(32, 36) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled` – Jason Sep 05 '18 at 12:20
builder.setMessage("Please Enable") //this line – Syed Danish Haider Sep 05 '18 at 12:24
.setTitle("GPS Disabled")); – Syed Danish Haider Sep 05 '18 at 12:27

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

Let's go through your errors:

Error:(44, 44) error: cannot find symbol variable cancel

Error:(35, 44) error: cannot find symbol variable enable

Error:(34, 35) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled_title

Error:(32, 36) error: cannot find symbol variable gps_disabled

You're not accessing string resources correctly. Instead of:

.setTitle(R.string.gps_disabled_title);

You should do:

.setTitle(getResources().getString(R.string.gps_disabled_title));

Error:(31, 73) error: cannot find symbol method getActivity()

As you're already on an activity, you should retrieve its context as follows:

final AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(getContext());

How to solve Gradle error cannot find symbol

3 Answers3