"error: cannot find symbol variable xml" while trying google analytics

Question

I am trying to implement google analytics for one of my android apps. I am totally new for analytics and android app development. I thought of trying the examples given in the google developers site. When trying to compile their code, I am getting the error pointing the analytics application java file, mTracker = analytics.newTracker(R.xml.global_tracker); line, .xml is highlighted. I posted the whole code here.

This is AnalyticsApplication.java

package com.google.samples.quickstart.analytics;

import android.app.Application;

import com.google.android.gms.analytics.GoogleAnalytics;
import com.google.android.gms.analytics.Logger;
import com.google.android.gms.analytics.Tracker;

public class AnalyticsApplication extends Application {
  private Tracker mTracker;

  synchronized public Tracker getDefaultTracker() {
    if (mTracker == null) {
      GoogleAnalytics analytics = GoogleAnalytics.getInstance(this);
      // To enable debug logging use: adb shell setprop log.tag.GAv4 DEBUG
      mTracker = analytics.newTracker(R.xml.global_tracker);
    }
    return mTracker;
  }
}

My Global_tracker.xml file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <!--Replace placeholder ID with your tracking ID-->
    <string name="ga_trackingId">UA-XXXXXXXX-X</string>

    <!--Enable automatic activity tracking-->
    <bool name="ga_autoActivityTracking">true</bool>

    <!--Enable automatic exception tracking-->
    <bool name="ga_reportUncaughtExceptions">true</bool>
</resources>

My manifest file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.google.samples.quickstart.analytics">

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

    <application
        android:name=".AnalyticsApplication"
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
        <activity
            android:name=".MainActivity"
            android:label="@string/app_name">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>
</manifest>

I have already spent two complete days in this issue, and I need your suggestion to go forwards.

Thanks.

Answer 1

You need to create a new folder in your res folder called xml and move your file to that folder. Also make sure you call the layout name correctly because in your question, you wrote Global_tracker.xml instead of global_tracker.xml. This is so important.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Check if you don't forget to put

apply plugin: 'com.google.gms.google-services'

in app level build.gradle

Answer 3

The brute force solution is to simply provide the actual analytics code.

GoogleAnalytics analytics = GoogleAnalytics.getInstance(this);
Tracker tracker = analytics.newTracker("UA-XXXXXXXXX-X");

rather than following the android conventional procedure

GoogleAnalytics analytics = GoogleAnalytics.getInstance(this);
Tracker tracker = analytics.newTracker(R.xml.global_tracker);

It's a pretty savage way of fixing the issue but it surely works because the newTracker() method only needs the actual string value of the Google Analytics tracking code.

The official reference document even have the same paradigm example.