How to get version information of an included library?

Question

I have an eclipse project with two included library projects. These projects have their own manifest files with version information. Now I want to read the version number from these library projects within my main project. The information can't be read by calling the PackageManager:

//Get the version name from the included library project
String libVersion  = getPackageManager().getPackageInfo("com.google.zxing.client.android", 0).versionName;

Because the library is not an installed application. But what's the right way to get these information?

For instance: I have included zxing Android project as library project. These Project has following version information in its manifest file:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.google.zxing.client.android"
    android:installLocation="auto"
    android:versionCode="88"
    android:versionName="4.3.2" >

I want to read versionCode and versionName. If I use packageManager like in the coding above, I will get versionCode "93" and versionName "4.5".

Answer 1

In fact it is possible now (maybe due to new API changes, tested with API 17 (calling project), API 14 (library project)): if you specifically call the correct package name it will retrieve version information from that packages Manifest file:

eg:

String versionName = getPackageManager().
        getPackageInfo("PACKAGE_FROM_WHICH_TO_RETRIEVE_MANIFEST", 0).versionName;