Action Bar No Resource Found.

Question

I was trying to run the following code from the android studio guide:

<menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" >
<!-- Search, should appear as action button -->
<item android:id="@+id/action_search"
    android:icon="@drawable/ic_action_search"
    android:title="@string/action_search"
    android:showAsAction="ifRoom" />
<!-- Settings, should always be in the overflow -->
<item android:id="@+id/action_settings"
    android:title="@string/action_settings"
    android:showAsAction="never" />

However, for the following code:

android:icon="@drawable/ic_action_search"
android:title="@string/action_search"

It says:

Cannot resolve symbol '@string/action_search' less... (Ctrl+F1) 
Validates resource references inside Android XML files

And that no resource matches the given name.

I am not sure how to make of it. I have googled extensively and these are possible solutions?

1. Download the image set at "https://developer.android.com/design/downloads/index.html#action-bar-icon-pack". I was unable to find what to download, and where to extract to.

I have tried:

1. Setting the minSdk to 11 (and 22) in gradle and in manifest
2. Redoing the project and reading very closely.

If someone could shed some light on this situation I would be very grateful! I have tried doing my own research/ googling/ experimenting but it has come to no avail.

Answer 1

You need to create the string value for your action_search reference.

<resources>
    <string name="app_name">My Application</string>
    <string name="edit_message">Enter a message</string>
    <string name="button_send">Send</string>
    <string name="action_settings">Settings</string>
    <string name="action_search">Search</string>
    <string name="title_activity_main">MainActivity</string>
    <string name="title_activity_display_message">My Message</string>
</resources>

To fix your empty reference for your drawables you have to drop an image with the name of your reference like ic_action_search.png in your drawable folder.