How does Android Studio gradle plugin manage resource files (AndroidManifest.xml)? -

i have project's build.gradle located in myapp/app/ directory. androidmanifest.xml in myapp/app/src/main directory, @ same level java/ , res/ directories.

when synchronizing project, receive notification missing manifest file. no wonder, actually, when path incorrect. source file set as:

    sourcesets {     main {         manifest.srcfile 'src/main/androidmanifest.xml'     } } 

and error notification says:

error:cause: java.io.filenotfoundexception: /home/aqv/androidstudioprojects/myapp/src/main/androidmanifest.xml (no such file or directory)

when change source to:

sourcesets {     main {         manifest.srcfile 'main/androidmanifest.xml'     } } 

the text changes to:

error:cause: java.io.filenotfoundexception: /home/aqv/androidstudioprojects/myapp/app/main/androidmanifest.xml (no such file or directory)

as can see, there missing path fragment: myapp/app/src/ (when setting src/main/androidmanifest.xml path, error says looking manifest file in myapp/src/main, ommits app/ directory).

is kind of gradle's bug or project misconfigured?

looking solution found 1 thread @ so, solution there didn't work in case. have dependencies set as:

compile 'com.android.support:support-v4:19.1.0' compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:19.1.0' 

writing answer since issue someone.

by default android studio creates multi module project. have build.gradle in root folder of project , build.gradle in app folder:

<your project name> /app    /src    build.gradle build.gradle settings.gradle 

the parent build.gradle edited if want specify default settings subprojects. looks odd since have 1 subproject now.

the topic starter issue was adding/modifying root build.gradle instead of app folder build.gradle.