Xamarin cross-platform (portable class) project compilation error

Question

I made a new blank cross-platform project using a portable class library in visual studio, BUT when I try to build a platform project I have a list of errors:

Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Animation'
Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Boolean'
Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Color'
Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Dimension'
Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Id'   App5.Droid
Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Integer'
Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Layout'
Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Style'
Error   CS0117  'Resource' does not contain a definition for 'Styleable'
Error   CS0117  'Resource.Attribute' does not contain a definition for 'actionBarDivider'
Error   CS0117  'Resource.Attribute' does not contain a definition for 'actionBarItemBackground'
Error   CS0117  'Resource.Attribute' does not contain a definition for 'actionBarPopupTheme'
Error   CS0117  'Resource.Attribute' does not contain a definition for 'actionBarSize'
Error   CS0117  'Resource.Attribute' does not contain a definition for 'actionBarSplitStyle'

Keep in mind that I'm trying to update NuGet Packages, BUT when I selected all packages with (Xamarin.forms), the update didn't work and the following error appeared:

Unable to find a version of 'Xamarin.Android.Support.v4' that is compatible with 'Xamarin.Android.Support.Animated.Vector.Drawable 23.2.1 constraint: Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (= 23.2.1)', 'Xamarin.Android.Support.Design 23.0.1.3 constraint: Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (>= 23.0.1.3)', 'Xamarin.Android.Support.v13 23.3.0 constraint: Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (= 23.3.0)', 'Xamarin.Android.Support.v7.AppCompat 23.0.1.3 constraint: Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (>= 23.0.1.3)', 'Xamarin.Android.Support.v7.MediaRouter 23.0.1.3 constraint: Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (>= 23.0.1.3)', 'Xamarin.Android.Support.v7.RecyclerView 23.0.1.3 constraint: Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (>= 23.0.1.3)', 'Xamarin.Android.Support.Vector.Drawable 23.2.1 constraint: Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (= 23.2.1)', 'Xamarin.Forms 2.1.0.6529 constraint: Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (= 23.0.1.3)'.

So, I selected all packages except the Xamarin.forms package and updated them.

Any idea on how to fix this error?

Luis Beltran Luis Beltran · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-24T08:10:13

You need to use the specific/minimium versions of the packages that are mentioned in the error message. The safest way to do it is to remove all nuget packages (including Xamarin.Forms) and then add Xamarin.Forms nuget package, which will add all its dependencies with the specific versions.

Explanation, by James Montemagno:

Xamarin.Forms locks in a very specific version of the support libraries and google play services. You can't update them because Xamarin.Forms isn't compatible with them as it would need to be re-compiled.

Xamarin.Android.Support.v4 (= 23.0.1.3)

Xamarin.Android.Support.Design (= 23.0.1.3)

Xamarin.Android.Support.v7.AppCompat (= 23.0.1.3)

Xamarin.Android.Support.v7.CardView (= 23.0.1.3)

Xamarin.Android.Support.v7.MediaRouter (= 23.0.1.3)

See the = 23.0.1.3, which means it is only compatible with that version number. This is just how NuGet works. When Xamarin.Forms updates these packages will auto update.

Xamarin cross-platform (portable class) project compilation error

2 Answers