How can I use the `--multi-dex` option?

Question

[2013-11-13 18:39:09 - XlApp] Dx 
trouble writing output: Too many method references: 66024; max is 65536.
You may try using --multi-dex option.
References by package:
    13 java.lang
     1 java.lang.reflect
     5 java.util
     1 javax.xml.namespace
    66 org.apache.xmlbeans
    19 org.apache.xmlbeans.impl.values
     1 org.apache.xmlbeans.impl.xb.xmlschema
  2500 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.chart
  1430 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.chart.impl
  8767 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main
  5258 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.main.impl
    86 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.picture
    33 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.picture.impl
   745 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.spreadsheetDrawing
   417 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.spreadsheetDrawing.impl
   230 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.wordprocessingDrawing
   164 org.openxmlformats.schemas.drawingml.x2006.wordprocessingDrawing.impl
   298 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.customProperties
   256 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.customProperties.impl
   617 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.docPropsVTypes
   596 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.docPropsVTypes.impl
   285 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.extendedProperties
   196 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.extendedProperties.impl
    23 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.math
    24 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.relationships
     2 org.openxmlformats.schemas.officeDocument.x2006.relationships.impl
  2076 org.openxmlformats.schemas.presentationml.x2006.main
  1224 org.openxmlformats.schemas.presentationml.x2006.main.impl
     1 org.openxmlformats.schemas.schemaLibrary.x2006.main
  7271 org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main
  4556 org.openxmlformats.schemas.spreadsheetml.x2006.main.impl
 11448 org.openxmlformats.schemas.wordprocessingml.x2006.main
  9217 org.openxmlformats.schemas.wordprocessingml.x2006.main.impl
     4 schemaorg_apache_xmlbeans.system.sE130CAA0A01A7CDE5A2B4FEB8B311707
  1170 schemasMicrosoftComOfficeExcel
  1223 schemasMicrosoftComOfficeExcel.impl
   285 schemasMicrosoftComOfficeOffice
   124 schemasMicrosoftComOfficeOffice.impl
     2 schemasMicrosoftComOfficePowerpoint
     3 schemasMicrosoftComOfficeWord
  2858 schemasMicrosoftComVml
  2529 schemasMicrosoftComVml.impl
[2013-11-13 18:39:09 - XlApp] Conversion to Dalvik format failed with error 2

I am getting this error when I included 5 external .jar files in my android project. I have no idea what to do. Please help me out anyone!!!

I thought of doing what is suggested in this You may try using --multi-dex option

But I could not find method of using this option anywhere.

Answer 1

If you are using Gradle/Android Studio, you can add this to your gradle configuration:

android {
....
   dexOptions {
    preDexLibraries = false
   }
}

afterEvaluate {
    tasks.matching {
        it.name.startsWith('dex')
    }.each { dx ->
        if (dx.additionalParameters == null) {
            dx.additionalParameters = []
        }
        dx.additionalParameters += '--multi-dex'

        // this is optional
        // dx.additionalParameters += "--main-dex-list=$projectDir/multidex.keep".toString()
    }
}

Then you need to add the multidex support library jar, located in sdk/extras/android/support/multidex/library/libs. And install it either by extending your application from MultiDexApplication, or calling Multidex.install() from your application's attachBaseContext method.

For more details look at this blogpost: http://blog.osom.info/2014/10/multi-dex-to-rescue-from-infamous-65536.html

UPDATE:

Here https://developer.android.com/tools/building/multidex.html you can find the official way to use multidex with Gradle.

Basically you need to change your gradle file like this:

android {
   compileSdkVersion 21
   buildToolsVersion "21.1.0"

   defaultConfig {
       ...
       minSdkVersion 14
       targetSdkVersion 21
       ...

       // Enabling multidex support.
       multiDexEnabled true
   }
   ...
}

dependencies {
  compile 'com.android.support:multidex:1.0.0'
}

And set your Application class to android.support.multidex.MultiDexApplication or if you already have an Application class you can override the attachBaseContext() method and call MultiDex.install(this) to enable multidex.