Adding local .aar files to Gradle build using "flatDirs" is not working

I'm aware of this question: Adding local .aar files to my gradle build but the solution does not work for me.

I tried adding this statement to the top level of my build.gradle file:

repositories {
    mavenCentral()
    flatDir {
        dirs 'libs'
    }
}

I've also put the slidingmenu.aar file into /libs and referenced it in the dependencies section: compile 'com.slidingmenu.lib:slidingmenu:1.0.0@aar' but it did not work at all.

I tried compile files('libs/slidingmenu.aar') as well but with no luck.

What am I missing? Any ideas?

P.S. Android Studio 0.8.2

Building upon Josiah's answer, here's how I got it to work.

Following his instructions (under edit) (File -> New-> New Module -> Import .JAR/.AAR) and import your .AAR.

Then in your project build.gradle (not the top level one, the one under 'app') add the following (in the dependencies section):

dependencies {
    compile project(':Name-Of-Your-Project')
}

Note Name-Of-Your-Project should match the name of the folder that was added after you imported the AAR file (at the same level as app/.idea under the top most level folder). Or to put it another way...

MyApplication
  .idea
  app
  build.gradle (here's where to add compile project(':ProjectName') to dependency section)
  ProjectName (added automatically after importing, matching the name of your aar file)
  build
  gradle
  etc

This worked for me running Android Studio 0.8.0. Don't forget to synchronize gradle (using toolbar button or in File->Synchronize) after you do this.

(Thanks to Josiah for getting me going in the right direction)

(Note: prior to this I tried adding it to the libs folder, trying to manipulate the top level build.gradle and the app level build.gradle, but none of that worked for my aars files--jar's will work fine, but not the aar files)

Update : As @amram99 mentioned, the issue has been fixed as of the release of Android Studio v1.3.

Tested and verified with below specifications

• Android Studio v1.3
• gradle plugin v1.2.3
• Gradle v2.4

What works now

• Now you can import a local aar file via the File>New>New Module>Import .JAR/.AAR Package option in Android Studio v1.3

• However the below answer holds true and effective irrespective of the Android Studio changes as this is based of gradle scripting.

Old Answer : In a recent update the people at android broke the inclusion of local aar files via the Android Studio's add new module menu option. Check the Issue listed here. Irrespective of anything that goes in and out of IDE's feature list , the below method works when it comes to working with local aar files.(Tested it today):

Put the aar file in the libs directory (create it if needed), then, add the following code in your build.gradle :

dependencies {
   compile(name:'nameOfYourAARFileWithoutExtension', ext:'aar')
 }
repositories{
      flatDir{
              dirs 'libs'
       }
 }

Edit: The correct way (currently) to use a local AAR file as a build dependency is to use the module import wizard (File | New Module | Import .JAR or .AAR package) which will automatically add the .aar as a library module in your project.

Old Answer

Try this:

allprojects {
  repositories {
    jcenter()
    flatDir {
      dirs 'libs'
    }
  }
}

...

compile(name:'slidingmenu', ext:'aar')

I got this working on Android Studio 2.1. I have a module called "Native_Ads" which is shared across multiple projects.

First, I created a directory in my Native_ads module with the name 'aars' and then put the aar file in there.

Directory structure:

libs/
aars/    <-- newly created
src/
build.gradle
etc

Then, the other changes:

Top level Gradle file:

allprojects {
    repositories {
        jcenter()
        // For module with aar file in it
        flatDir {
            dirs project(':Native_Ads').file('aars')
        }
    }
}

App module's build.gradle file: - no changes

Settings.gradle file (to include the module):

include ':app'
include 'Native_Ads'
project(':Native_Ads').projectDir = new File(rootProject.projectDir, '../path/to/Native_Ads')

Gradle file for the Native_Ads module:

repositories {
    jcenter()
    flatDir {
        dirs 'aars'
    }
}
dependencies {
    compile(name:'aar_file_name_without_aar_extension', ext:'aar')
}

That's it. Clean and build.