The layout <layout> in layout has no declaration in the base layout folder [error]

Issue

After migrating to Android Studio 3.2, API 28, I am getting the following error on my app's layout:

The layout in layout has no declaration in the base layout folder; this can lead to crashes when the resource is queried in a configuration that does not match this qualifier

One of the layouts that I am getting this error is:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:background="@null" >

      <FrameLayout
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:orientation="vertical" >

        <ImageView
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="top|center_horizontal"
            android:adjustViewBounds="true"
            android:contentDescription="@string/hello_world"
            android:src="@drawable/loading_top" />

        <ImageView
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="bottom|center_horizontal"
            android:adjustViewBounds="true"
            android:contentDescription="@string/hello_world"
            android:src="@drawable/loading_bottom" />

        <ImageView
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_gravity="center"
            android:contentDescription="@string/hello_world"
            android:background="@color/white"
            android:layout_marginBottom="5dp"
            android:paddingTop="10dp"
            android:paddingBottom="10dp"
            android:src="@drawable/loading_logo" />

        <ImageView
            android:id="@+id/loading"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent"
            android:layout_gravity="center|center_vertical"
            android:layout_marginBottom="0dp"
            android:layout_marginTop="0dp"
            android:contentDescription="@string/hello_world"
            android:scaleType="fitXY"
            android:src="@null" />
    </FrameLayout>
</LinearLayout>

I get the error on the first line of the first LinearLayout.

Does anyone know how to solve this error?

Thank you

UPDATE: Answered my question with what has resolved the problem for me

Solution

I had copied the xml files in the folder using Windows Explorer. It seems to have caused an encoding issue. After deleting the files and coping them inside Android Studio, the problem was resolved.

Answered By - L Kemp