The format I use for that option in B4A is:
SetApplicationAttribute(android:usesCleartextTraffic, "true")
The
CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, Core.NetworkClearText) is a macro that creates the above line in the manifest when compiled - so the two basically do the same thing - you could include either one and it will work.
But the original reason why it wasn't working for you was because you were trying to edit the manifest file from outside the IDE and that's why your edits didn't "stick".
I am glad you got it working