You should definitely try it... https://www.buzztouch.com/plugins/plugin.php?pid=BD0306290BCC53E0743714F It explores new territories... Cheers Jack

We saw it demonstrated by Stobe at the St Louis Buzzcon a whole year ago. Been waiting for that monster of a transformer. Yeehaw!

There is a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3Lye_QqkL4&feature=youtu.be The video show that it worked by switching to an alternative config.txt file, which is stored in the app. One thing I didn't get, does this mean that the app / alternative configs can still refresh and be updated? Or does it mean the app can only use the values config.txt stored when the app i created (e.g. is offline)?

@AlanMac: check my review of the plugin! You have to clone the app so as to have 2 different CPs. Then you can update it as you wish.

@AlanMac : Either way. In that video, the first example I gave showed that everything stayed connected to the control panel (or actually, control panels, for that example). The second example (with the quizzes) showed it being used in a more "offline" mode. Everything was compiled in, and the dataURL was disconnected on purpose. It all depends on what you want the app to do (when transforming), and how crafty you are. Like I mentioned, I'm sure everyone here can come up with uses for it that I've never dreamed of. I was originally thinking about it from the neat quiz trick, or perhaps using a IAM plugin to completely unlock a new version (free vs premium) of an app, rather than unlocking a screen at a time. Keep the questions coming now that the cat is somewhat out of the bag, lol. (I didn't think the "soft launch" would work anyhow, lol)

(I still don't understand why a 'soft launch'... felt compelled to make some advertisement... sorry if you wished to keep it secret... lol)

THe soft launch was part of a "Beat the Clock" promotion I mentioned in the latest episode of Buzzcast - as a "thank you" offer for my listeners. No real way to do a coupon code for plugins, so I figured this would be the best way. No harm. There's no such thing as "bad press" lol! Thanks for the review. Very thorough.

Nice @AlanMac! I needed to see that video because I didn't clearly understand it from the description. Its very powerful! Great job Stobe :)

Both of my new plugins have youtube videos linked in their plugin details (where the icons for the plugin author's info is). Also, I've linked both of the videos in the control panel, under an "Instructions" tab, so you can watch it while you are working on setting up your CP.

Great idea Stobe. Will be amazed to see the different uses that we all implement it for in our BT apps! Really like that you had a YouTube video that shows how it works! (at a decent res too ;) Would be great to also include that link in the BT marketplace plug-in description. I had been thinking about what would be the best way to present different UI looks to the user, and was hesitant about setting up global variables and weaving throughout the app- this sounds great!! Now with this approach it looks like I could provide several versions first and later think about my original plan and let a user essentially create their config. I definitely will be grabbing a copy. Just need to finish up several other items on my to do list- or I will never get to them;)

You mentioned "both of my new plugins" - did I miss the second, or not active on the market yet?

Its there. Its called One Head Four Butts. Also, both plugins have links to their YT demos. You just have to use the YouTube icon next to my name. Maybe I'll have to add it to the readme.txt so it shows up in the description. Thanks for the comments on the show!

Duh - perfect name too LOL Saw it as part of the video of the AppTransformer and just was thinking that it would be perfect for a screen that I was just designing. After watching video I grabbed that one first :) EDIT: Thought that I had already subscribed to http://www.youtube.com/user/iDevDepot before but I am now. Watching a 17 minute video on the Button screen probably just saved me a couple of hours late tonight experimenting with options. Thanks!

Yeah, I'm pretty proud of it. And its hard to say how cool it is until you just use it, and get real familiar with it. I've already got a new idea for it that will be included in the next update. Fun fun fun!

Chris, saw those up last night, awesome! I was wondering if my eyes deceived me on the OHFB one, it looked like it was in the market for a little while by where it was placed, thought it slipped by me. Thanks for the new plugins :-) Cheers, David https://btmods.com/chat

Yeah, I'm not sure on how the market actually sorts. Perhaps by the most recent update. I had 1h4b finished for a while and wanted to launch them both at the same time.

Stobe I'm very excited for this plug in. Thanks

This plugin sounds really cool. Is there any way of 'transforming' without previously having stored the alternative config file in the app, but by maybe referencing the location by URL? I'm thinking about how you could add extra 'transforms' without rebuilding the app.

Good question. Currently, the plugin relies on some special logic that belongs to the core project. Possibly in the future that could be altered. Perhaps a workaround would be to compile a bunch of extra text files (config1.txt, config2.txt, etc). And in each of those configs, set the dataURL to a blank config on dropbox, or a blank app in your control panel. Then when you want to utilize it in the future, you just have to build out the app, and call that pre-loaded config that's already pointing to the previously blank app/text file. (Wow, I almost lost myself with that mumbo jumbo. I hope it made sense).

Thanks Stobe, I try to ask good questions, but I don't always manage it (lol) and the answer made complete sense. It means that a bit of foresight is needed when releasing an app where you plan to expand the number of configs, but that's OK. The whole transformer concept has started me thinking about a new app. Cheers, Alan