Colonel Winkle
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08/13/12 02:49 PM (13 years ago)

Bit lost regarding runnign my app while making changes?

Hello everyone. Im creating an app and on the right it states It's best to design and build your app with the iOS Simulator or Android Emulator Running. Running the simulator while you make changes on the control panel allows you to see the changes in real-time. Use the refresh button (see graphic) on your app's home screen while you're designing the app. I have to download my package then open it with eclipse so how does this work? I have a galaxy note is there any way of running my app while making changes and seeing them in real time? Thanks everyone
 
Fred@mySkylla com
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08/13/12 02:55 PM (13 years ago)
I have to download my package then open it with eclipse so how does this work? Download, fix source code, export, install to phone. I have a galaxy note is there any way of running my app while making changes and seeing them in real time? Read The Buzztouch Process in my site for how-to. Fred www.MySkylla.com
 
GoNorthWest
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08/13/12 03:06 PM (13 years ago)
Hi Colonel Winkle! Welcome to buzztouch! Yes, you can install your application on your Galaxy Note and see your changes in realtime. Assuming that you don't add something that needs to be packaged with the app (like a local image or something), each time you make a change in your BT control panel, all you need to do is hit the refresh button in your app while it's running, and you'll get the update pushed out to you. That's the brilliance of buzztouch! Downloading your package from buzztouch provides you with the source code you need to compile your app. You'll have to set up an Eclipse+Android development environment to get this all going. Fortunately, there's a step-by-step, illustrated document to help you along! http://www.buzztouch.com/files/howtos/buzztouch_For_Android-A_Users_Guide.pdf If after reading through that you have some questions, just post back, and we'll do our best to answer them. Mark
 
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08/13/12 03:59 PM (13 years ago)
Welcome to BT @Colonel Winkle. Now that London is getting back to normal you are getting into building apps, happy days indeed. To echo what Mark said, one of the first things that made me say 'wow' was running the app on my Android phone and iPhone for the first time and seeing my work and edits, quite a moment. Let us know when you get the app running and what you think. There's a load of people on here from around the world - many in UK - that have made a solid living on the back of BT and the forum, thanks to people like GoNorthWest and others it's second to none in terms of community help and support and the tutorials on the site will provide everything you need to get started. Build your app, download and run and before you know it you'll be posting your newly released app link! Happy apping!
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/13/12 04:00 PM (13 years ago)
Thanks for the reply guys. I think Im having a blank moment as Ive watched the videos twice. If im making changes on buzztouch how can I be running it on my phone and seeing the changes? Its only menu editing etc but Im completley lost? I cant get my app to show on my phone through the website? Eclipse wont even run my package anymore that I downloaded. Saying correct errors first, Driving me nuts! android.ide.eclipse.adt.internal.project.AndroidManifestHelper] Unable to read C:\Users\Aaron\Desktop\Test\AndroidManifest.xml: org.eclipse.core.internal.resources.ResourceException: File not found: C:\Users\Aaron\Desktop\Test\AndroidManifest.xml. [2012-08-13 23:36:34 - com.animalindentify.BT_activity_root] AndroidManifest.xml file missing! [2012-08-13 23:36:35 - com.animalindentify.BT_activity_root] /com.animalindentify.BT_activity_root/gen already exists but is not a source folder. Convert to a source folder or rename it. Thanks Aaron Edit Thanks MacApple For your input appreciate it : )
 
MacApple
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08/13/12 04:06 PM (13 years ago)
So you have the project source downloaded and fired up on your phone, correct? If so, any change you make to the app will shop up when you hit the refresh button on the top corner of your app. You see it? This refresh hits the server for the latest config file of your app and loads onto your phone. If you've added docs, images etc these will of course have to be added to the corresponding project folders in Eclipse or Xcode. Make sense? Ps So the big London question, fitba, cricket, rugby or no thanks?
 
GoNorthWest
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08/13/12 04:06 PM (13 years ago)
Hi Aaron, Once you have added the icon to your app in the control panel, you are free to download the source code for your app, compile it, and install it on the device of your choosing. Your download contains all the code necessary to render any screen you choose to add later. And all that information is contained in your BT_Config.txt file, or your configuration data file as it's also called. When you make changes to your app in the control panel, your configuration data file is the only thing that changes, and it's what drives the display of various screens. So...using the document I showed you above, set up your environment so you can compile your app. Then download the source code, compile it, and run it on either an emulator or real device. Then you can watch your changes in realtime. There is no way to view how the app will look and run directly on the buzztouch website. You need to use an Emulator or actual device. Mark
 
Fred@mySkylla com
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08/13/12 04:10 PM (13 years ago)
If im making changes on buzztouch how can I be running it on my phone and seeing the changes? Once you create the .apk and install on your phone any changes you make in the Control Panel will be reflected in the phone when you refresh the app's data. Its only menu editing etc but Im completley lost? Read my online / offline articles. I cant get my app to show on my phone through the website? You must install .apk. Fred
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 01:13 AM (13 years ago)
Thanks everyone starting to understand now lol. I'm currently at work but will give an update when I'm home. I may still have problems that I'll post later aseeclipse would not load my package. Thanks
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 01:17 AM (13 years ago)
Oh macapple no Thanks lol. I only like motocross lol.
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 10:34 AM (13 years ago)
Right I understand the workflow now thankyou. Problem is eclipse is chucking me errors when I load my project. I click file,new,android project from existing source and load the folder I downloaded. The errors are in the src folder bt_item.java and bt_screen_map.java
 
GoNorthWest
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08/14/12 10:36 AM (13 years ago)
It's very likely that you don't have the correct API selected. Right-click your project in Package Explorer, select Properties, then click on Android. Make sure Google API 8 is selected. Then hit Apply. That should hopefully remove the errors. Also, I find a lot of success by doing an Import...Existing Project when loading the buzztouch files. Starting a new Android project, or loading existing Android project seems to be problematic for me. Mark
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 10:40 AM (13 years ago)
I had Android API 8 selected. Its up and running on the phone? If I make changes on buzztouch will it push it to my phone? Thanks for all your help!
 
GoNorthWest
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08/14/12 10:42 AM (13 years ago)
Yes, it'll prompt you for a refresh when you open the app and it detects changes have been made from your control panel! You need to make sure you have Google API 8 running, not the Android API, unless you strip out all the mapping stuff from your code. Mark
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 10:45 AM (13 years ago)
Thanks Mark All done : ) What page would you recommend for a picture some text and a map button? ;) Aaron
 
GoNorthWest
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08/14/12 10:47 AM (13 years ago)
HTML is good for all that! And there is a Location Map screen that you can use as well.
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 11:24 AM (13 years ago)
Word doc and Pdf is alot easier for me but my phone trys opening the document with sms? Does android phones not support pdf or doc without 3rd party software?
 
GoNorthWest
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08/14/12 11:25 AM (13 years ago)
Android requires an additional application to read docs like PDF or DOC files. Bummer for sure! iOS handles it natively, which is pretty nice. Mark
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 11:28 AM (13 years ago)
So I have no choice but HTML lol. I assume in the BT_Docs folder I would example have a button with Time as the page I would rename the html document to Time and it would link to that html page?? Thanks
 
GoNorthWest
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08/14/12 11:30 AM (13 years ago)
Well, I think most Android users have at least the PDF reader, but that's a bit of a gamble. HTML is easier for sure. They go in the BT_Docs folder, along with any images for those pages. You can link from one HTML file to another. Mark
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 11:32 AM (13 years ago)
Yeah Im gonna do some more learning haha Thanks Mark
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 11:51 AM (13 years ago)
Can I add a picture to Custom HTML, Plain Text Screens
 
GoNorthWest
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08/14/12 11:53 AM (13 years ago)
Yep. Just use a URL reference to the image instead of a local file name. Mark
 
Fred@mySkylla com
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08/14/12 12:00 PM (13 years ago)
Apparently you're BTv1.5. You should take a look at my guide to BTv1.5 Go to www.MySkylla.com click on Buzztouch Screens & Plugins. Fred
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 12:25 PM (13 years ago)
Wow fred! confused dot com! Lol. Im assuming if I use image url people cant view the pictures offline? Im inserting the url but shows as a link not a picture?
 
GoNorthWest
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08/14/12 12:27 PM (13 years ago)
They would not be able to view the picture offline unless it got cached in the app. You would want to link to it something like this: <img src="http://www.site.com/coolpic.jpg"> Unless you plan on changing the doc frequently, I would just use the HTML screen and provide an HTML doc bundled with the app. That can be used offline as well. Mark
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 12:32 PM (13 years ago)
Wow fred! confused dot com! Lol. Im assuming if I use image url people cant view the pictures offline? Im inserting the url but shows as a link not a picture?
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 12:53 PM (13 years ago)
Sorry Duplicate post
 
GoNorthWest
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08/14/12 01:03 PM (13 years ago)
Each time you refresh your page, you repost your last post! ;-)
 
Colonel Winkle
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08/14/12 03:38 PM (13 years ago)
Finally got everything I want going Lol
 

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