Hey everyone, I published my first Android app called Fresh Prince Trivia. It's one of my favorite TV shows so I decided to make a trivia game. Thanks Buzztouch and community members for helping to make it possible. If you'd like to check it out, here's the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pandak.freshprincetrivia

I just saw an article today on how Fresh Prince is the #1 most requested Entertainment at Guantanamo Bay (something like that)! Crazy! http://gawker.com/5933225/harry-potter-books-out-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-in-as-gitmo-prisoners-entertainment-of-choice Love the show myself.. the things on TV now make me feel like I'm losing my intelligence - or what I have left of it.Your app One of the better looking android apps out there - congratulations! Love the graphics on this one, very clean, awesome home screen. Cheers mate, David buzztouchmods.com

Thanks so much David! I really appreciate it. :) One of my friends sent me a link to that article today and I thought, "Ah man! Too bad they can't have cellphones." haha I know what you mean about TV today. I wonder if people are just too lazy to write quality shows these days. That's why The Fresh Prince and Seinfeld record on my TiVo everyday. haha

Oh crud - my original post was cut off :p I mentioned Seinfeld, and some other shows that were good back in the day like The Pretender, Star Trek Voyager, Stargate SG1, Married with Children, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and of course, I Love Lucy. Probably not the best idea for them to text ;p Cheers, and no problem! David buzztouchmods.com

Downloading this app right now. The screenshots look awesome. Can you tell me how you managed to put the buttons in the middle and how did you add the high score screen??

Wow!!! This app is really awesome. I liked the overall interface. Kindly share some knowledge with us on how you managed to customise the app to such an extent.

Very nice looking app! Congratulations! I'd love to learn how you did the buttons on the home screen as well. Looks like an HTML screen? Mark

@Mark- I think @ElleEyeEssay has used regular Menu Button plugin but with certain changes in the layout file or maybe used the Blank Screen plugin with custom layout. In any case this is by far the most good compiled app i have seen using the Quiz plugin. I am interested to know how @ElleEyeEssay managed to get that home screen and how did he added the high score screen as well.

Thanks so much you guys for checking out my app! @Sandeep and @GoNorthWest, I used the regular screen_menuButtons for the home screen. I removed the code to make the buttons/rows scroll and the scrollView containers in the layout file because I knew that I was only going to use three buttons that would fit on the screen and I believe that the buttons are in a table which I centered. I'll compare my code to the regular to give detailed changes. For the high scores screen, I used screen_blank but I also created my own Highscores class that writes and reads the top 10 scores to a shared preferences file.

That would be really helpful if you do so. I would like to know specially about how to add high score for quiz section.

For the high scores, I used Shared Preferences and you can find out how to use the Shared Preferences here: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/data/data-storage.html My High Scores class has a constructor which creates or opens a shared preferences file and reads 20 entries from it (10 strings and 10 ints) into a string array and integer array. This class does not extend or implement any other class/listener, etc. I have a function defined in the class called addScore which I pass the string (name) and int (score) from the quiz activity to add to the shared preferences file. In the screen quiz file, I added a dialog box to get the username to pass to the addScore function. The addScore function adds the most recent score to the shared preferences file and replaces the lowest score. In screen_blank, in the layout file, I have a RelativeLayout container with a TableLayout defined inside of it somewhat like in screen_menuButtons. Inside of the TableLayout, a TableRow is defined for the header row that has the text for "High Scores." To add the table rows, I dynamically create table rows and add 3 dynamic TextViews to each row for the score number, the name, and the score. I'll get back to you guys tomorrow on the screen_menuButtons. It's getting late in my part of the world.

No problem with that. I will go through the link you provided and tell you how it goes with me. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

How to create unique button designs such as home screen?

Which version are you using to create this application? BT 1.4, 1.5, 2 or self hosting ? I like it

@foxilab I'm using 2.0. For everyone who wants to know about the code changes I made to the home screen, I decided to just paste the function instead of listing the differences so you can review the changes for yourself in case you've already made some changes to the file itself. //layout buttons public void layoutButtons(){ BT_debugger.showIt(activityName + ":layoutButtons"); //empty list of buttons... buttonBoxes.clear(); buttonSquares.clear(); /* CODE MAY NOT NEEDED FOR YOUR PROGRAM */ //Remove the callback to these buttons and then clear int size = buttonImages.size(); int index = 0; for(index = 0; index < size; index++){ d = buttonImages.get(index); packagename_appDelegate.unloadDrawable(d); } /* END CODE MAY NOT NEEDED FOR YOUR PROGRAM */ buttonImages.clear(); //flag for if we are using a tableLayout or not... boolean usingTable = false; //font-size should not be more than 20... if(buttonLabelFontSize > 20){ buttonLabelFontSize = 18; } //we may need to add some height if labels are "above" or "below" to button's color or image... int addHeight = 0; if(buttonLabelLayoutStyle.equalsIgnoreCase("above") || buttonLabelLayoutStyle.equalsIgnoreCase("below")){ addHeight += (buttonLabelFontSize * 1.3); } //determine how many rows / columns... int numButtons = childItems.size(); int cols = 0; int rows = 0; int cnt = 0; //layout params for each table row... LayoutParams trLp = new LayoutParams(LayoutParams.FILL_PARENT, LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT); //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //vertical buttons, right or left side of screen... if(buttonLayoutStyle.equalsIgnoreCase("verticalLeft") || buttonLayoutStyle.equalsIgnoreCase("verticalRight")){ //tableLayout gets top padding same as button padding... tableLayout.setPadding(0, 0, 0, 0); tableLayout.removeAllViews(); usingTable = false; //counts... rows = numButtons; cols = 1; //left or right... int boxGravity = Gravity.CENTER; //LSA used to be LEFT //outer loop rows.. for (int f = 0; f <= rows; f++) { //table row holds parts... TableRow tr = new TableRow(this); tr = new TableRow(this); tr.setLayoutParams(trLp); tr.setPadding(0, 0, 0, 0); tr.setGravity(boxGravity); //inner loop cols.. for(int c = 0; c < cols; c++){ //increment counter here if NOT a vertical layout... if(cnt < numButtons){ //BT_item... BT_item tmpItem = childItems.get(cnt); //relative layout holds button parts...this is the button "size" and the background color... RelativeLayout buttonBox = getButton(tmpItem, cnt, buttonSize, buttonHeight + addHeight, buttonPadding, addHeight); //add to list of "button boxes" to keep track of it... buttonBoxes.add(buttonBox); //add to layout... RelativeLayout.LayoutParams lp = new RelativeLayout.LayoutParams(buttonSize, buttonHeight); if(buttonLayoutStyle.equalsIgnoreCase("verticalRight")){ lp.addRule(RelativeLayout.ALIGN_PARENT_RIGHT); } buttonBox.setLayoutParams(lp); //add buttonBox to the table row... tr.addView(buttonBox, buttonSize + (buttonPadding * 2), buttonHeight + buttonPadding + addHeight); //increment counter... cnt++; }//cnt > numButtons } //for cols... //add the row... tableLayout.addView(tr, new TableLayout.LayoutParams(LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT)); //if addHeight was used we need a spacer between each row.. if(addHeight > 0){ TableRow spacerRow = new TableRow(this); spacerRow.setPadding(0, 0, 0, 0); RelativeLayout spacerBox = new RelativeLayout(this); spacerBox.setMinimumHeight(30); spacerRow.addView(spacerBox, 30, 30); tableLayout.addView(spacerRow, new TableLayout.LayoutParams(LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT)); } } //for rows... } //end vertical buttons, right or left side of screen... //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //if we used a table layout... //add a few empty row at end so scrolling shows enough of bottom margin... if(usingTable){ for(int t = 0; t < 3; t++){ TableRow tr = new TableRow(this); tr.setPadding(0, 0, 0, 0); RelativeLayout buttonBox = new RelativeLayout(this); buttonBox.setMinimumWidth(buttonSize); buttonBox.setMinimumHeight(buttonHeight); tr.addView(buttonBox, buttonSize, buttonHeight); tableLayout.addView(tr, new TableLayout.LayoutParams(LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT)); } //invalidate tableLayout... tableLayout.invalidate(); } //hide progress... hideProgress(); }

You all will see an unfamiliar variable buttonHeight in the code above and I added that variable and set it to the size of my small vs large buttons that I created. Those variables are set in the onCreate function where it checks to see if the device is a large or small device. buttonHeight is also passed into the getButton function and used for the height variables where buttonSize was previously used. For example, this line of code is originally: int tmpHeight = buttonSize + buttonPadding + addHeight; but is now: int tmpHeight = buttonHeight + buttonPadding + addHeight;

I am getting error "d cannot be resolved to a variable" for the following line of code on BT_screen_menuButton.java file d = buttonImages.get(index); independencedayquiz_appDelegate.unloadDrawable(d); How is this supposed to be fixed? By creating a local variable, field or paramater?

Yes. d is a static Drawable class variable and the unloadDrawable function is a function I created to unload drawables which basically just sets the callback of the drawable to null but actually you can erase all those lines if you want. I'll modify the code above. One more thing, the text on my buttons are a part of the graphics so I do not know if this works and still aligns text from the Control Panel. You may have to make some tweaks if your text does not line up.

That would be great. But i managed to make changes in code however am not able to get the images in place of those buttons. Have a look at this following screenshot. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/61663890/20120813115350.png

In the configuration of the menuButtons screen in the Control Panel, did you specify image names and include those images in your drawables folder in your project?

Yes i have included the image files in my project and also have mentioned those images in bt control panel. The name of image and their casing is also the same. BTW i have prepared those images of 200x72 size.

Can you put your screen_menuButtons.java file in dropbox and share the link with me so I can take a look at it? I'll compare it to mine.

ok no problem. will post the link in just a minute.

heres the link for BT_screen_menuButtons.java file https://dl.dropbox.com/u/61663890/BT_screen_menuButtons.java

I got the file. I'm taking a look at it now.

Thanks. I will be waiting for your reply.

I noticed two differences between our files: 1) the variable buttonHeight was missing from yours and 2) you're using Bitmaps and I'm using Drawables. I've uploaded the file with a few changes. 1) I've added in the buttonHeight variable and changed buttonSize to buttonHeight where necessary. 2) I'm not sure if there's a problem loading the Bitmaps since I'm not able to step through the code so I can't comment on that. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/25391006/BT_screen_menuButtons.java If this doesn't work, let me know.

I will check it on my device and let you know about it. Thanks for the help.

No problem.

Also, make sure the buttonSize in the configuration file is the same size or bigger than the actual graphic size.

ok thanks for reminding that.

The button heights have changed but still no luck in fetching the images. Here is the screenshot with new look. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/61663890/20120813125010.png

One other thing, did you see in the file where I made comments? Search for "ElleEyeEssay" and I specify where you need to set your button heights.

No i did not see that comments earlier. I will set the button height there as you suggested.

I'm going to replace my file with your file and see if I can find anything by using the debugger.

No luck here. Earlier you said i am using Bitmaps and you are using Drawables can you make any changes there?

To use Drawables instead of Bitmaps, change your code back to the original screen_menuButtons source code in the places where drawables are used.

ok i will see what happens after making this change.

Nevermind. Mine doesn't contain anything because my images are in the drawables folder and not BT_images. I'll move mine there and see what happens.

Ok, do tell me if it works with you.

It's not working for me but here's what I found out through the debugger. This line causes an exception: bg = BT_fileManager.getBitmapFromCache(imageName); BT_fileManager:getBitmapFromCache An exception occurred trying to get an image from the cache: "<button name>" If I don't find the issue in the next few minutes, I'm probably asleep since it's late on my side of the world but I'll continue to take a look at it later today.

No problem with that, we can sort out this problem later after you wake up.

@Sandeep Did you find out why your Bitmaps were not showing up?

For anyone else that's interested, I've changed my app to use button labels on the screen_menuButtons and it does center the text correctly on the button.

Hi @ElleEyeEssay, This was a very cool post i stumbled on. Really great knowledge and help you provided! Just wanted you to know Buzztouch could use some more Android plugins in the BT Plugins Market. Great way to make some extra income. cheers! ian

I too discovered this today due to the Shared Preference link. Nice work, ElleEyeEssay! What other apps have you done with BuzzTouch? -- Niraj

I haven't done any others yet. I'm going to update the Fresh Prince Trivia app first. I am thinking about creating another one soon. I have a few ideas floating around in my head.