So now that I've submitted my app to Apple, and submitted it as an off-line app, I would still like to play around with it on buzztouch and have it refresh on my devices. To do this I figure I'll have to make a copy of it, I guess under another name and have this copy app be online for testing. How do I go about doing this? Thanks.

Actually, all you need to do is make your changes in the Control Panel, then download the new copy of the BT_Config.txt file (you can get it from the Show App's Configuration Data page, and then run your app with that! All changes you made will be now reflected in the simulator. Alternatively, and this is what I do...I have a test app on my device, which I keep online, where I test out new features before incorporating them into an existing app. That way, it's all tested and ready to go, and I just add that new stuff to the existing app...no fuss, no muss! Mark

But that's my question. How do I get that test app, which is an exact copy of the app I submitted, on my device? Do I just add back the urls and download the source code? That will put the app on my device and which will update with changes. I assume the app I submitted won't update since the config file for that one did not have the urls. Correct? Steve

My test app doesn't look exactly like the original app. It's just an app that I modify as I want to try out new features. In your instance, you could create an identical app from scratch that matches your published app, but which is online vs. offline, test your changes on that, and then recreate them in the published app. There's no easy way to duplicate an app in buzztouch...you have to create the new one from scratch. Make sense? Mark

It makes sense but yikes, I have to retype over 100 screens. I was hoping there was an easier way. Why cant' i just add the urls back in the control panel and re-compile the source code? Won't this new app be exactly the same as the old one but on online? And since the published app was compiled from code that did not include the urls, won't it be immune from changes? Steve

Well, the issue I think is that there are a lot of randomly generated screen IDs and such, and if you just copy them over, they are no longer random. But, I'm not sure of all the specifics...so you could always just experiment! Here's something to consider : Your published app is offline. Nothing you do in the control panel will show up for the users who have your app installed. You can make changes all day long, and they'd never know. After you make a set of changes, update your BT_Config file and recompile your app to test the changes. Then, once everything is in order, submit it to iTunes or whatever store. That's actually one of the great features of an offline app...that you can test and nobody knows you're doing it! Mark

but again, if I do what you said in the second paragraph and also add back the urls, won't I be able to refresh on the simulator without those who installed the app being any the wiser? I,d rather be able to refresh with every change than do lots of changes and then recompiling if possible. Steve

Ahh...I see what you are saying now! Yes...you could add those two configuration URLs back to your app, and refresh in the simulator as if it were on online app. Great point! That, assumes, of course, that everybody who has your current app installed has the offline version. Otherwise...if you went offline in an update, and there are people who have not updated the app yet...they'll continue to see the changes that you make. If you released the app as offline...then you're golden! Mark

Mark, I think you provided a better solution in your pdf. Create a config file on dropbox with appropriate url for users. Have your test app online with BT url. Is this correct? Fred

Mark, Yes the app I donwloaded to Apple is offline, the code compiled after I removed the urls. Now I can go back to BT, put the urls back in (i copied them), recompile to my computer and play around. If I decide to update the app later, I'll just take out the urls again, compile and submit that file back to apple as the download. Thanks again. Steve

@stevk, by using the dropbox method you could avoid update via iTunes. Fred

Fred, I'm sure you're right but psychologically, I think most users like seeing that an app is updated by seeing that notice on their Appp Store icon. Also seeing an upgraded version number in itunes, I believe, keeps end users happier than just getting pushed an update. Not sure but I think so. All in the mind. Steve

Hi Fred, The recommendations in the PDF still stand. Steve's case is a bit different in that his app was shipped offline, so there is no Configuration URL or Report to URL configured in in the app, which means he can turn it back on, and not affect his current users. I hadn't thought of that case before, but it makes perfect sense! I agree with Steve about occasional updates to an app via iTunes. Makes it appear, at least, that the app continues to be enhanced and improved, and that it's not just content updates that occur through the use of the app. Thanks! Mark

Ok, steve how long do the iTunes updates take?

They tend to take about as long as submitting an app for the first time, but once they are in review, they go a bit faster. Less than an hour in most of my cases. Mark