I am a total noob to the app side of things. I have googled and tried to find everywhere how to create a keytoll and have had no success. I just need help with the keytool and signature so I can publish my app. Thanks

Have you tried the Handy-Dandy keytool helper thing in Eclipse? Command-Click (right click) your project name in Eclipse to show the long content menu. Near the bottom, in the Export Application option (can't remember what it reads exactly) I think you can ask Eclipse + the Android SDK to help you create a key signature. If this isn't the case (again, can't remember)...are you comfy with the command line? The command line options to do this is also easy but does make non-techies nervous. Lastly... Google's your friend: See this if you havn't already: http://developer.android.com/guide/publishing/app-signing.html

I am confortable with command line but I have had problems with the keytool aspect of it, if I had specifc instructions I could inout it no problem.

I use Eclipse Helios sdk 3.6.2. When I want to publish I set debuggable in the xml manifest to false, then go to File>Export. An export wizard guides you through creating a keystore, then a specific key - you make a folder for the keystore, I guess the keys live inside it. The export wizard is using the keytool and other utilities for you, so you don't have to do it yourself in DOS [or however one had to do it before the export wizard was added to eclipse - dunno, before my time]. At the end of the export wizard you tell it where you want the .apk file to be - I think it uses jarsigner to sign it for you - then performs zipalign for you - more tasks automated by the export feature [from what I read anyway]. I uploaded the .apk along with the graphic assets to google android marketplace and presto - published. I'd be hesitant to post an answer to you given my lack of expertise in all this, but the fact is my app published successfully and downloads from the marketplace with no trouble, so...it works for me.

@Jaclyn - Great post, you rock! One more thing: You can easily 'park' the .APK file on your website somewhere to avoid the Market all together. Set you device to 'allow non-market applications' then point it's native browser to the location on your site. Like: http://www.mysite.com/myapp.apk The device will install it. This is a great way to debug / design / etc. before publishing (or paying) to Market.

Another noob here :) I did it this way: Right click on your app name, near the top right on the eclipse screen. You'll see a drop down list. Selected android tools > export signed application package. Your app name will appear, click 'next'. Select -create a new keystore-, browse to somewhere you'll remember (I have one main folder per app so i just make a new subfolder) and then type in a password. Then continue on, always choosing to make new files/folders given the option. Your goal is to make a new -appname.apk- file and save it on a folder on your PC you'll be able to find later ;) Should work out ok, let us know how it goes. Elaine.

Thank you Jaclyn. You solved the problem for me. :)