How to Push Information to My App - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

We've had some people develop and application for us. For now, our application uses static data that requires a manual update each time this data changes. Our plan in the future is to have this data updated automatically the instant this new data is available.
For now, is there a way like through some online cloud that I can link the application to? So, that way when I put the data online in this service thing, the application whenever it has a data connection or Wi-Fi pulls the new data?
For the future, what's the best way to set up this automated updates?

You could just host the update on the server u run the app from ...
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

Right, what if buying a physical server was really not a preferred option at this point, what else could be done?

You could add the Dropbox SDK or Amazon S3 SDK to your project.
For example with Dropbox you could create a folder for your account dedicated towards this application. With the correct code you can then have the application download / synchronize the files in this project folder with your device.
That may be the easiest solution if you don't want to get down and dirty with your own server.

nraboy said:
You could add the Dropbox SDK or Amazon S3 SDK to your project.
For example with Dropbox you could create a folder for your account dedicated towards this application. With the correct code you can then have the application download / synchronize the files in this project folder with your device.
That may be the easiest solution if you don't want to get down and dirty with your own server.
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Okay... Thank you. This helps.

In response to the message you sent me.
Yes you can use Excel files. You can use whatever you'd like, but you just have to worry about how you plan to use the data when you receive it.
For example, maybe you've got an Excel file that has 10 rows of data initially and you want to update it to a newer version that has 20 rows of data. Using one of these cloud services SDK you would be able to update this file on your device. This is not the most efficient way to do business, but it is certainly an option.
The cloud SDK approach would be a better solution if for example you wanted to add levels to a game without forcing the user to upload through the marketplace. If you are worried about updating information data you may want to write some sort of script that will transfer information from an SQL database online to a SQLite database on your phone.
Both the SDK options and SQL options are for the most part compatible with all the types of devices so if you plan to make an iOS or RIM application it should be possible.
I hope this helps.

Related

[Q] Can app inventor apps write or read text to /from sd card?

I have been writing an app with app inventor, for my own use but I think it could be of use to others. It is very simple, you type in a cosmetic or a food ingredient name and it tells you all about it (for example if the ingredient has any negative health effects or contraindications).
Currently the app takes an input and essentially does an IF the user typed in "this text" then show them "this text" but that means a lot of IF THEN commands.
I only ever tried BASIC programming and I see that app inventor seems to have no equivalent to a file or write command whereby I could store the database of ingredients on the sd card and search that for information to display to the user.
As it stands the app is nearly five megabytes in size already due to having to store its data internally within the program, is there a way a newb like me could use app inventor to simply search from and display from a text file?
Dave
why don't you use a database (TinyDB) instead of all those IF.
Try looking at this tutorial
Code:
http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/learn/tutorials/textgroup2/textgroup2.html
Thank you
I looked into tinydb, I understood it had a limited entry limit and didn't see the page you linked to when searching before so will study that as it looks like what I may need.
I have one question though, I am a newb so excuse me if this is obvious.
I am writing the app using the emulator to test it. As I understand it the tinydb database is only accessible by the app that creates it and so my app will need a routine in it where I can manually enter the data, but then surely each time I test run it I shall have to re enter all that data as apparently the emulator would wipe the database on each re run?
If tinydb cannot store data unless entered from within the program accessing it doesn't that also mean that when packaged the database would be empty until someone typed in data which would defeat the object of it being a searchable database of pre stored data?
Dave
EDIT: According to google developers at googles forum "TinyDB is persistent ONLY when you've packaged and downloaded your app.
When you are developing with the phone connected, and you quit the appinventors app -- or disconnect the phone and restart -- the phone treats that as a completely new application. " which means that the only way to get my data into tinydb file is enter it when packaged and on my phone. But then every user who installed it would have an empty database, so seems canonly use those if then statements after all
I've never used app inventor, so I'm not talking from experience here, but couldn't you package an XML file with the data in it? That way, future updates to the data could simply include an enhance XML file.
Like I said - I don't know app inventor. It's just a thought.
Thanks to the replies here, along with some help and examples at the google groups coffee shop forum, I found the information I need that should enable me to set up a custom tinywebdb database and on first run of the app populate this data from there into a local tinydb database for subsequent use
Dave
If you have a link, Dave, then share it. I need some info on the tinydb too.
I'm in the same boat hear, do you happen to still have a link for any info you obtained on this Dave?
This explains everything:
http://appinventorapi.com/program-an-api-python/

[Q] How to configure and deploy a large scale android installation (2.3.3.)

Hi,
I am about to assist in deploying a large amount of android device. The requirement is, that the devices (700+) need to be charged, configured and provisioned with the relevant applications for the end-users before delivery.
Device info:
Android 2.3.3
Samsung Galaxy SII
This is not windows mobile, so I am unsure if I can code/design a solution to avoid this enormous manual task.
Is it possible to code something for an sd-card that will be automatically triggered on insertion (as on WM)? This would then provision the device etc.
Is it possible to bypass the initial prompts - To my knowledge you will be prompted for entering the info for your google accounts?
If above is not possible, do I then need to create 700+ google accounts?
Hope someone can help
Brgds
It can also be via an active sync (ish) connection using a computer du provision the device?
A suggestion I received from another forum, was that I could: Make an update.zip for apps .Copy on SD card .Boot in recovery . Apply update.zip.
Would this be a feasible way to go?
odaugaard said:
A suggestion I received from another forum, was that I could: Make an update.zip for apps .Copy on SD card .Boot in recovery . Apply update.zip.
Would this be a feasible way to go?
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We just deployed 100 EVO 4G's prior to the deployment we sent a mass email requesting the users create their own Google account and email us the info so we could setup their new phone with email and corporate email access. It took awhile to setup 100 android devices but it went smooth.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
You can use SureMDM from 42Gears for mass provisioning, application deployment and password policy enforcement on Android devices, including smartphones and tablets.
It does not require Google accounts. Install the agent directly on the devices and then use the web-based console to perform all of the above actions from one place. For e.g. you can push an apk on hundreds of devices with a single click.
On non-rooted phones installation of .apks will prompt the user to continue the action.
Free trial is available on the website 42Gears dot com
Similar situation here and am fielding any suggestions or ideas if things have changed in the last several months regarding deployment.
Scenerio:
Deploying approx 200 Asus Transformers in an educational setting
Wish List:
Setup all units using the same Google account, populate static name on the lockscreen, install 3 specific apps on each and the ability to identify each one individually on the market for individual app install by an "administrator".
Currently we are doing each unit manually and then having to wait a few minutes for the Market to populate the new unit and then changing the nickname to the bldg/room number. If we don't wait for the Market to refresh for the new device they will all show as Asus Transformer TF101 and obviously we will not know which device to send specific apps to when they are requested.
There just has to be a better way! I checked out SureMDM and it has a lot of features that we really don't need and it doesn't appear to accomplish what we do need.
Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!
I know this is an old thread, but what about rooting and building a custom ROM for each unique device to let it do what you want? I'm thinking of doing something similar at the moment.
stephendt0 said:
I know this is an old thread, but what about rooting and building a custom ROM for each unique device to let it do what you want? I'm thinking of doing something similar at the moment.
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Probably would work although Google now has a way to streamline deployment:
unfortunately I cannot post the direct link but goto developer dot android dot com/edu

[Q] Never lose my stuff - backing up app data

Hello,
According to the Android Design Principles
Never lose my stuff
Save what people took time to create and let them access it from anywhere. Remember settings, personal touches, and creations across phones, tablets, and computers. It makes upgrading the easiest thing in the world.
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which I think is great. The app I'm designing involves storing photos and data about them. Is there a good way to back this up? I could sync with a webservice I could write/host, but then I'm opening myself up to potentially large bandwidth/storage charges.
I considered using drop box or something, but that would require my non tech savvy users to sign up. Is there any easy way to integrate the google cloud service (as my users will of course have a google account)? What do people normally do when they want to meet this design principle?
Many thanks
Russ_T said:
Hello,
According to the Android Design Principles
which I think is great. The app I'm designing involves storing photos and data about them. Is there a good way to back this up? I could sync with a webservice I could write/host, but then I'm opening myself up to potentially large bandwidth/storage charges.
I considered using drop box or something, but that would require my non tech savvy users to sign up. Is there any easy way to integrate the google cloud service (as my users will of course have a google account)? What do people normally do when they want to meet this design principle?
Many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe there is an api for backing up user data to Google drive and since users will have a Google account they automatically have Google drive (Your app will have to request permissions to access users Google account I believe). This would be the easiest way to implement things as the drive api is a native part of Android, and you don't have to worry about bandwidth and hosting storage. In the past people have hosted there own storage for users to used and then usually tie this to an account users have to create. Overall, like I said I'd look into using the Google drive api.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
shimp208 said:
I believe there is an api for backing up user data to Google drive and since users will have a Google account they automatically have Google drive (Your app will have to request permissions to access users Google account I believe). This would be the easiest way to implement things as the drive api is a native part of Android, and you don't have to worry about bandwidth and hosting storage. In the past people have hosted there own storage for users to used and then usually tie this to an account users have to create. Overall, like I said I'd look into using the Google drive api.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
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Thanks very much. A bit of an oversight on my part so I'll have a look through the API and see what it offers.
I do intend to charge a subscription for my app/service ultimately, but I think I need to make storage space the users problem to save myself sleepless nights.
I'll investigate and post back here what I find. If anyone can give me a link to an article on this I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
Russ_T said:
Thanks very much. A bit of an oversight on my part so I'll have a look through the API and see what it offers.
I do intend to charge a subscription for my app/service ultimately, but I think I need to make storage space the users problem to save myself sleepless nights.
I'll investigate and post back here what I find. If anyone can give me a link to an article on this I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
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Here is the official Google documentation on using the Google Drive Api:
https://developers.google.com/drive/
Check out this article on network storage and android:
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/data/data-storage.html#netw
As well as this article on using the backup api and cloud sync:
http://developer.android.com/training/cloudsync/index.html
Also since you talked about eventually charging a subscription fee here is the official android developer documentation on that as well:
http://developer.android.com/guide/google/play/billing/billing_subscriptions.html
Wonderful, thank you very much indeed! I will give those a good read over when I get chance and let you know how I get on. It seems this could definitely be the answer, saving me money concerns and allowing my app to be multi user and backed up.
What I need to do is get my head around how I will use the cloud storage to allow my app to be multi user. Potentially I can make my database file based, and sync between two devices that way. My only trouble is when both devices are editing the same file / working on the same thing. I want the app to work offline, as I don't want connection issues to affect its usage.
Hmmm, I'll give it some thought.
Thanks again!

[Q] Application Development Help

Hi
I'm new to android dev and I'm trying to make an application for internal use among people in the company and partners. Its a very simple app, and I think I can cover most of the coding, but what I can't is connection to a remote mysql database. Its used to verify login credentials and edit certain columns (without it, app is useless).
From what I understand, its suppose to work like this: SQL > PHP > APP where the app pulls info from a php script located on the remote server. My issue with this is Java, which I'm very new to. I'm looking for someone to guide me through making that first bridge (I tend to make more, where I can pull sql data from app to show some stats or whatever)
Thank you
Loldawg said:
Hi
I'm new to android dev and I'm trying to make an application for internal use among people in the company and partners. Its a very simple app, and I think I can cover most of the coding, but what I can't is connection to a remote mysql database. Its used to verify login credentials and edit certain columns (without it, app is useless).
From what I understand, its suppose to work like this: SQL > PHP > APP where the app pulls info from a php script located on the remote server. My issue with this is Java, which I'm very new to. I'm looking for someone to guide me through making that first bridge (I tend to make more, where I can pull sql data from app to show some stats or whatever)
Thank you
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If you're into web development and performance is not an issue, then you can try the webview instead of coding natively. At that time, you'll be using more html, javascript, jquery in which you may be more familiar with.
wcypierre said:
If you're into web development and performance is not an issue, then you can try the webview instead of coding natively. At that time, you'll be using more html, javascript, jquery in which you may be more familiar with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, thank for the swift reply =) I thought about it, but I'd like to make it right the first time. It would be nice to make the data available so I can do whatever with it. I did find a tutorial including examples and code on how to connect to sql and pull information, I'm just having a hard time actually implementing it into eclipse.. No idea where to type it in and stuff lol

Serve http URI locally

I have an idea to integrate the S-Note app with the rest of my Note 3 (Android 5.0 rooted) file system using its undocumented feature of auto-converting URL-like text into clickable links. In a nutshell, I want to click such a link (it recognizes http:// and ftp://) pointing to a local file on my device and have that file displayed in one of the apps supporting it. The obvious way to do that is installing a local http server.
That worked to some extent as expected. However, the webserver app I've found on the Play is in java, have a lot of advanced features I don't need, and thus consuming too much of resources to keep online 24/7...
My question is: what would be the best modern way to achieve what I want? E.g. a small native code single threaded daemon I can autostart on the system's restart to serve my files?
I saw the Native Android Web Server 1.1 but it's not working anymore (see that thread for details).

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