Javascript and printing - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

At my job we are looking to replace netbooks with android tablets because we just cant get netbooks with 4g service for verizon anymore. One of the features that I need to test is a webpage our remote people go to and run a javascript that checks for new pdf's in our system every 15 minutes as long as the page is open. The page will load and the timer will run but nothing happens other than that. How could I make this print to file or share to printer? I am by no means a developer and just thought someone here may be able to give some input. Thanks

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[Q] Interfacing with a java application

I'm developing a touch screen based system for controlling electronic music. As part of the development, we'll be building our own touch screen, but that's not going to be ready for some time. In the mean time, I need to start writing the software (which will be done in java), and I'm going to need a touch screen to use for testing.
So, I am NOT trying to write an application for the Galaxy Tab. I am writing a application that runs on the my desktop, and I'd like it to be able to get touch information from the Galaxy, in any way practical. I've looked into using an iPad for this, but it looks to be too much of a pain to be worth it. All I need is a way of my java application receiving the list of co-ordinates of touches from the tab, in real time. I don't need any higher level gesture interpretation (as I'll have to do that on my end for the final system anyway), just all the touch co-ordinates. Does anyone have a suggestion on the best way to go about this? Is there something in existence already to accomplish this easily, or is there any kind of java library I can use to make calls to a connected tab from my application? I've been googling around, but haven't found any particularly useful information on the subject, as the tab is chiefly meant to be a stand-alone item, not a pc peripheral. Any tips on where I might start looking would be a huge help. Thanks!
-cullam
cullambl said:
I'm developing a touch screen based system for controlling electronic music. As part of the development, we'll be building our own touch screen, but that's not going to be ready for some time. In the mean time, I need to start writing the software (which will be done in java), and I'm going to need a touch screen to use for testing.
So, I am NOT trying to write an application for the Galaxy Tab. I am writing a application that runs on the my desktop, and I'd like it to be able to get touch information from the Galaxy, in any way practical. I've looked into using an iPad for this, but it looks to be too much of a pain to be worth it. All I need is a way of my java application receiving the list of co-ordinates of touches from the tab, in real time. I don't need any higher level gesture interpretation (as I'll have to do that on my end for the final system anyway), just all the touch co-ordinates. Does anyone have a suggestion on the best way to go about this? Is there something in existence already to accomplish this easily, or is there any kind of java library I can use to make calls to a connected tab from my application? I've been googling around, but haven't found any particularly useful information on the subject, as the tab is chiefly meant to be a stand-alone item, not a pc peripheral. Any tips on where I might start looking would be a huge help. Thanks!
-cullam
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, well I'm going to try and be brief and not turn this into an Android programming essay so here goes.
You have a couple of different routes you can take.
1. If you use eclipse for development and you hook up your tablet, you can watch the log and see that it prints useful information constantly, basically debug output that tells you whats going on in the background. If you just want to look at it, you can probably see it there.
2. This would be my choice, but I'm a programmer so I love a new adventure. I would recommend you just write a quick app for your tablet that pumps out the location of a touch whenever you touch the screen. If you are familiar with sockets and such, you can just write a simple server Java app that collects packets of data from your tablet, and just have the tablet send out a multicast packet containing the coordinates you touch every time you touch the screen.
There are probably some other ways, but if you are already going to be doing the bulk of the project in Java, you aren't looking at a difficult learning curve to write a basic little android app.
Thanks! I'll definitely try the eclipse trick. And yeah, writing an app on the tab is probably going to be necessary, but MUCH easier than having to learn a new language, and get an official license to do one on the iPad. The thing I'm really unsure about is the available communication methods for getting data back and forth between them. I was hoping there might be some sort of java api to get calls going through the usb connection. So I'll guess I'll see what the Eclipse hook up shows me.
cullambl said:
Thanks! I'll definitely try the eclipse trick. And yeah, writing an app on the tab is probably going to be necessary, but MUCH easier than having to learn a new language, and get an official license to do one on the iPad. The thing I'm really unsure about is the available communication methods for getting data back and forth between them. I was hoping there might be some sort of java api to get calls going through the usb connection. So I'll guess I'll see what the Eclipse hook up shows me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
apple stuff is crap anyways, leave them to their pretentious commercials and closed minded development.
as far as the android sdk, I think it will take you a lot less time to just use network communications. google socket client/server java tutorials and you should be set to go in about 2 hours. I have implemented it, its all straight forward, and imho probably an easier app to write that something that pumps out of the usb port
Awesome, thanks

Android + Harmony Link

Im sure this has come up before but here goes... Logitech has a Harmony LInk which is, for lack of a better description, pretty bad-ass... The software for the Android Phones (2.2x+) is mediocre at best. Also the Link does not support 3.0+ for Tablets yet...
Since the technology is THERE can we write custom app software to interface w/ this thing instead of waiting for Logitech to come out with something??
Just reviving this as I'm interested as well. I can develop the app, but I was wondering if anyone is working on it. I'm not a wiz at the embedded OS stuff so if there's a reverse engineered os for the Harmony Link or a way to iptables forward myharmony.com to a local custom server that improves it I'm all for it.
Personally I'm fine with the app functions. I'd just want to rewrite it so that A) it remembers my link so that it's not having to reconnect all the time and B) Holoizing it.
Seriously, the wife asks me to mute the tv and it takes a good 15 seconds for the app to connect. I'd like to turn it into a service that always stays connected with an exit button.
Logitech Harmony Link Mods
I received my Harmony Link Thursday and downloaded the app, I think it's 1.6.5 now.
It works fine on Kit Kat and 4.0. I'm running it on two tablets and my Nexus 4.
I wasn't happy with the GUI so I decompiled it and I've been improving it. My main issue is the small number of icons on each page. The favorite channel page is three across by four down. Mine now shoes five across, six is a bit crowded and who has more than 24 favorites anyway.
I'm trying to increase the button count on the remote page since it's also 3x4, NOT enough buttons for me. I haven't figure out where the program stores this layout yet, but I'm working on it.
I can share the apk file if anyone needs it, send me a PM.

[Q] Android printing

Hi all,
I know there is a lot out there regarding ways to print from android devices (Cloud Print, HP reprint, etc), but I am running into a slightly different problem, and I am sure I am not alone.
Fairly often, I am on a webpage, and after completing an order form or something, I end up with a secure (HTTPS) confirmation page. Unless I thought about it ahead of time and used the cloud print web browser, the is absolutely no way to print these forms. Sharing the page to cloud print will only take me back to the login page since the confirmation page was secure.
Am I missing something here? I can't be the only one needing this functionality... the frustrating thing is that my wife can even do this on her iPad with ePrint. And with surface, web pages can be converted to PDF right in Internet Explorer for printing later. Android seems to be the only platform with this huge limitation.
I really don't want to have to return my Nexus 10 and get a Surface, buy it may have to be a consideration.......
Thanks for the help!
Am I the only one with this need??

Torque Pro OBD app and data logging

So i got myself an OBD bluetooth scanner and the Torque app...bloody brilliant.
So much information!
anyway, i cant seem to get it to upload data logs to the web viewer?
i have my account created and setup correctly but nothing in the web viewer when i log in.
Does anyone use the app and have any ideas on how to get this to work?
Secondary i have e-mailed myself some data logs and cant get them to open properly?
I cant seem to get Track Recorder to work with Torque Sync software, it stucks at Searching for Torque
Valiceemo said:
So i got myself an OBD bluetooth scanner and the Torque app...bloody brilliant.
So much information!
anyway, i cant seem to get it to upload data logs to the web viewer?
i have my account created and setup correctly but nothing in the web viewer when i log in.
Does anyone use the app and have any ideas on how to get this to work?
Secondary i have e-mailed myself some data logs and cant get them to open properly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I imagine the particular posters have found answers to their problems seeing as this thread
dates from 2014 but I thought it might be worthwhile answering all the same as I ran in to the same niggles when I began using this app so if anyone searching these issues subsequently may find some worth from my reply.
First of all as a far as experience and knowledge is concerned. Firstly with cars;fixing,modifying, engine management tuning, obd2, diagnostics. Basically my auto knowledge is extremely wide and extensive from approx 35 years of obsession and getting stuck in an the deep end whereas my knowledge and experience of computers and smart phone tech is on much, much shakier ground
In fact, for those of my vintage. i.e late 30s,early 40s remember when we were kids. and programmable VCRs were the height of cutting edga technology. Well I'm like the way our parents and grand parents were then. i.e pretty much baffled by it and even following the instructions it was hit and miss whether you actually managed to record that film rhat was on at 4am lol.
So for the second issue brought up by the OP it doesn't matter whether you email yourself the log file or not (I found the few times i tried it that the file wouldn't attach and when it did the problem was the same anyway) you need Microsoft Office or any other type of office suite to view the files. On the pc i have Microsoft office but had to download an app to my phone to view. csv files. Again an office suite that not only displays. csv files but puts them into a spreadsheet format is required.
As for the first issue it's preferable in every way to view the site. on a pc because on the phone display the actual box to sign into is off screen and takes a little bit of zooming out and seaching to find, the same goes after you have signed in when another box appears with a list of the logs files recorded and the tab to choose it. This is where my lack of fundamental computer/web knowledge comes in. I can't tell you why it doesn't sit nicely inti an easily accessible mobile format but it doesn't. Once you've found the first sign in box/pop up it becomes simple, annoying but simple.
As for there being nothing after signing into the webview site successfully all I can assume is either you've no log files to view which you should have if it's all been set up correctly, including choosing which PIDs to send to logfile or the pop up/window where you click on your logfiles is right off screen and has to be looked for. Of course you don't get that problem if accessed using your desktop.

Firefox OS as an embedded email reader?

Greetings,
At my office, we rotate after-hours email monitoring but some of the older guys are apprehensive about getting cell phones, so keeping up on-the-go can be difficult. I am wondering about buying a ZTE Open off of ebay and getting a pay/mb data plan and we can pass that around as a dedicated email reader.
Up to that point, there is nothing to worry about, but what I am thinking of playing around with is cutting the OS down to only the email app and settings. I'd like to have it boot directly to email with settings available from the pull-down menu, if possible. I mainly want to keep it simple enough for cellular-phobic people and also take away the ability to browse the web and run up my cellphone bill.
I'm not super fluent in the in's and out's of FXOS beyond the app level, but I'm interested poking around, I'm just looking to gauge the difficulty. There are cheaper android devices that I could try with as well, but I'd much rather hack around in HTML/JS than Java. That being said, I have the option of just customizing the Andriod UI to remove everything except the mail app, so if tearing down the Firefox UI would be a lot of work, I'll just do that.
I have a Flame that I can run tests on before spending any money, but I appreciate your opinions before a throw away a bunch of time that could be used on something useful.
John
That's super doable and not very difficult I think! Only with one (obvious?) condition: you must have full root access to your device. ZTE gives a rooting tool, so if you stick with the Open C (or the flame) you should be good to go. Don't choose a Kliff for example, as they are not rootable yet.
First of all, stripping all of gaia (the top layer of firefox OS, containing all the UI) has already been done by JanOS (for IoT device), so you can get inspiration from them. They reduced it to only one js file and a folder, where you can put your own js that gets executed at startup. Your use case is a bit more complex though: you still want to access settings, and be able to go back to email when needed. Basically, you need the email app to replace the homescreen right?
Creating alternate homescreen is a possibility that firefox os gives you, see https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Apps/Build/Manifest#role
You can try adding the role "homescreen" to the email app, flash your device, change the homescreen in the settings and see what happens!
NB: when you change the manifest of an internal apps, you might need to rehash it by downloading https://github.com/julienw/config-files/blob/master/addpref and execute
Code:
./addpref rehash-manifest
while your device is connected (and usb debugging is on).
You might need to add handler in the email for the home button to work correctly, in a similar fashion as in verticalhome (which is the name of the folder containing the homescreen app, not "homescreen").
Good luck! Don't hesitate to ping me if you need any help.
---------- Post added at 11:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 AM ----------
Dude I just tried this and it's working like a charm. The thing that took me the most time was the configuration of the email account

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