Documentation

 

Introduction

This Documentation describes starting android development from scratch. If your pc is already set up for android development, you can skip Paragraph 2 and 3.

Content:

1.       Generating

2.       Installing JRE

-Downloading & installing

-Adding to path

3.       Installing ADT bundle

4.       Preparing & customizing

-Changing assets

-Adding the libraries

-Importing

-Error solving

5.       Compiling

6.       Publishing

1. Generating

The first step is generating your custom template. This is the easiest step since your only have to fill in a form.

First, go to the portal and open your app (or create an new app).

The data you will have to enter:

 

 

The things you can add (extra's):

 

 

Detailed information about how to set up these "extra's" are below the form in a dropdown on the same tab.

After you have generated your application, return to this documentation for the next step.

 

After you have generated you template, extract your sherdle-template.zip file to a folder on your desktop (example, Desktop/MyApp), note that this is only temporary.

 

2. Installing JRE

In this step we are going to install the java runtime environment.

 

First, visit the java website:

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7-downloads-1880260.html

 

Now scroll down till you see this window, accept the license agreement and download the version for your PC.

Download window

 

Follow the onscreen installation instructions, make sure that you install everything except the demos and samples.

 

http://screenshots.en.sftcdn.net/en/scrn/3332000/3332879/java-8-jdk-07-700x533.png

Installation options

 

After java has successfully been installed, we have to add java to our path (if you are a Mac user, skip this).

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y39XuxeFYU4/TxU-cT1ocuI/AAAAAAAAAIY/suKA6ccudeE/s400/SetPath_05.png

Open path

 

Windows 7

1.     Select Computer from the Start menu

2.     Choose System Properties from the context menu

3.     Click Advanced system settings > Advanced tab

4.     Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it, if you do not have the PATH variable, you can add it.

5.     Continue to step 6

 

Windows XP

1.     Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced

2.     Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it, if you do not have the PATH variable, you can add it.

3.     Continue to step 6

 

Windows Vista

1.     Right click My Computer icon

2.     Choose Properties from the context menu

3.     Click Advanced tab (Advanced system settings link in Vista)

4.     Find PATH and click on it, if you do not have the PATH variable, you can add it.

5.     Continue to step 6

 

Windows (all)

6.     Determine what you path to the java bin directory is, this will probably be something like c:\program files\java\jdk1.7.xxx\bin

It’s important you have the precise path.

7.     Assuming there is already text in the variable value box, type a ; followed by your path, no spaces.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eq8GLimfTyE/TxU-W3meYlI/AAAAAAAAAIM/zIy9kxVrE40/s400/SetPath_06.png

The path window

 

Linux

Follow the instructions on the Java website: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/path.xml

 

3. Installing ADT bundle

Go to http://downloads.puresoftware.org/files/android/adt-bundle/

 

1.     Download the bundle, and unzip it to a good location (example: My documents/development).

2.     Now open the “Eclipse” folder inside the unzip location (in the example: development), and run eclipse.exe (or similar on linux/mac)

3.     After Eclipse has been loaded, go to window à Android SDK manager.

4.     Check the checkbox next to Android 4.4 (or up), Tools and Extras (Google Play Services) and install the packages.

 

SDK manager (Image Outdated)

4. Preparing and Customizing

Now we are done for importing our android project, adding our assets (icons and splash screen) and we are ready to compile to a real app.

Note: if you have already changed your assets, you only have to import.

Changing the assets

Note: You don’t need this step if you already have followed the steps in the “Appearance” tab of your control panel.

1.       First, go to the go to the Portal à your app à Appearance.

2.       Follow the instruction carefully.

 

Adding Google Play Services (required)

1.   Go to File > Import > Android / Existing Android Code into Workspace > Next

2.   Click Browse, Android browse to the location of the Android SDK (or where you Extracted the ADT bundle) /extras/google/google_play_services/ and Confirm.

3.   Make sure the Project is checked and click finish.

4.   Now right click the google_play_services project > properties > android and check Is Library, now click Ok.

 

Importing

1.       Open eclipse and go to file à import

2.       Choose: general à existing project into workspace and click Next.

3.       Now choose, select root directory à browse and browse to the place where you extracted you template (step 1).

4.       Click select all (there should be one thing selected now, since you only import one thing).

5.       Check the “copy project into workspace” checkbox.

6.       Click finish.

7.      Now right click the SourceBaker Template project > properties > android > Add and select google_play_services. Click Ok, Click Ok again.

Error solving

Note: You don’t need this step if you do not have any errors (project with error looks like: ).

1.       Make sure your project is selected and go to project à clean, select your project and click clean.

2.       Right click your project à properties à Java compiler à Java compliance level and change it to 1.7

3.       Right click your project à Android tools à Fix project properties

4.       Right click your project à properties à Libraries à add external jar’s Browse to the extracted template folder on your desktop à app à libs and select all the files inside it (ca. 4). You might need to do step 1 again after you have did this.

5.       Google the errors that you are getting (errors window).

6.       Get help on our FAQ.

7.       Contact us.

5. Compiling

In this step we are going to create an apk, and you can run it on your phone!

1.       Right click your project à export

2.       Select android application and click next

3.       Follow the onscreen instructions to create a keystore, this is only required once. Save the keystore on a safe place, otherwise you won’t be able to update your app.

4.       Export the android application to a location (desktop for example).

You can now put this file: Xxx.apk on your phone, you will be prompted to check the unknown sources checkbox if you have not checked it already, you users won’t have to do this.

6. Publishing

In this step we are going to publish your app to the Google Play store.

What you will need:

1.       A valid Google account.

2.       25$ (one time, afterwards you can submit unlimited apps).

3.       A credit card.

4.       Some screenshots.

Browse to: https://play.google.com/apps/publish and follow the onscreen instructions.

Click the +Add a new app button, enter your apps name, and upload your .apk file.

Take your time to open all the tabs: APK, Store Listing, Pricing and Distribution, etc.

And fill in at least all the required items.