Android Rebranding Support

As I posted in the iPhone Mobile App, I wanted to share with everyone the 'basics' to rebranding the Android mobile app too. This is for rebranding the default app, and not adding additional modules.

Tools/Software Needed:

You can find this information HERE

To replace the icons with your own: (Just use the same names)

All images reside in the 'res' directory. Make sure that if you change the ones in the drawable folder (most main images), that you change the ones in the -hdpi, -ldpi, and -hxdpi folders as well.

Files that you need to edit:

- AndroidManifest.xml (Edit the code in RED to reflect your own app name)

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
      package="com.boonex.oo"   <-- This should reflect your own unique name ex. com.mysite.packagename
      android:versionCode="150"  <-- version  code
      android:versionName="1.5"> <-- version name

- res/values/strings.xml (lines 2-22)

<resources>       
    <string name="app_name">OO</string>
    <string name="title">OO app for Dolphin</string>
    <string name="error">Error</string>
    <string name="close">Close</string>
    <string name="access_denied">Access denied</string>   
    <string name="loading">Working...</string>
    <string name="exception">Exception</string>
    <string name="x_yo">%s y/o</string>
    <!-- <string name="x_yo_gender">%s y/o %s</string> -->
    <string name="about_text">OO for Android  v.1.5

\n\nOO is a mobile app for members
of websites powered by Dolphin
Smart Community Builder.

\n\nOO and Dolphin are products of
BoonEx. Go to <a href="http://www.boonex.com/">www.boonex.com</a>
to download Dolphin and create
your own social networking or
online dating website.</string>

Line 28

<string name="title_about">About OO app</string>

You can comment out Line 60 and 61 if you have the site locked to your domain only.

- src/com/boonex/oo/main.java (line 22 and 24)

private static final String TAG = "OO Main";
   
public static final String LOCK_TO_SITE=null; // specify site you want to lock to, for example: "mysite.com/dolphin" (I had to use www with mine)

- res/values/styles.xml

You can edit this file to change the appearance of your mobile app

* I chose to rename all instances of the package to reflect my own mobile name such as com.mysite.appname. I did this within the Android SDK. Since I am posting this from work, I will update this with the exact steps I took if anyone wants to know. Basically it changes all instances of com.boonex.oo to the package name I wanted.

Hope this helps

Hi,

You said:

* I chose to rename all instances of the package to reflect my own mobile name such as com.mysite.appname. I did this within the Android SDK. Since I am posting this from work, I will update this with the exact steps I took if anyone wants to know. Basically it changes all instances of com.boonex.oo to the package name I wanted.

Please can you send me the details.

Thanks Glenn

Does anyone know a step by step to repackage the app to an apk file in eclispe?

From downloading the zip file form boonex, unziping, to how to open the folders into eclipse?

I do not think anyone has made a 'step-by-step' yet. But you can find some help here:

http://developer.android.com/guide/publishing/publishing_overview.html

http://developer.android.com/guide/publishing/preparing.html

Okay be very careful to download and INSTALL eclipse CLASSIC not the JDR

Thanks for your post on rebranding the android app. Would you be able to tell me the correct steps to rename the bundle id to reflect my new app name? I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

I have not messed with the mobile apps for well over a year so I am not sure the exact steps I took, what has changed, and what hasn't. I will be looking back into them soon so hopefully I will be able to answer your questions better.

 For the Android app (this discussion) that would be no. I am using my windows PC. For the iPhone app, I am using a Mac with XCode yes. I don't know about any Youtube videos. I prefer to jump right in head first. I learn best that way :)

 sorry i just realized it was android you were talking about, and yes agree, it may seem complicated but eventually it becomes easy.

Now that I am again messing with the newest version of Mobile Apps (1.8.5), maybe I can help answer some support questions now.

I will start with answering from this thread: http://www.boonex.com/forums/topic/a-little-help-to-rebrand-after-editing-files.htm

@Tony7 - The apk is compiled automatically as you build. http://developer.android.com/tools/building/index.html

"If you are developing in Eclipse, the ADT plugin incrementally builds your project as you make changes to the source code. Eclipse outputs an .apk file automatically to the bin folder of the project, so you do not have to do anything extra to generate the .apk."

SDK Manager - This is used to download updates to your Android SDK. For example, I am building my Android app based around Android 4.0. So I needed to place a check mark in that box and download it. Of course you can install whatever version you want of Android. See more here: http://developer.android.com/tools/help/sdk-manager.html

I need re-branding app for dummies, 

1- download the app from my license and unzip

2- download the  Android SDK bunddle and unzip

3- run SDK manager

4- open eclipse?

5- file-import?

By request, I have added a 'basic' tutorial in the Wiki on how to rebrand the Android mobile app. You can find it here:

http://www.boonex.com/trac/dolphin/wiki/AndroidRebrand

Until I can figure out how to get this on the Wiki Start Page, I will just post this here:

wanted to thank Zarcon for helping me with rebranding this app because I was clueless and getting stuck. now the I know how to successfully publish I can do some customization and do an update.

thanks Zarcon I appreciate your help along with other who have helped with other topics.

now time to continue on the iPhone lol

 in changing the images, is it done in the folder or in the eclipse?

It doesn't matter really. I choose to do it by the folder so that I can view the thumbnails better. This also allows me to see how just how many different sizes there are too. Plus, eclipse should be working off that directory so any changes made will be picked up.

For example, you may find the same image in sizes 32x32, 64x64, and 96x96 that all need to be changed. So to help with this, you need to start with your images at 256x256 (at least) and then resize it down to the needed sizes. P.S. I strongly suggest keeping the images named the same to avoid having to change all references within the code itself.

Thanks Zarcon. Could you please show me how to test my app and how to save it to .apk to be sent to google play. I am done with editing and inserting images.

I would be too difficult to give you a actual step-by-step, but I explained in a post above the basics of how to do this. You can also refer to here:

http://developer.android.com/tools/building/building-eclipse.html

there was a problem with the RUN CONFIGURATIONS. I don't see the AVD there. 

Can you or someone `do the app for me for a fee?

You can post a job request here: http://www.boonex.com/jobs/

I personally can not do it because I do not have the time to devote to it and do not want someone 'waiting' on me. Outside my full-time job, Zarconia, Moderator, and family life, my time is pretty limited :)

I appreciate your support Zarcon. I have been able to design the app. It is locked to my site but I want to skip the first page that opens. It opens with a Dolphin Logo with my site under it. Users may/may not be able to change the site, but I don't want that to appear. I want the login page to appear straight away. please help if you can. thanks.

 suggestion: why dont you change that to your site logo like I did...

i have changed the site logo but i don't want that as a start up page. users have to see my URL before they enter the site.

this is just an image that loads for half a second, u could just remove that image file.

sorry I really don't know how to remove that step completely or have not tried

Thanks Tony7. Can somebody else here help me remove the first page which shows my site image and URL? I want the username and Password screen to be the start up page.

Hello please where do i place the Facebook Secret Key and app id in the android soure-code.

Thanks

No where it mentions how to use the source code with Eclipse, where we import them and through them to packing to APK

 I would recommend to learn and understand Eclipse and Android API documentation first in order to do this. All developers who have rebranding service offers on the market have spent their sleepless nights in brainstorm and drank a lot of coffee with cigarettes learning how to do this. Teaching customers how to do it will make their rebranding offers irrelevant which makes no sense.

Links:

http://www.eclipse.org/documentation/

https://developer.android.com/guide/index.html

Good luck! :)

I too am fighting with this. Upon importing the Android files about 53 errors and 29 warnings were issued while trying to import alone. I must disagree a bit from above because I have never been pissed with this whole thing until right now. I am confident that I can eventually get to a fixing up my Android app.  However, for the amount of money I just spent for a Prime license, it is pathetic the lack of how to or instruction I am offered after spending $400 after a 20% discount plus a savings discount from a prior license.  All and all this could have been an $800 purchase. And for what? So nobody except Zarcon wants to provide help or a basic road map to doing this? Boonex should have had a step 1 A-Z guide on getting my apps a mere basic re-branding for submission.  But the best thing supplied is a guide by Zarcon (which I appreciate) but it's not his place to cover this. I just gave Boonex a large sum of money and am left with raw source code that does nothing but not work in Eclipse for some reason due to so many build errors. 

I fully support the developers who offer a service to modify and re-brand the mobile apps. But I disagree it does make sense for Boonex to tell us from start to finish with damn pictures and crayons if that is what it takes to utilize a product we just purchased. I should not have to turn around and give a developer another $200-$400 (that I don't have) just to do what Boonex should have done already for the first $400.  I know Boonex plans a mobile improvement soon but I'm sure its too far away still.  If I wanted a custom job outside of a basic re-branding then by all means I should hire a developer. Or if I am just incapable of following numbered instructions and screenshots with no experiences then a paid developer is still a good option. There should also be disclaimers that unless you have access to an Apple IOS to use Xcode then your iPhone app isn't happening unless you pay someone to do it for you.  Anything you purchase comes with step by step installation instructions (that work).  I just bought a license to maybe one day have a product. Unless of course An extra few hundred dollars that I couldn't use on something else shows up on my door step to have someone do it for me.  I feel like I've been lured and misguided by Boonex. I paid to feel that way, then people are saying if you pay me I can do what Boonex should have showed you how to do already with your purchase.

Sorry for the rant guys but it needs said. I've never went south like this before ever on here but when it hits your wallet it stings a bit.  I appreciate everyone's service. If I had the extra money I would put someone to work helping me pick up the loose ends. Zarcon you went more than out of your way posting a good little getting started guide. Thank you.

I know... I know... this is the beauty of the Open Source