How to launch another app in Android

[Bryan Buchanan]

I'm using native code which Chen helped with in a previous post, and it looks like it works. The developers of the API have provided an emulator which runs on an Android device, which simulates a payment terminal. When I call the Intent from my app it aborts as you can see in this screen shot from the Android monitor:

When I run one of the sample programs provided with the API toolkit, I notice straight after it starts, it also starts the emulator:

I'm wondering if I need to do this from my CN1 app, or should it automagically happen because the emulator services the intent name I'm wanting to use ?

Thanks.

[Shai Almog]

It looks like you are activating an activity that isn't there.

[Bryan Buchanan]

That's the problem, it should be there. These are the instructions for loading the simulator and sample apps for the payment terminal:

Please ensure your current working directory is set to the root of the Aevi SDK installation folder

1. To install the Aevi Simulator

    adb install android/simulator/Simulator-1.2.3.apk
   

2. To optionally install the Aevi Sample app:

    adb install samples/AeviSample-1.2.3.apk
   

3. To optionally install the BarPos Example app:

    adb install samples/BarPosExample-1.2.3.apk
   

4. To optionally install the To The Movies app:

    adb install samples/ToTheMovies-1.2.3.apk
   

5. To optionally install the To The Movies Classic app:

    adb install samples/ToTheMoviesClassic-1.2.3.apk
   

   
   
   I have done all this, and the BarPosExample, which is the dump I sent, runs and activates the simulator app when a payment intent is activated. As far as I can see, the app doesn't actually do anything to load the emulator, so I assume that the Android runtime knows somehow when intent "X" is called what app to launch. So, I'm wondering why this isn't being done from my app, when I'm calling the intent as per the example.

[Bryan Buchanan]

The manifest for the Bar sample app is:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

          package="com.aevi.barposexample"

          android:versionCode="13"

          android:versionName="1.2.3">

  <uses-sdk

      android:minSdkVersion="15"

      android:targetSdkVersion="15"/>

  <uses-permission android:name="com.aevi.permission.CONFIGURATION"/>

  <uses-permission android:name="com.aevi.permission.PAYMENT_REQUEST"/>

  <application

      android:name="BarPosApplication"

      android:icon="@drawable/wincor_icon"

      android:label="@string/app_name"

      android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

    <activity

        android:name=".TableSelectionActivity"

        android:label="@string/app_name"

        android:theme="@android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen">

      <intent-filter>

        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>

        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>

      </intent-filter>

    </activity>

    <activity

        android:name=".ItemSelectionActivity"

        android:theme="@android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen"

        />

    <activity

        android:name=".PaymentActivity"

        android:theme="@android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen"

        />

  </application>

  <meta-data

      android:name="application-type"

      android:value="payment"/>

</manifest>

My properties file has this line:

codename1.android.xpermissions=<uses-permission android\:name\="com.aevi.permission.CONFIGURATION" /><uses-permission android\:name\="com.aevi.permission.PAYMENT_REQUEST" />

so AFAICT it should be working. I tried to unzip the apk of my app, but the AndroidManifest.xml looks to be encrypted, so I cannot check.

[Bryan Buchanan]

Further to this, checking on the actual device, my test app does NOT list the two permissions that the Bar app sets, even though I thought I was setting them using codename1.android.xpermissions.

[Shai Almog]

The permissions are there in the manifest but the UI doesn't always reflect the full permissions.

Did you try asking the Aevi SDK why your code doesn't work?

[Bryan Buchanan]

On Sunday, December 21, 2014 2:09:25 AM UTC+10, Shai Almog wrote:

The permissions are there in the manifest but the UI doesn't always reflect the full permissions.

Why don't they show when on the device I go to Settings => Apps => my app to see the permissions the app has. 

Did you try asking the Aevi SDK why your code doesn't work?

Not yet, I'm not sure it is their problem. It is an Android permissions problem from the look of it. 

[Bryan Buchanan]

I created a brand new CN1 project, and the only things changed were in codenameone_settings.properties:

1. adding Android keystore stuff

2. the extra permissions:

codename1.android.xpermissions=<uses-permission android\:name\="com.aevi.permission.CONFIGURATION" /><uses-permission android\:name\="com.aevi.permission.PAYMENT_REQUEST" />

When I loaded the app on a device, the app properties are:

The example BarPos app has these permissions:

which is the problem. Even though I am asking for the permissions, they don't seem to be getting set.

[Bryan Buchanan]

one other thing that is in the manifest of the BarPos example app is:

  <meta-data

      android:name="application-type"

      android:value="payment"/>

maybe this needs to be set for the permissions to "take". There doesn't appear to be a CN1 build option to add this.

 The full manifest for the BarPos app is:

[Shai Almog]

You can add that meta data to the permissions section.
Looking at the manifest above I thought it was something from your application. Send a build with include sources and take a look at the manifest file that is generated.

[Bryan Buchanan]

That include source is pretty neat. Never used it before.

This is the manifest generated:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

      package="com.mycompany.myapp"

      android:versionCode="120"

      android:versionName="1.2"

      android:minSdkVersion="7"

      android:installLocation="auto">

    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="7" android:targetSdkVersion="21"  />

    <supports-screens android:smallScreens="true"

          android:normalScreens="true"

          android:largeScreens="true"

          android:xlargeScreens="true"

          android:anyDensity="true" />

    <application android:label="CodenameOnePermsTest"  android:icon="@drawable/icon">

        <activity android:name="MyApplicationStub"

                  android:theme="@style/CustomTheme"

                  android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden|screenSize"

                  android:launchMode="singleTop"

                  android:label="CodenameOnePermsTest">

            <intent-filter>

                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />

            </intent-filter>

        </activity>

      </application>

    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.touchscreen" android:required="false" />

    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.telephony" android:required="false" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" android:required="false" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" android:required="false" />

  </manifest>

The values for codename1.android.xpermissions seem to have been ignored. This is my codename1.android.xpermissions (with the keystore stuff blanked)

#Sun Dec 21 17:47:35 EST 2014

codename1.ios.appid=Q5GHSKAL2F.com.mycompany.myapp

codename1.ios.release.provision=

codename1.arg.rim.obfuscation=false

codename1.j2me.nativeTheme=nbproject/nativej2me.res

codename1.arg.ios.project_type=ios

codename1.arg.ios.interface_orientation=UIInterfaceOrientationPortrait\:UIInterfaceOrientationPortraitUpsideDown\:UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeLeft\:UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeRight

codename1.displayName=CodenameOnePermsTest

guiResource=theme.res

codename1.android.keystoreAlias=XXXXXXX

codename1.ios.release.certificate=

codename1.android.keystorePassword=XXXXXXXX

codename1.ios.provision=

codename1.arg.android.release=true

codename1.arg.ios.dsym=false

package=generated

codename1.arg.ios.statusbar_hidden=false

codename1.languageLevel=5

codename1.android.keystore=XXXXXXX

mainForm=Main

codename1.vendor=CodenameOne

codename1.arg.win.ver=8

codename1.ios.certificatePassword=

codename1.arg.zooz.sandbox=false

codename1.ios.debug.certificatePassword=

codename1.mainName=MyApplication

codename1.ios.release.certificatePassword=

codename1.arg.ios.prerendered_icon=false

codename1.arg.vserv.scaleMode=false

codename1.ios.debug.certificate=

libVersion=80

codename1.arg.ios.application_exits=false

codename1.android.xpermissions=<meta-data android\:name\="application-type" android\:value\="payment"/><uses-permission android\:name\="com.aevi.permission.CONFIGURATION" /><uses-permission android\:name\="com.aevi.permission.PAYMENT_REQUEST" />

codename1.secondaryTitle=CodenameOnePermsTest

codename1.description=

codename1.ios.debug.provision=

baseClass=src/generated/StateMachineBase.java

codename1.arg.build.incSources=1

codename1.arg.j2me.nativeThemeConst=0

codename1.rim.certificatePassword=

codename1.version=1.2

codename1.ios.certificate=

codename1.icon=icon.png

codename1.rim.signtoolCsk=

codename1.arg.android.debug=false

codename1.arg.vserv.transition=20000

codename1.rim.signtoolDb=

userClass=src/userclasses/StateMachine.java

codename1.arg.ios.includePush=false

codename1.packageName=com.mycompany.myapp

[Bryan Buchanan]

Solved !  Just noticed the value in codenameone_settings.properties should be "codename1.arg.android.xpermissions" and not "codename1.android.xpermissions"

The test permissions app shows the settings, so now I can see if the payment app works.

Thanks for your help.

[Bryan Buchanan]

As previous post mentioned, I got a bit further. The manifest for my CN1 Payment test prog is now correct:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

      package="com.webbtide.albert"

      android:versionCode="100"

      android:versionName="1.0"

      android:minSdkVersion="7"

      android:installLocation="auto">

    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="7" android:targetSdkVersion="21"  />

    <supports-screens android:smallScreens="true"

          android:normalScreens="true"

          android:largeScreens="true"

          android:xlargeScreens="true"

          android:anyDensity="true" />

    <application android:label="AlbertDemo"  android:icon="@drawable/icon">

        <activity android:name="AlbertDemoStub"

                  android:theme="@style/CustomTheme"

                  android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden|screenSize"

                  android:launchMode="singleTop"

                  android:label="AlbertDemo">

            <intent-filter>

                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />

            </intent-filter>

        </activity>

      </application>

    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.touchscreen" android:required="false" />

    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.telephony" android:required="false" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" android:required="false" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" android:required="false" />

  <meta-data android:name="application-type" android:value="payment"/>

<uses-permission android:name="com.aevi.permission.CONFIGURATION" />

<uses-permission android:name="com.aevi.permission.PAYMENT_REQUEST" /></manifest>

But it looks like there is an obfuscation problem. The debug log from running the supplied BarPosExample:

12-21 18:44:57.211: I/ActivityManager(154): START {cmp=com.aevi.barposexample/.PaymentActivity (has extras)} from pid 2262

12-21 18:44:57.271: I/SystemProperties(154): get key=ro.build.characteristics,def=none

12-21 18:44:57.271: I/SystemProperties(154): get key=ro.screen.layout

12-21 18:44:57.271: I/WindowManager(154): SCREENLAYOUT_SIZE (1:small, 2:normal, 3:large, 4:xlarge) 3

12-21 18:44:57.311: I/SystemProperties(2262): get key=viewancestor.profile_rendering,def=false

12-21 18:44:57.311: I/SystemProperties(2262): get key=hwui.disable_vsync,def=false

12-21 18:44:57.351: D/Settings(337): getAllInstallLangId().length43

12-21 18:44:57.381: D/gralloc(92): alloc_buffer: Successfully allocated 0x244000 bytes, mIonFd=27, SharedFd=28

12-21 18:44:57.391: D/gralloc(2262): map_buffer: Successfully mapped 0x244000 bytes at address 0x63f32000, SharedFd=57, map_count = 3

12-21 18:44:57.391: I/ActivityManager(154): Displayed com.aevi.barposexample/.PaymentActivity: +122ms

12-21 18:44:57.401: D/OpenGLRenderer(2262): Flushing caches (mode 0)

12-21 18:44:57.401: D/gralloc(2262): unmap_buffer: Successfully unmapped 0x244000 bytes at address 0x64176000, SharedFd=58, map_count = 2

12-21 18:44:57.401: D/gralloc(2262): unmap_buffer: Successfully unmapped 0x244000 bytes at address 0x63b31000, SharedFd=56, map_count = 1

12-21 18:44:57.401: D/gralloc(92): free_buffer: Freeing 0x244000 bytes, mIonFd=27 SharedFd=19

12-21 18:44:57.401: D/gralloc(92): unmap_buffer: Successfully unmapped 0x244000 bytes at address 0x4a146000, SharedFd=19, map_count = 5

12-21 18:44:57.631: D/gralloc(92): free_buffer: Freeing 0x244000 bytes, mIonFd=27 SharedFd=32

12-21 18:44:57.631: D/gralloc(92): unmap_buffer: Successfully unmapped 0x244000 bytes at address 0x4a747000, SharedFd=32, map_count = 4

12-21 18:44:58.131: I/SystemProperties(154): get key=events.cpu

12-21 18:44:58.711: D/gralloc(92): alloc_buffer: Successfully allocated 0x244000 bytes, mIonFd=27, SharedFd=19

12-21 18:44:58.721: D/gralloc(2262): map_buffer: Successfully mapped 0x244000 bytes at address 0x63b31000, SharedFd=56, map_count = 2

12-21 18:44:58.871: I/ActivityManager(154): START {act=com.aevi.payment.REQUEST cmp=com.aevi.simulator/.PaymentRequestActivity (has extras)} from pid 2262

the last line shows starting the payment emulator. When I run my program:

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): FATAL EXCEPTION: Thread-268

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): android.content.ActivityNotFoundException: No Activity found to handle Intent { act=com.aevi.a.REQUEST (has extras) }

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): at android.app.Instrumentation.checkStartActivityResult(Instrumentation.java:1512)

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): at android.app.Instrumentation.execStartActivity(Instrumentation.java:1384)

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): at android.app.Activity.startActivityForResult(Activity.java:3190)

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): at com.codename1.impl.android.CodenameOneActivity.startActivityForResult(CodenameOneActivity.java:511)

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): at com.codename1.impl.android.e.a(AndroidNativeUtil.java:139)

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): at com.webbtide.albert.c.a(NativeCallsImpl.java:46)

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): at com.webbtide.albert.d.a(NativeCallsStub.java:13)

12-21 18:46:56.581: E/AndroidRuntime(2343): at b.a$1.run(StateMachine.java:54)

the activity that is invoked is "com.aevi.a.REQUEST" and not "com.aevi.payment.REQUEST"

All I've done in my native code is copy the example's code:

        PaymentRequest payment = new PaymentRequest(new BigDecimal(param));

        payment.setCurrency(Currency.getInstance("AUD"));

        Intent intent = payment.createIntent();

        Log.v("AlbertDemo", intent.toString());

        

        IntentResultListener listener = new IntentResultListener() {

            

            public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {

                // Obtain the transaction result from the returned data.

                TransactionResult transresult = TransactionResult.fromIntent(data);

                // Check whether the transaction was successful

                if (transresult.getTransactionStatus() == TransactionStatus.APPROVED) {

                    // transaction successful

                    result = NativeCalls.OK;

                } else {

                    // transaction failed

                    result = NativeCalls.ERROR;

                }

            }

            

        };

        

        AndroidNativeUtil.startActivityForResult(intent, listener);

The output of the Log.v above is:

12-21 18:46:56.541: V/AlbertDemo(2343): Intent { act=com.aevi.a.REQUEST (has extras) }

How can I stop those classes being obfuscated ?

[Chen Fishbein]

Try:

android.enableProguard=false

[Bryan Buchanan]

Thanks Chen - you're a genius !  Demo CN1 program calls the simulator, so it looks like all is good. Still need to do a bit more testing, but I think we're on our way. Many thanks.

On Sunday, December 21, 2014 10:23:59 PM UTC+10, Chen Fishbein wrote:

Try:

android.enableProguard=false

[Bryan Buchanan]

For anyone else who might need to call a custom intent on Android, this is a summary of what probably needs to be done:

1. follow the tutuorial http://www.codenameone.com/how-do-i---access-native-device-functionality-invoke-native-interfaces.html

2. if you need external jars sent to the server as part of the build, put them in [project]/native/android

3. if you need to add permissions or other info to the Android manifest, edit codenameone_settings.properties and add the line

codename1.arg.android.xpermissions=<uses-permission android\:name\="com.aevi.permission.PAYMENT_REQUEST" />

if you have a number of options, just append to this line (maybe with a \n between them for readability in the generated manifest)

4. it is quite likely you will NOT want the code obfuscated because when you invoke the intent you want the un-obfuscated name, so add

codename1.arg.android.enableProguard=false

to codenameone_settings.properties

5. Properties -> Premium Features -> Include Source => check this so you can download the source and inspect the created manifest.

After that, should all work.