image files won't load

[Jon G]

Hi Forum:

Help please! The most recent screens that I've started on the designer aren't loading properly onto my phone's screen when I make the connection. In one case, the images for buttons ect load ok..but the background image won't load on my phone (although I have the designer screen looking the way I want). 

On another screen, only some of the images load on my phone's screen and the background does not load at all. 

All are to do with image files that I've loaded into the designer very recently. 

I've tried deleting the image files then reload, but no success. 

Sometimes when I go into AI 2 a pop-up appears saying that AI 2 and AI 2 explorer failed to load properly?? Not sure about this because the designer screens all seem to work (slowly) but I think maybe it's just a problem with getting the images to display on my phone.

Thanks for your help.

Jon

[Taifun]

set screen background color to none

Taifun

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Trying to push the limits of App Inventor! Snippets and Tutorials from Pura Vida Apps by Taifun.                

[Scott Ferguson]

For screens with a BackgroundImage set the BackgroundColor to none. This may have been fixed already as they have been working on it, but just in case.

I see you are using Chrome browser. Is it the current version v34?

Let me see if I understand correctly:

The images display in the Designer, but some don't display on the device?

Did the fix I suggested above correct the problem?

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Scott

[Jon G]

Hi Taifun; Scott,

Thanks for your replies. All background screens and image buttons are set to 'none' for background color.

I'm using Chrome Version 34.0

Yes, some images display in the designer but not on the device. 

An update though: now the background is displaying ok in both cases when it wasn't before. Some of the images still are not displaying though.

I think it might be an intermittent loading problem???

I have a lot of image files in the media section, but not sure if this is the problem. It is still under 100 files in the media section I think.

Any thoughts on what I might try next??

Thanks

[Enis]

Jon... how big is your AIA file when you export it?  You know, there's a max of 5MB, at which time yo have to start using other methods to get the graphics into your app.  If you're close to that limit, that's your problem.

[Jon G]

Hi Enis,

Thanks for your reply. The AIA file was 2.19 MB when I exported it. 

Not sure if the rest of the image files will slowly load after several hours have past like some of the others did? I'm wondering if it's not my internet connection being too slow for both my nexus phone and my laptop to communicate the new image files?

The weird thing as that everything is loaded and shows ok in the designer screen.

Sometimes when I try to connect the phone to AI2, a pop-up message displays on my laptop that says AI 2 and AI 2 explorer are 'unresponsive'. The designer screens all seem to work ok - it's just that the newer images i loaded into the designer aren't showing on the phone. When I get to the screen I'm trying to work on it almost always says either 'loading' or 'saving'. Just seems sluggish..but I'm not sure if it's b/c of my connection.

Thanks again for your help, Jon 

[Enis]

App Inventor apps only install in internal memory of the device, not on SD cards and the like.  Check your devices to see how much BASE memory you have available.

Also, do a Google search for Broadband Speed Tests and try a few of them out to find out how good your connection actually is...

[Taifun]

Some of the images still are not displaying though.

I have a lot of image files in the media section, but not sure if this is the problem. It is still under 100 files in the media section I think.

the filenames are case sensitive

 myImage,png is not myIMAGE.png is not myImage.PNG

Taifun 

[Jon G]

Hi Enis,

Broadband tests show I have an internet connection speed of around .14 mbps or 141 kbps on average. I'm told this is pitifully slow. I'm going to get the service provider to check the cables / router to see if this is causing the slow internet. Do you think this is the problem? Sometimes a message shows on the designer screen saying error-  server failed to load. Then it resumes loading slowly afterward.  

I have a nexus 5 phone with total storage of 12.55 GB (10.9 GB of which is available). 

Thanks, Jon

[Enis]

Yea, that's awful...  it takes 30 seconds or so at the MOST to install an apk on my phone...

Have you tried unplugging the router's power cord, then unplugging the broadband modem's power cord... let them sit for about 30 seconds, then plug the modem's power back  in, wait another 10 seconds or so, then plug the router's power back in....

That will refresh your connections.. Then try your speed tests again...

BTW, generally this is something you should do at least once a week...

[Jon G]

Hi Enis,

No luck with getting the modem working better by unplugging it and letting it sit. Would like to try connecting my phone to AI2 by using my laptop at a McDonnalds. Last time I tried though, it wouldn't let me because I think it's only set to read the ping from my home address. Anyway to override this? 

I'm wondering if it's not also an internal problem with my app (in addition to the slow internet connection. Every time I go into AI2 'create' a message reads 'script is unresponsive'.

[Enis]

Jon... is there another computer at a friend's you could use to try it out for example?  Or, do you have a friend with another broadband connection you could take your computer over and plug it in, and see how it does on another connection?

Perhaps you have some anti-virus software that's slowing things down?  Try turning off your anti-virus software for a few minutes and see if that changes anything...

[Jon G]

Hi Enis,

I upgraded our internet connection speed and it seems to have solved the problem. When I first enter AI2 I still get the script unresponsive message on the screen. It loads immediately afterward though, so it doesn't seem to be a problem. Image files are now loading quite quickly as well onto my phones screen.

Thanks for your help with working through this.

Jon

[Enis]

Hi Jon... Glad you got it working.  Yes, it's very difficult to work with a slow connection speed, for anything!  Congrats... I'm sure everything else is working better too ;)!