Windows 7 - emulator does not load

[Charlotta Beavers]

Hello,

Whether I begin the program at the command prompt or by clicking on the aiStarter.exe, the result is the same. When I choose Connect >> Emulator from the App Inventor 2 (AI2), no dialog window pops up in my browser - nothing happens at all.

What I have tried:

• Tried to run the emulator using the browser. Did not work. Uninstalled - rebooted - reinstalled - rebooted
  
• I use the test URL and I get the following:

127.0.0.1 - - [20/Jun/2014 19:00:51] "GET /ping/ HTTP1.1" 200 38
127.0.0.1 - - [20/Jun/2014 19:00:51] "GET /utest/ HTTP1.1" 200 38

• I start aiStarter by clicking and then click run-emulator.bat, the emulator appears and loads the proper visual block. It says "no service." I close the emulator and aiStarter.
  
• From command prompt I start aiStarter.exe and then use Ctrl-C to quit. The aiStarter shows the following:

Shutdown...
Killed adb

ERROR: The process "emulator.exe" not found.
Problem stopping emulator: status 128

• If I run aiStarter and the emulator (using run-emulator.bat) and close the program, I do not get the error message shown directly above.

I have the following configuration:

• Windows 7 - 64-bit
  
• Firefox 30.0
• MIT App Inventor 2
  
• aiStarter/emulator version 2.2 (note Help >> About says "Use Companion: 2.19ai2zx1")

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[SteveJG]

Have you followed all of the 'remedies' shown in this article?  http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/ai2/connect-help-emulator.html

Have you figured this out on your own?   Before I or someone else sends you needless recommendations, let us know.

In the mean while, here are some additional suggestions:    

From the AI2 browser    do Project > Hard Reset , follow any instructions (if any), then close the browser and reboot Windows.  This 'sometimes' provides a solution.

Try using the Chrome browser instead of FF.  Some users have reported emulator issues when using FF but they disappear when using Chrome.

Please let us know if any of this helps.  If you still have issues, we will/may have other suggestions.

Regards,

Steve

[Charlotta Beavers]

Hello,

Thank you for you help.

Yes, additionally, I should have added that I followed the instructions on the following pages (twice now):

• http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/ai2/setup-emulator.html
• http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/ai2/connect-help-emulator.html
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NbJRyCA9udxdU3oNyadR0fuvNglijYR7X3mVB_ZIeNU/pub
  

Yes, the test run successfully: "Yes, aiStarter v2.2 running!"

And, yes, I can see the duplicate front page here: http://rendezvous.appinventor.mit.edu/explore/.

I have done as you instructed and attempted to use the emulator in Chrome, as well as Hard Reset with a reboot.

Same result afterward, the test runs fine, I can load the emulator from the executable but I cannot load the emulator using the command within the browser.

Thanks

[SteveJG]

Sorry this is not working for you.   

Evidently Projects> Emulator does not work for you.  Do you see the aiStarter icon on your desktop?   and if you click on it, do you see the Black window with white text?  If you do not, that indicates to me that the software did not install correctly.

 I brought this to the attention of the MIT technical staff.  Most of them are out of the office until Thursday, so I do not expect you will get a 

quick response, however, someone will try to help you if none of the additional suggestions below help.

A final thought, if you are running AVG at least one version of that software has been reported to have issues with AI2.   Disabling its Web Browsing 'Link Scanner' to allow AI2 ( you disable that in Advanced settings) and the emulator connects fine for those using AVG apparently.

And something a bit more advanced, that MIGHT help.   You can try it:

Here is something another user did.   If you are comfortable with a PC and reading files and bat files, it might work for you if the above does not.   D Kromp wrote:

I did everying on the troubleshooting page and nothing worked to connect to the emulator, I would always receive the timeout message and the emulator would not boot. Out of curiosity last night I found that the MIT Companion app APK can be downloaded. So today I installed the Companion APK through the adb command, restarted the computer, and everything worked! 

I have instructions of what I did below and am attaching a .bat file that will automatically install the Companion app (I renamed the Companion app apk to test.apk - If you are worried about my apk, just download the MIT Companion app on your own and change my .bat file to:   adb install "MITAI2Companion.apk"). My directions are for a fresh install of App Inventor 2 - If you already have it installed, skip step 1.

1. Install the App Inventor 2 software – Download from http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/ai2/windows.html - Step 1

2. Boot the emulator by going to C:\Program Files\AppInventor\commands-for-Appinventor  and double click the run-emulator.bat file (wait for it to fully boot and swipe to open).

3. Install the MIT Companion app (make sure emulator is still running) by:

a.       Putting ~installapk-test.bat and test.apk in the same folder as step 2 – I’ve attached these files in a zip since .bat files are not allowed as a direct upload.

b.      Double click ~installapk-test.bat  This should install the MIT Companion app on the emulator.

c.       Wait for the install to complete.

4. Restart the computer

5.  Try the site with a program. Click Connect>>Emulator this should boot the emulator and run everything correctly.

– I’ve had it work on a fresh install this way. If it doesn’t work:

a.       Boot the emulator (either by step 2, or the Connect>>Emulator should have at least booted the emulator).

b.      Swipe to open then click the boxes at the bottom to see installed apps.

c.       Open the MIT App Inventor Companion app.

d.      Attempt the Connect>>Emulator again with this program open.

Regards,

Steve.

[Charlotta Beavers]

Thank you for replying, Steve.

1. The software appears to be installed properly. When I load aiStarter, the command prompt window opens and I do see white text:

Platform = Windows
AppInventor tools located here: "C:\Program Files (x86)"
Bottle server starting up (using WSGIRefServer())...
Listening on http://127.0.0.1:8004/
Hit Ctrl-C to quit.

2. I receive messages implying success when I use the test URL.

But nothing happen at all when I choose Emulator from within the browser - no dialog box pops up in the browser, no additional messages are are shown in the command prompt window - nothing changes. As if I had not even selected Emulator.

3. I am interested in trying to use the Companion APK as indicated in your message, but the batch file (zipped) that D Komp mentions is not attached to your message. Nor have I been able to locate the original message. So I tried using:

adb install test.apk

But I got a message:

Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_ALREADY_EXISTS]

4. What I did get out of this exercise is that it seems that the Companion on the emulator is out of date. The AppInventor is version 2.2 and requires Companion version 2.19ai2zx but the Companion that came installed on the emulator is version 2.11ai2.

How do I uninstall the companion on the emulator and update it with the one I downloaded? I tried throwing it in the trash on the emulator but that didn't work.

Thanks

[Enis]

Charlotte...

In the User Interface, Click on Connect, then Hard Reset.  Follow the onscreen instructions EXACTLY.

The next time you try to use Connect, Emulator, the emulator should try to reset itself and get the newest Companion.