How to Group Applications at Build Time - android

Being a bit new to android and compiling my own images for my device, I was trying to figure out how to do the below in the source code directly.
How can one group applications in folders on the home screen at build time when building/compiling the device image?
Follow-on question to this, how can one configure the apps that appear in the home screen bottom row?
Thanks

This is not really done at build time, but you need to update the launcher xml configuration panels to state which apps you want and in there you can also create a subfolder to regroup applications.

Related

Is there a way to create an Android app that looks and behaves just like the homescreen of the same device?

I need a home screen clone app that uses apps, folders, swipable screens of more apps and so on.
So far, I have looked into custom launchers like this one here: https://www.androidauthority.com/make-a-custom-android-launcher-837342-837342/
But to achieve what I need will require a lot of extra additions (the icons are easy enough, but I'll need folders and swiping as well).
Another approach I wondered about is Kiosk mode/Lock-Task-Mode and multi-app kiosk mode. I've looked at the docs and wondered if this could be used to harness the actual homescreen, while still executing code in the background based on what apps the user selects (ultimately acheiving the same desired effect of my project).
I've spent a full day looking at this but I want to know if I'm on the right path. Obviously, I could create an app that contains all of this, but I do think I want it to be a launcher app that's locked in place so that users can't operate the actual home screen and its apps. No malicious intent here, it's just for a closed-off research project.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Changing iOS and Android app's name and icon on the fly

Okay, I know the title is a bit confusing so let me explain it a little bit more.
We have different groups of clients and they want to have their own app, meaning the app name, icon, splash screen and theme colour are customized. But the functionalities and features remain the same across the whole product line.
Of course, we can submit different app for different client. But the maintenance would be a nightmare to the development team - each new feature / bug fixes needed to be pushed to different branches and we need to do multiple app update. Furthermore, we need to do manual testing on all the variants. We do not want to go down this road.
As a developer, I want to have a generic app for app submission and update. But once the client signed up then we change the app name, icon and splash screen according to his settings. I know I can do the splash screen and theme color - just render a different image and RGB value from the server on login. But I do not know if there is way to changed the app name and icon after the app installation.
I have also done preliminary search on this question but the answer I got is a no. Since those answers are from 2011 so I wonder if the situation has changed or not.
Many Thanks!
P.S. I found a group of apps on App Store which cover the question I asked. It is called DropLocker. They have 14 variants but I guess they use the same code base. I wonder if there is an update, do they push it individually or there is a way to do a multiple app updates at one shot.
For iOS apps, you can create targets in the same app and for each target you can change the appicons, splash screen, theme color etc.
To create target, go to your Project, On Left side, under "TARGETS", you will see, two targets, one with your Project name, other with Test. Right click your project and click "Duplicate". Then you can rename the target. Also rename the target in "Manage Schemes", to avoid confusion later on. Then, you can change the app name seperately for all targets in "info" section. Similarly, you can create a different sets of Appicons and splash screens and use them for different targets. To change theme color, you can define a "Preprocessor Macro" in Build Settings and use it inside your code. You can set the macro's value for different targets.

how to create shortcut in folder in android menu. (not on home screen)

I am totally newbie and I am not an English native speaker, so please don't yell at me if I do something wrong.
I made an android app in eclipse (nothing special), but I have one problem. I want to add a shortcut in folder so the user can call it from folder. in that folder i will later add more shortcuts. i want to separate my apps from others. this folder and the shortcuts need to be in main manu.
I tried some codes what I found here in stackoverflow, but I stacked and I don't know how to proceed.
Thanks in forward for anwsers
Though I am not an Android developer, I don't think you have to update anything. Users should just be able to drag your application icon to the home screen. If you want action-specific shortcuts (I.E., go to Wi-Fi settings in the settings app), then please update your question.
you open start menu and you have your own folder with your shortcuts
In Android, the "start menu" equivalent is called the home screen. There are many, many implementations of a home screen -- dozens that come pre-installed on different devices, and hundreds more than can be downloaded from the Play Store and elsewhere.
Some home screens may have the concept of a "folder", but they may or may not expose an API to developers to control it. Other home screens will not have "folders" at all.
You are welcome to contact each home screen author to find out whether they support the notion of "folders" and whether there is a specific way for your app to create a "folder" and appear inside of it.
Or, you are welcome to build your own home screen, complete with as many folders as you like.

Creating a "dashboard" homescreen in iOS

I'm creating my first app in iOS and I'm very accustomed to developing in eclipse for Android. My first step is that I need to create a dashboard as the homescreen. I'm a little "confused" as of which layout I should choose in xcode. In android I always select the most basic of settups, and I end up with a blank activity and a blank layout. That's where I would like to start, since that's what I'm used to. I'm wondering if any experienced iOS dev can point me in the right direction into which template to start with.
It seems really easy to just say to use an empty application, but If I'm going to have to do a lot more settup that is not worth my time, then please enlighten me.
You' probably want to go with a single view application. This will give you a template with a view controller and a blank interface file (your choice of xib or storyboard) that you can build from. From there you can add what ever you want.
Using this template you will immediately be able to build your app to the simulator or to your device. However, if you already have an idea of how you would like your app to work, you could choose tab based if your app should have multiple tabs and most of the work will be done for you, or a utility based app will give you two view controllers, one of which will be presented modally. Etc, etc...

Demoing android app screenshots

I need a way to show off concept designs of an android application on an android phone to simulate that it is running. Basically just being able to tap to advance to the next photo/screen would be sufficient with a tap ANYWHERE on the screen. Any tools you know that would be helpful?
Eclipse with Android toolkit.
Write a small program. wont take up much time.
[update]
No coding is required. Create an android project Using Eclipse android project, you can visually create UI prototype (i.e. drag and drop .. no coding). Use main.xml after developing each screen run the project in emulator, you can take screenshot of the same (either using eclipse DDMS plugin's snapshot capability or using Alt+Print screen in windows or something similar in other OS). Use this screenshot in a powerpoint presetation . Repeat the same process for a second screen (overwrite the same main.xml so that you dont have to write code). take screenshot again. Add the required animations in powerpoint.
Is there any other option that does not involve any code?
The easiest way I can think of is:
1. Take screen shots(wireframes, screen prototypes) for every screen flow you wish to demonstrate.
2. add them in proper sequence(regulated by sequence number) to your sdcard.
3. Open Picture gallery and use swipe gesture to transition and cycle between screen, walk through all the screen flows.
Do it photoshop, create images, add it to an activity. Create a layout that fills the parent, add it as a background. Then implement a ontouch method to finish the activity and load the next. Quite simple.

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