ALL,
We are trying to rewrite a huge software that is written in wxWidgets + Qt to run on Android tablet and we are trying to rewrite it in JAVA (as it is a natural language for development in Android). Our old system is using RoboHelp to generate Help files and then the RoboHelp libraries are put on the Client system for the Search functionality.
One of the pieces that needs to be redefined is a Help system (and also a Context-Sensitive Help).
I just tried to search for which file format (html, xml, etc) can be used to implement file formats. However, Google give me a bunch of links for video/audio and all other stuff but nothing is related to Help system. I believe it is because Help in Android applications is not really defined and there is not to many applications written for Android that requires Help system.
Does anybody here have an idea? Google Material Design does not say anything in this regards - they just tell you that there should be a Help button with a possible drawer implementation and that about it. But there is nothing about Help content file format.
The Help system should support navigation and search capabilities.
Thank you for any suggestions you can provide
I found this Image on the web and want to use a such list in android. Do you have an idea where I can find a such List in Android Studio?
There are certain lists that others have provided as free source code to be used within your applications. What you have discovered is not a built-in feature of Android (the IDE has not relevance on this).
You can however find resources to use a wheel such as those. One of which used in the past has been from the android-wheel code. Most will demonstrate examples and provide useful tips on going forward with implementation. But you can find others if you look hard enough.
This is just a general question for my information. I know how to create standard Android apps, but I was wondering: How is it possible/how do people enhance Android core functions and dig deeper into the system?
For example:
Let's assume I want to adapt the DownloadManager class, which is used by many apps. So, for example, one can adapt the class so that the download-text, which is displayed in the Notification bar under the download progress, is somehow changed.
Excuse me the following stupid questions, but I have no idea of these advanced topics, that's why I'm asking here ;-)
It is possible to change (for example) the DownloadManager class, so that it has extended functionality which will then be used by 3rd party apps, right?
Can the patched class then be put in the Play Store for other people to download/extend their DownloadManager functionality?
Will people need Root to be able to install such a change?
At most important: How can someone alter an Android API class? I'm really a noob here: I don't know where to get the source-code from, how to replace the standard with the enhanced class, what's needed for that, etc. Is there even a tutorial on advanced topics like this?
Please enlighten me a little bit :-)
is possible to change (for example) the DownloadManager class, so that
it has extended functionality which will then be used by 3rd party
apps.
Yes, of course, Android source code is opened under Apache license, you can modify this source code, and public into the world. For some detail about DownloadManager class and many other class, in Android OS Structure, those class is programmed on upper layer, often totally in Java.
Can the patched class then be put in the Play Store for other people
to download/extend their DownloadManager functionality?
I don't understand your question so much. In Play Store (and another android app store), people upload their application (in funny sentence, upload the source code has been compiled), so how can you upload a source code for user extends their apps ?
You can public your source code to github, or another place that programmers often meet, so they can view your source code, and often give you valuable ideas and comments :)
Will people need Root to be able to install such a change?
if advanced user, they can install new Android OS for their device. But I think, this answer is further than you really need.
Where to get the source-code from, how to replace the standard with the
enhanced class, what's needed for that, etc. Is there even a tutorial
on advanced topics like this?
In Android SDK folder, there is a folder named "Source", you can go there and see many Android source code. You can take that, read, and modify what you want. some part of Android is not here, you should google for this, it easy to find on internet.
But you should remember, when you modified this class or that class, it not belong to Android OS again, you must import this class file to your project as normal class.
So, if you want to modify base Android APIs : those APIs often write all in Java, and you read them and understand carefully, modified some part if you want, and import this class into your project.
And last word, why you should do that :) Because you can extends the class you want, and put some additional features for this class. It's easier and nicer.
Hope this help :)
alright so I've searched for quite sometime on this and I can't seem to find just the kind of answer that answers my questions...so here goes nothing! And mind you, I'm new to android dev soooo I may have stupid questions that some of you may get irritated at, but we all have to learn some how right?
I'm trying to develop an application that will allow users to scan in a QR code and then display the information that is encoded into it in a nice organized way.
It seems like ZXing doesn't like the idea of integrating their code with other applications e.g. you have to use their application from the market and point to it via intents... well if I do it this way, can I decode the contents so that I can have access to the content and do as I want with it?
What would I have to include in my project from the ZXing folder that I downloaded to make it all work? And would I have to build all of the objects with in that folder in order to use them in my project?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I have decided to go other routes.
The "Android way" is to do everything via intents.. However, zxing is a special case. You can follow the intent route, or you can (as it's apache licensed), download the source code and adapt as necessary. We did that for the game Barcode Beasties ( mandatory self promoting download link here : https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fawepark.android.barcodebeasties ) and that meant we could also brand the scan page as well.
If you want use the software integrated, then just download the source and either compile it as a library or just include it in your source folder as another folder.
I am new to Android but not to programming. I have taken C++ in school and we have been taught how to create objects, but not how to build robust programs using multiple objects. So you can see that using java to build Android apps leaves me with questions.....
thinking like an object oriented programmer, do i just shop through a list of classes until i find ones that i think would suite my app
is there a definite method of choosing the best classes for your project
do i find an app similar to the one i am trying to create and try to find what classes they used
any thoughts appreciated!!!!!!
The best way to learn (for me, at least) is by making small incremental changes to an example so I can how all the various elements of it work.
Download the examples (listed here) - but accessible from your AVD and SDK manager tool from within Eclipse (Window -> Android SDK and AVD Manager).
Start by modifying those examples. They are the best possible examples you can get for much of what you will want to do.
I'd recommend you start with Tutorials and also read about Application Fundamentals - they should get you started. Also browsing Classes is useful if you like wading through lots of technical docs (I do). Those three links are definitely worth looking at.
Well first when building Android applications you need to:
Figure out what your application will be, and how it would work.
Next you would need to find out how you will implement the android classes.
i would recommend first reading a book on Android development. One that really helped me and made me an advance developer was CommonsWare
You should really get these books. When you finish you will be well on your way.