Mobile Suite - How does it work?

[gajinoz]

I'm thinking about getting the mobile suite for my Vers. 4.2.3 forum.

Thing is I'm not too sure how it all works. What is the process of getting it going? What happens after I pay the money and buy it? Who makes the actual app with my forum design and how does it end up in the Play store?

I really have no idea how the whole process works. Can somebody who has done this please explain it all to me?

Thanks.

[Zachery]

You're going to need the following:

Apple Computer, running a very recent version of OSX
Apple Developer Account
Google Play Account

Once you purchase the app from vBulletin, you go into the members area and fill out the information for your app, name, vbulletin url, api key.
You pick some colors, if you want ads, if you want analytics
Then you add a splash screen and store icon.
Then you submit the app to be built
At which point for Android you can submit to the store
For iOS you need to download the package, make sure you have xtools fully installed, and then sign the package.
Then you can submit the app to the apple store.

[RichieBoy67]

Originally Posted by Zachery

You're going to need the following:

Apple Computer, running a very recent version of OSX
Apple Developer Account
Google Play Account


Once you purchase the app from vBulletin, you go into the members area and fill out the information for your app, name, vbulletin url, api key.
You pick some colors, if you want ads, if you want analytics
Then you add a splash screen and store icon.
Then you submit the app to be built
At which point for Android you can submit to the store
For iOS you need to download the package, make sure you have xtools fully installed, and then sign the package.
Then you can submit the app to the apple store.

Why does it sound so easy when you say it? lol I cannot stand working on that mobile theme css.

[gajinoz]

Originally Posted by Zachery

You're going to need the following:

Apple Computer, running a very recent version of OSX
Apple Developer Account
Google Play Account


Once you purchase the app from vBulletin, you go into the members area and fill out the information for your app, name, vbulletin url, api key.
You pick some colors, if you want ads, if you want analytics
Then you add a splash screen and store icon.
Then you submit the app to be built
At which point for Android you can submit to the store
For iOS you need to download the package, make sure you have xtools fully installed, and then sign the package.
Then you can submit the app to the apple store.

Sounds easy, which usually means I'll end up with a headache when trying to do it .......

Slightly more seriously, I don't have any Apple products so I guess that leaves out an iOS version of the app. Does this matter? I'm happy enough just doing the Google Play Store version for now, is it possible to just do that?

I do have a Google account, assuming that the one I need is the same as my gmail account. I can download from the play store and leave ratings and such.

From where do I obtain the api key?

Thanks for the help.

[Fields]

Usually, you cannot just purchase the Android version. When you buy the Mobile Suite, there is both in it, the iOS and Android app.

To publish your app in Google Play Store, you need a Google Developer Account, which will cost 25$.

You get your vBulletin API key in your AdminCP (last menu tab on the left side).

[gajinoz]

Thanks for all the info guys.

[gajinoz]

OK, I've pretty much talked myself into getting this up and running. I think I'm clear on most of the details but there is a couple of points I'm not sure on.

In Zachery's nice todo list up there it mentions a splash screen and store icon. What is the process involved in making those? Is there a utility that does it or do I need to create a gif or ..... what?

Also Richieboy67 talks about playing atound with CSS files. I have NO experience with this, is this where I create the splash screen and icon?

Any help appreciated.

[Fields]

Originally Posted by gajinoz

In Zachery's nice todo list up there it mentions a splash screen and store icon. What is the process involved in making those? Is there a utility that does it or do I need to create a gif or ..... what?

I created my splash screens using Photoshop. vBulletin provides you all the properties which are necesserary, so it shouldn't be a problem to create them yourself.

Originally Posted by gajinoz

Also Richieboy67 talks about playing atound with CSS files. I have NO experience with this, is this where I create the splash screen and icon?

You set up the colors for you app with an editor that looks like this:

[RichieBoy67]

Originally Posted by Fields

I created my splash screens using Photoshop. vBulletin provides you all the properties which are necesserary, so it shouldn't be a problem to create them yourself.


You set up the colors for you app with an editor that looks like this:

You cannot change much in terms of colors using the stylevars on the Vb mobile theme. Css has to be edited.

[gajinoz]

OK, that's great. One more stupid question: Is there a way to view what the app will look like as you are developing it so you can see what it will actually look like in use before submitting it?

I'd hate to produce some horrible looking mess and not be able to change it.