WM22: Android - update user app without Playstore

Hi all,

What ways can we automatically update the user app without using Playstore?

We can check for an update and download it, but how can it be installed without user intervention?

Thanks

Pete

Hi Pete

I am also interested in this. Apple Enterprise is not a problem. But Android still requires the user to explicitly select install. It really is a problem. If anything is not to be trusted it is the Apple Store and the Google Store. We steer clear of them.

If anyone has a solution to this happy to pay for it.

And now with Huawei writing their own OS and will have to have their own online store I am interested to know what route they are going to take.

Cheers
André

Shellexecute the apk...

If you have an app on Google Play it should automatically update on Android.

I personally have apps that are automatically updated every time I make a change

[infosonline.net]

Hi jtadebruin

"Shellexecute the apk...


How do you do that?


Cheers

André

Hi info

"If you have an app on Google Play it should automatically update on Android.


This is *not* in any public store - it is in a private store.


Cheers

André

Hi Andre

All my apps are NOT in a store. I use my own server
With Android not a problem.
IOS is a different story which i can tell if you are interested

Make a web service and put the version number from your app in a database
Put the apk also in your database

Every app checks (with the web service) if there is a new version
If there is a new version, get the new app with the web service
Save the app and start the apk with shellexecute(APK)
The app will now be installed and refreshed.


Jan

Hi Jan,

I assume the same process work using ftp? ie read a text file with version number and download the apk, then shellexecute.

Thanks

Pete

Yep

Hi Jan

"All my apps are NOT in a store. I use my own server"

So do we.

"With Android not a problem."

Except for the automatic start.

"IOS is a different story which i can tell if you are interested"

Please do - not a problem for us as we have Enterprise Apps so it is automatic.

"Make a web service and put the version number from your app in a database"
"Put the apk also in your database"

That is interesting - never thought of that.

"Every app checks (with the web service) if there is a new version"

We do that now

"If there is a new version, get the new app with the web service"

Got that - can do.

"Save the app and start the apk with shellexecute(APK)"

So the app can launch another version of itself? I had no idea that was possible. After installing does the calling app shut itself down?

"The app will now be installed and refreshed."

Very interesting indeed - going to try that.

Still interested in how you handle iOS outside of the store and not using Enterprise. Please tell.

Thanks a ton for that.

Cheers
André

Yep

Hi Jan

Just tried and it fails. Copies down and then when shellexecute runs and asks id want to install and when say yes - it then says app not installed. I have included android.permission.INSTALL_PACKAGES in the apk.

Once the apk is down where are you storing it before shellexecute?

Would be nice to get this working.

Has anyone else managed to get this to work?

André

Hi

I hope you talk about androide?

- Save the app, after download , with the extension APK very important !
- Why does it ask for ID? Not with my apk...

Jan

I think he meant to type 'if want to install...'

Hi Jan

Yes - saved with .apk extension. Where are you actually saving it on the device? What is the path you are using? When the app that downloaded it, the same app that is now installing, shellexecutes, it actually runs but then says that it cannot install. If I navigate to the app on the device and run it installs with no problems. What code are you using it to save it after download?

I would really like to get this working. It will make a huge difference for our clients who do not want to go anywhere near any public stores.

André

Also, which versions of Android has it been tested on?

Hi Peter

The phone has version 9 installed on it?

What is the minimum version that I must create the apk for? Maybe that is it.

André

Hi Peter

Looks like Android 8 and above may block shellexecute of apk files - added the request user permission node and giving it another bash.

Just worried that I am not saving this into the correct folder that will allow a shellexecute of an apk.

Cheers
André

Hi

Not much time now
I save it on internal disk or sd card.

Tomorrow more ....

Hi Jan

I am not getting this right. What version of WX are you using?

I am getting the error with shellexecute - There was a problem parsing the package.

It looks to be a permissions issue - very disappointing this.

Hopefully we can chat tomorrow again.

Cheers
André

Hi Jan

Read more about this. Where the file is stored is clearly important. I am saving it in internal storage public using SysDirExternalStorage function. The file exists after download. When the app that downloaded it does the shellexecute it launches and then says App Not Installed - that's it. I can install it manually by selecting it. This has something to do with either the path or permissions. Very frustrating.

PS - I have moved beyond the parsing error above.

Cheers
André

Hi André,

Have you tried saving the apk to the directory the app is in?

Cheers
Pete

Hi Pete

Nope - only a subdirectory which is when I get the parsing error. I will try that now.

André

Hi Pete

Just checked and it is in the directory the app is in which I assume is the fCurrentDir - apparently not - is there a function to return the directory that the app is in?

André

Hi Peter

Tried fExeDir - get the parsing error again.

Cheers
Andre

Hi All

Would be nice to know from someone who has got this right what you have done with respect to:

1. The version of WX you are using

2. The permission entries in the manifest with respect to storage you have included

3. The exact spot where you are saving the apk before shellexecute [a code snippet would be useful]

Still hoping.

André

Greeting

I think what you are looking for does not depend on the WM application, I think there must be an active automatic update of the application on the phone and the same on the server.



WM applications do not have exe just like WD applications do for PC



Can I have a look at your WM application, where apk can be downloaded?

[infosonline.net]



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/2019 09:08AM by infos.

Hi Infos

Thanks for chipping in.

You wrote:

"I think there must be an active automatic update of the application on the phone and the same on the server."

What do you mean by an "active automatic update"?


André

incorrect



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2019 12:45PM by ISO.

removed as solution was incorrect didnt read the OP my solution still requires user to click install.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2019 12:47PM by ISO.