Scanning QR code on Android Companion app

[Stefan]

So I've installed the Telerik AppBuilder on my Nexus 7 and Nexus 5.

However I can't seem open the menu in any way in order to scan the QR code. Tried swiping with 2 fingers and pressing the menu button in the button bar but nothing happens and I'm just stuck inside the demo app.

Also tried to scan my application QR code trough a different scanning app with no avail (Chrome won't do anything with the icenium:// url scheme).

Does anyone else experience this problem? Or am I just looking in the wrong places?

[Iva Koevska]

Hi Stefan,

It seems that the QR code scanner you are using is not getting integrated with the companion app for Android. So, what you need to do now is the following:

1. Verify that the companion app is installed. (I am assuming this is true.)
2. Build your app for the Android companion app and scan the QR code. Note, that by default, AppBuilder will suggest to build an application package for Android instead of build for the companion app.
3. Locate the share button or option for the QR code (it might be a button in the app interface or you might need to call it from the menu button for the app).
4. Share the app to the companion app.

In addition, so far, we have found out that this QR code scanner works good with the companion app.

Since this workaround is not really intuitive, we are already working on providing a built-in QR code scanner for a future version of the Android companion app.

Regards,
Iva Koevska
Telerik

 

 

[Stefan]

Hi Iva,

Thanks the response. By following your steps I managed to load my project into the companion app. I couldn't find this info anywhere in the docs, though. Perhaps the integration just worked on older Android versions? (I used 4.3.1 and 4.4.2)

Glad to hear a built-in scanner is on it's way, that would definitely add some ease of use :)

Regards,

Stefan

[Rob]

Hi,

I've got the same issue here, two finger swipe in the companion app is not working on Android (4.3 and 4.4.2). iOS app is fine.
Three finger hold is working, but because the app has no connection to my app, it returns the correct error for that. The recommended QR code scanner doesn't open the companion app on both Android versions.

[Iva Koevska]

Hi Rob,

What you are experiencing with the two-finger swipe on Android is expected. Currently, this version of the companion app for Android simply does not provide all the features available in the iOS one. However, this is soon to change.

Also, I suggest following the Share workflow no matter which QR code scanner you are using on Android. Thanks!

Regards,
Iva Koevska
Telerik

 

 

[Rob]

I don't understand what you mean by using the share workflow? Do you mean scan the QR code with the companion app? I cannot do that because the two finger swipe doesn't work and thus I cannot acces the scan function inside the companion app. 

[Iva Koevska]

Hello Rob,

Please, excuse me if I have been unclear. By share workflow I was referring to the detailed explanation of how to deploy apps in the companion app for Android in one of my earlier replies in this thread. This information is also available in the AppBuilder documentation here. However, to avoid further confusion, I will attempt to provide a more straight-forward explanation of what is happening for you and why below. Let me know if you need more help.

Why you cannot use the two-finger swipe on Android?
You cannot use the two-finger swipe in the Android companion app because the companion app for Android is still in its early lifecycle stage and does not yet provide the built-in sidebar menu, fitted with a QR code scanner, that you might be familiar with from iOS.
The AppBuilder team is working on implementing this for a future release of the companion app for Android, so stay tuned. Until then you will need to install a third-party QR code scanner on your device, for example - this one.

How to deploy apps in the AppBuilder companion app for Android?
1. Download a QR code scanner on your device if you don't have one installed already. For example - this one.
2. In AppBuilder, build your app for the Android companion app.
3. Run the QR code scanner on device.
4. Scan the code.
5. Once the code is recognized, look for a Share option and tap it (it might look like a dot from which two lines are spreading, it might be named Share or it might be accessible only if you tap the Menu button to open more options for the QR code scanner).
6. Based on the implementation of Share in the QR code scanner, you might be provided with a list of apps to which to share or with a middle screen prompting to choose if you want to share to a specific application. Make sure to get to a state where you can share to AppBuilder.

Thanks!

Regards,
Iva Koevska
Telerik

 

 

[Rob]

Thanks for the excellent explanation! I missed the part where I had to share from the QR app to a different app (the companion app).

[Leonardo]

Great info, what about iOS? I can not scan the qr code using the QRReader iOS app... I mean, I can but it is not sent to the appbuilder app.

Thank you!

[Iva Koevska]

Hi Leonardo,

For iOS, the companion app provides an in-built QR code scanner. Install the companion app from the App Store and launch it. After you complete the tutorial, tap with two fingers on the left border of the screen and swipe to the right. A menu will appear. Tap the option for the QR code reader and scan the QR code produced by AppBuilder. It will load your project in the companion app.

Regards,
Iva Koevska
Telerik

 

 

[V-King]

I scanned the barcode that was built for an app I created, shared it with the AppBuilder that I just installed, and got an error message:

"Invalid url: 'https://app.icenium.com/Mist/MobilePackage/redirect?token=...' [I'm omitting the token]. Url must start with prefix: 'icenium:'.

That's just wrong. :)

[Iva Koevska]

Hello Vassili,

The reported behavior typically occurs when you are attempting to use a QR code for an application package (APK) instead of a QR code for deployment inside the companion app. You can deploy the APK without the use of the companion app.

If you want to use the companion app, please, make sure that you are following the below workflow.

1. In the build wizard, make sure that you select Android -> Companion app (and not Android -> Application package).
2. After the build completes, scan the QR code. When decoded, the link should indeed begin with the icenium prefix instead of the http one.
3. Just tap the link - we have improved the behavior of the companion app and you no longer need to manually share the code.

If you have built your app with the command-line interface, make sure that you have specified the --companion switch in your command. Otherwise, the command-line interface will produce an application package (APK).

Hope this helps. Let us know if you need further assistance.

Regards,
Iva Koevska
Telerik

 

 

[vinothini]

Hi 

I am facing "Telerik Appbuild: Invalida URL - : 'nativescript:https://platform.telerik.com/appbuilder?token=......... URL must start with prefix: 'Icenium'. 

1) I installed QR code scanner available at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_progetto2003.SCAN

2) I installed latest Telerik App builder

I know there is no connection between my app and app builder. Somebody says to click share button on QR coder and select Appbuilder but when click share I could not able to see Telerik App builder on list 

3) When hold three fingers on app builder getting "Can not find your project in the cloud. Verify that you have built and synchronized your latest changes with the cloud." message

 

.May I know what I am missing to sync my app to app builder?

 

[Anton Dobrev]

@vinothini

It appears that you have scanned a QR code of a NativeScript application built in Telerik AppBuilder (thus the error you are receiving) and trying to open it with the AppBuilder app.

If this is the case, here is how to resolve this:

 - Determine the type of application you are building (hybrid or native) and create a new build to access the QR code.

 -  Make sure to download on your device the latest version of the AppBuilder app (or the NativeScript app - depending of the type of project you are developing) from the vendor stores.

 - Scan the QR code with the built-in scanner or via a third party tool like you have tried. If you are using the integrated scanner in the NS companion app it is a little bit hidden in Android - you need to expand the notification tray after the NS companion app is started and allocate the entry for it. Pull it down a little bit as to expand it, and you will see the options for scan or sync.

 - Maке sure to open the URL behind the QR code either with the AppBuilder app or the NativeScript app depending of the type of project you are building.

The above steps should also resolve the LiveSync issues as well.

Let me know if this works.

Regards,

Anton Dobrev
Telerik

 

 

[Kristof Torfs]

I just installed the AppBuilder Companion App, built my app in Visual Studio (for the companion app) and got the following error when scanning the QR code: Error: invalid url: 'icenium:https://platform.telerik.com/appbuilder?token=<token>'. Url must start with prefix: 'ignore'.

[Anton Dobrev]

@Kristof

A new version of the app for Android is available in the Google Play store which contains a fix for the issue that was occurring in the previous version. The issue you experienced was connected to some localization settings of the device.

Updating to the latest version should solve the issue on your side.

Let me know should you have any further questions.

Regards,
Anton Dobrev
Telerik

 

 

[Kristof Torfs]

Hi Anton,

the new version has solved the issue as you said.

Thanks,
Kristof