Other B4A v8.00 BETA has been released!

[Erel]

I'm very happy to release B4A v8.00 BETA. This update includes many important improvements and makes it simpler to target the latest versions of Android.

(image source: android.com)

As explained in this tutorial, all apps will soon need to target sdk version 26 (Android 8). This is a new policy of Google and it has many consequences for app developers. Many of the improvements in B4A v8.0 help developers with this task.

Improvements:

• The process of starting the app from the background was rewritten to comply with targetSdkVersion 26 requirements.
• Push notifications and other features that cause apps to start from the background should be more reliable due to changes in the way services are started. A wake lock is automatically held when a receiver receives an intent. The wake lock is released when the service starts.
• Automatic foreground mode: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/automatic-foreground-mode.90546/
  
• Notification object rewritten to work with targetSdkVersion 26. In most cases you don't need to change anything. Notification.SetInfo or Notification.SetInfo2 should be the last calls before you show the notification.
• Notification.SetInfo / SetInfo2 accept CharSequences so it can work with CSBuilder.
• StartServiceAt / StartServiceAtExact rewritten to work with targetSdkVersion 26 and they are now more reliable.
• Notification.Initialize2 - Allows to set the notification channel importance level.
  
• Better support for AAR libraries: jni folders (native libraries) are handled properly, assets and resources from internal jars are added to the project.
• Signing key size is explicitly set to avoid issues with newer versions of Java.
• B4A Sdk Manager v3.22 - Bug fixes and support for Google based AVDs.
• Screenshot tool modified to work with latest versions of Android SDK.
• MediaPlayer.IsInitialzied method.
• Manifest editor macros - Macros can be added to libraries or zip files. For example to set a light theme based on Android version:
  
  CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, Themes.LightTheme)
  Unless you are setting a custom theme then it is recommended to use either Themes.LightTheme or Themes.DarkTheme.
  
  Firebase push notifications:
  
  CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, FirebaseAnalytics.GooglePlayBase)
  CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, FirebaseAnalytics.Firebase)
  CreateResourceFromFile(Macro, FirebaseNotifications.FirebaseNotifications)
  https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/new-feature-manifest-macros.90398/#content
  
  
• Custom class templates - Class templates can be added to libraries.
  For example if you add the XUI library to your project then you will have an option to add a custom view based on XUI:
  
  
  
  
  
  Libraries can include multiple templates and any library can include templates.
  
• #SignKeyAlias attribute - Allows overriding the default signing key alias.
• Firebase and xCustomListView are internal libraries.
• Libraries deprecation messages in the IDE:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Fix for a very long standing issue where the activity code could have been executed while the activity is paused which leads to a hard to reproduce NullPointerException.
• BADoclet (tool to generate libraries XML) v1.07 - adds support for custom class templates.
  
• Other bug fixes and minor improvements.

Backward compatibility notes

• Notification.SetInfo or SetInfo2 should be the last calls before you use the notification. Note that standard notifications created with previous versions of B4A will not work at all on Android 8+ when targetSdkVersion is 26+.
• Adding a service, other than the Starter service, will add the WAKE_LOCK permission. This is a non-dangerous permission.
  As mentioned above a wake lock is held automatically when a service is started from the background and until Service_Start is called. You can remove this permission with:
  
  RemovePermission(android.permission.WAKE_LOCK)
  Everything will still work, however the service might fail to start from the background in some cases.

Developers eligible for a free upgrade should receive an email with upgrade instructions.
I remind you that this is a beta version.

 

[rkmoray]

Thank you Erel. I am testing 8.00 now.

 

[Erel]

Tutorial about the new automatic foreground mode: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/automatic-foreground-mode.90546/

 

[Javier Donayre]

Superb

 

[martin24]

Thanks for the update.

The new StartServiceAtExact and Notification features work perfectly with targetSdkVersion 26 in my first tests.

Firebase and xCustomListView are internal libraries.

I just removed these libraries from my libs folder and realized that InAppBilling3.jar is available in the B4a\libraries folder and my own lib folder. Is InAppBilling3 also an internal library?

 

[DonManfred]

Inappbilling3 is an internal library.

 

[martin24]

Hmm, I asked because I don't have the InAppBilling3.xml file in the b4a\Libraries folder. So removing that library from my own libs folder causes a missing library error...

Could you please check if you have that xml in your b4a\Libraries folder?

 

[DonManfred]

i do not have a XML in the internal library folder. But the file InAppBilling3.jar has an date from today (i today installed b4a 8 beta) so i guess it is an internal library.
Maybe the XML is missing in the Setup? Try to install B4A in a NEW Folder. Just to check the content of internal-libs folder...

 

[Erel]

The jar file is there by mistake. It will be removed. For now it is not an internal library.

 

[hasanaydin52]

Thank you Erel,

is #SignKeyAlias Private Sign Keys?

can we set/change private sign key automatically?

 

[Mikel Huerta]

Thanks for the new version!

 

[shb777]

Will this allow us to use the new dji library. previously you said

"The new SDK is encrypted and needs to be loaded in a very specific way. I will upload the new library however you will need to wait for B4A v8.0 to be released as it required a few improvements to the APK building process."

Also where can I download the new library?

 

[Erel]

is #SignKeyAlias Private Sign Keys?

can we set/change private sign key automatically?

There are three relevant attributes that allow you to change the signing key based on the build configuration:
#SignKeyFile, #SignKeyPassword and #SignKeyAlias

Will this allow us to use the new dji library

Yes. It wasn't uploaded yet.

 

[Deleted member 103]

Bug fixed!

in B4a 7.80: Public storage As FilrebaseStorage
in B4a 8.00: Public storage As FirebaseStorage

 

[afields]

Thank you Erel. i'll test it soon!

 

[rscheel]

It would be good in the case of services if the line "Service.StopAutomaticForeground" is missing, send a notification, this for the oldest projects, so do not forget to add this line.

 

[Num3]

This new update sounds wonderful, good job!

Developers eligible for a free upgrade should receive an email with upgrade instructions.

I have checked my email (including spam) and I have not received any info yet, AFAIK i am eligible still, correct?

 

[Erel]

I have checked my email (including spam) and I have not received any info yet, AFAIK i am eligible still, correct?

Please contact support@basic4ppc.com. If you don't receive an answer in less than 24 hours then contact me with a private message as it is likely that your mail server blocks our mails.

 

[Beja]

Thank you Erel, great as always.