B4J Question B4J detecting standalone situation

jjveloso · Dec 12, 2024

Hello.
I would like to know if there's a way my progran knows, while running, if it is running under the IDE environment or under a stand alone situation.
While I try to develop the program,, I feequently test it under those two situations (IDE and standalone) as the paths are not exactly the same I have to move and change things each time (the "temp" folder is created everytime).
Is there anyway to detect the environment (to look for the right folder in the right situation)

Thanks for your help and advise

aeric · Dec 12, 2024

Maybe what you are looking for is the Conditional Compilation symbol.
i.e

B4X:

#If Debug
    'Run only during debug in IDE
#End If

#If Release
   'Execute after program compiled as production release
#End If

Conditional Compilation & Build Configurations

B4A v3.80 adds support for conditional compilation. From Wikipedia: In computer programming, conditional compilation is compilation implementing methods which allow the compiler to produce differences in the executable produced controlled by parameters that are provided during compilation...

www.b4x.com

By the way, you should ask B4J related question in the correct forum.

LucaMs · Dec 13, 2024

And it's good to read that thread, otherwise you might think that you can only use DEBUG and RELEASE, instead you can create your own "symbols" (keywords).

aeric · Dec 13, 2024

LucaMs said:
And it's good to read that thread, otherwise you might think that you can only use DEBUG and RELEASE, instead you can create your own "symbols" (keywords).

Of course, I also use it for creating beta version (with different package name) or switching between database type.

The above screenshot is from my Support Ticketing System.

jkhazraji · Dec 13, 2024

jjveloso said:
Hello.
I would like to know if there's a way my progran knows, while running, if it is running under the IDE environment or under a stand alone situation.
While I try to develop the program,, I feequently test it under those two situations (IDE and standalone) as the paths are not exactly the same I have to move and change things each time (the "temp" folder is created everytime).
Is there anyway to detect the environment (to look for the right folder in the right situation)

Thanks for your help and advise

B4X:

i.e.,
#If DEBUG
    log("I am running under IDE")
#End if

#If RELEASE
    xui.MsgboxAsync("I am in release mode!", "B4X")
#end if

LucaMs · Dec 13, 2024

jkhazraji said:

B4X:

i.e.,
#If DEBUG
    log("I am running under IDE")
#End if

#If RELEASE
    xui.MsgboxAsync("I am in release mode!", "B4X")
#end if

In his case, DEBUG and RELEASE are not enough.
He wants to know if the compiled version is running with the IDE open or not (stand-alone), that's why he will need custom "symbols".

BTW, you can also write:

B4X:

#IF DEBUG
#ELSE 'IF ...
#END IF

jkhazraji · Dec 13, 2024

or:

LucaMs said:
In his case, DEBUG and RELEASE are not enough.
He wants to know if the compiled version is running with the IDE open or not (stand-alone), that's why he will need custom "symbols".

BTW, you can also write:

B4X:

#IF DEBUG #ELSE 'IF ... #END IF

By all means the compiled version will ignore DEBUG and vice versa

jjveloso · Dec 13, 2024

Thak you so much
I will try and tell you

Alex_197 · Dec 13, 2024

Try this

B4X:

Sub AppStart (Args() As String)
    
    If Args.Length>0 Then
        Params=Args(0)
        File.WriteString(File.DirApp,"Test.txt",Args(0))
        
    Else
        File.WriteString(File.DirApp,"Test.txt","Empty")
        Return
    End If

End Sub

And execute your B4J app like this MyApp.Jar YourArgumentsStr

jjveloso · Dec 13, 2024

Hello again
I Tryed

Sub AppStart (Form1 As Form, Args() As String)
Dim IDEon As Boolean
IDEon= False

#If DEBUG
Log("I am running under Debug IDE")
IDEon= True
#ELSE
#if RELEASE
Log("I am running under Relelease IDE")
IDEon= True
#End If
#End if

Log("IDEon:"& IDEon)[/CODE]

Unsuccesfully

When in standalone, it detects the environment as RELEASE

I'll continue searching

jkhazraji · Dec 13, 2024

jjveloso said:
Hello again
I Tryed

Sub AppStart (Form1 As Form, Args() As String)
Dim IDEon As Boolean
IDEon= False

#If DEBUG
Log("I am running under Debug IDE")
IDEon= True
#ELSE
#if RELEASE
Log("I am running under Relelease IDE")
IDEon= True
#End If
#End if

Log("IDEon:"& IDEon)[/CODE]

Unsuccesfully

When in standalone, it detects the environment as RELEASE

I'll continue searching

Try:

B4X:

Dim r As Reflector
        Dim debugMode As Object = r.GetStaticField("anywheresoftware.b4a.BA", "debugMode")
    Log(debugMode)

aeric · Dec 13, 2024

jjveloso said:
test it under those two situations (IDE and standalone) as the paths are not exactly the same

Can you explain what are the difference in both scenarios?
What are the paths you are trying to change?
I guess that you don't need to make it complicated to do a "detection".

aeric · Dec 13, 2024

jjveloso said:
#If DEBUG
Log("I am running under Debug IDE")
IDEon= True
#ELSE
#if RELEASE
Log("I am running under Relelease IDE")
IDEon= True
#End If
#End if

This is wrong.

Try:

B4X:

#If DEBUG
  Log("I am running under Debug IDE")
  IDEon = True
#Else
  Log("I am running under Release")
#End If
Log(IDEon)

jjveloso · Dec 17, 2024

Heloo Aeric
You're right, the code is quiet redundant

Anayway, I thnk I've found a way to distinguish between IDE status and Standalone status.
Perhaps this is not the more elegant way, but it works.

What I do is to use the simple instruction File.DiRapp

This instruction gives you different values depending the status of the running program.
In case of IDE environment, the last folder of the chain is "Objects"
In case of standalone running the last folder of the chain is "bin"

So based on this difference I added these simple instructions to the sample program generated by the B4J IDE

Sample program modified:

Sub AppStart (Form1 As Form, Args() As String)
    
    text= File.DirApp
    Log ("File.dirapp : "& text)
    
    
    MainForm = Form1
    MainForm.RootPane.LoadLayout("Layout1")
    MainForm.Show
    
    Label2.Text= text
    
    index= File.DirApp.IndexOf("bin")
    Log("index : "& index)
    If index > 0 Then
        Log ("I'm running in standalone condition")
    Else
        Log ("I'm running under IDE environment")
    End If
    
    
End Sub

And it works

I also attach pictures of both situations showing the result

I hope this helps the people, until someboy clever than me ( quite easy), gives another option

Thanks to everybody

aeric · Dec 17, 2024

It's a trick but I think not so convenient compared to using conditional compilation.

jjveloso · Dec 17, 2024

For me the question is only where to find certain files (DB) in both situations.

Thanks.

aeric · Dec 17, 2024

jjveloso said:
For me the question is only where to find certain files (DB) in both situations.

Thanks.

If you are trying to create a package and install to Program Files, the installation folder is not writable without admin permission. It is better to put your db in AppData.

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