Android Question Updating program in external storage

A

Adrian Jansen

Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
I have a program in development, with the Module Attibutes set to "#CanInstallToExternalStorage: True"

When installing to an Android ( version 4.2.2 ) phone for the first time, using the B4A bridge I get the choice to "Install to SD card" presented by the phone. After doing so, and checking that the program is indeed installed on the card, I then did some more debugging, and did another Compile and Run from the IDE. The program is then sent to the phone, and all works ok, but when I check where it went, the program is now installed on the phone internal memory.

I was rather hoping to keep debug installations on the external card, since the Flash has a somewhat limited life, and cards are cheap to replace, if I ever need to.

I also tried editing the manifest to
"SetManifestAttribute("android:installLocation", "preferExternal")"

But that also does not cause a re-installation to go to external storage. Of course I can always delete the current installation, and then re-install, when I get the "Install to SD card" choice again, but that is an extra step.

Any thoughts on how to get a re-installation to go to the SD card automatically ?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
A

Adrian Jansen

Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
Thanks Erel. In normal useage, this would not be a problem, I imagine its rare for a user to re-install a package. But for a developer, especially a newbie to B4A like me, while learning how to do things, I find I re-install 10-20 times a day. Hopefully I will get better at writing code that works. I know I could use the PC emulator for some testing, but I find that is very slow, and does not emulate hardware like GPS at all.

Just a thought: Is it possible to programmatically uninstall a package ? Or can it only be done from the Apps manager.
 
Upvote 0
A

Adrian Jansen

Member
Licensed User
Longtime User

Thanks for that. I guess even at 10 installs per working day, thats only around 2000 re-writes per year. Flash should be good for 10,000 at least, plus the gain from wear-levelling.

Actually the new B4J IDE allows me to do 80% of what I want. Write the program first as a B4J application for the PC, get the logic right and display interface tidied up, check out that the calls to the libraries do what I want them to do. Then its a relatively easy job to port the app to B4A, and get it to run there.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…