TUTORIAL BASIC4ANDROID > BASIC4ANDROID MEMBUAT CHART/GRAFIK

Anywhere Software is widening its offerings to Android enterprise developers by launching a charts framework, making it easier to incorporate appealing charts in Android-based applications, and adding a tutorial for connection to MySQL databases.

Bar Chart

The framework is aimed at allowing developers to easily add different types of charts. It currently supports pie charts, line charts and bar charts. The new charts framework is written in Basic4android as a code module, allowing developers to customize it according to their own specific needs. The code demonstrates several concepts including usage of custom types, drawings, string measurements and region clipping. 

The Android connection to MySQL databases tutorial explains the basic concepts required for creating a connection between an Android-based device and a remote server (MySQL database).

Until now, Android devices couldn’t connect directly to the database server. The new feature is a simple Web service that forwards the requests to the database and returns the response. Like the charts framework, it is also written in Basic4android as a code module allowing developers to customize it.

“The new additions are part of our ongoing efforts to widen the services offered to Android enterprise developers,” said Erel Uziel, CEO of Anywhere Software. “Our aim is to allow developers to constantly add cool and useful features to their applications.”

TUTORIAL BASIC4ANDROID > BASIC4ANDROID, SIDE MENU

A new module, created by Anywhere Software, allows developers of Android-based applications to easily add a sliding panels feature to their new apps.

Android SlidingPanels

By using the Android Sliding Panels, developers can create a layout made of a number of panels, adding a cool and exciting feature to their apps. 

Currently, by using the Animation library, developers can animate single views and panels that hold other views. Adding the Android Sliding Panels code further simplifies the whole process.  

While using it, once a new application is loaded, the existing panel slides out and the new panel, with the application, slides in. As panels can load layout files, developers can create complex layouts by loading a different layout file for each panel.

Android Sliding Panels is made of two components.

• The Main activity 
• The Sliding Panels code module

Users need to add the Sliding Panels code module to their project and add a reference to the Animation library. The main activity code explains the several integration points required. In order to complete the process Animation library v1.02 is required. 

It is recommended to take a look at the code, even for developers who are not particularly interested in sliding layouts, as it demonstrates the power of custom types, which enable developers to easily group many objects.

The code module can be easily changed to meet specific requirements and can be used directly by touching the touch screen. 

TUTORIAL BASIC4ANDROID > MENGENAL B4A BRIDGE

One of the main problems that Android application developers face is that the Android Emulator is very slow and does not support all devices. To deal with this problem Anywhere Software has introduced Basic4android (B4A) Bridge, a new free tool for Android developers allowing them to test their applications directly on all devices without using the Emulator.

By using B4A Bridge, developers can now test new applications faster and more efficiently. 

Currently developers test their applications in two different ways during the development process:

• Working with the Android emulator
• Connecting to a real device if it supports ADB debugging 

As the Android Emulator is known to be extremely slow when compared to a real device (especially during applications installation), most developers find it easier to work with a real device. The main problem, however, is that certain devices do not support ADB debugging. 

The new B4A-Bridge Tool is aimed at solving this particular problem. It is made of two components: one runs on the device, while allowing the second to connect and communicate directly with the device. The connection requires a wireless network as the connection is done over the network. 

Once connected, B4A-Bridge supports all of IDE features including:

• Installing applications
• Viewing LogCat 
• Watching the visual designer

“By using B4A Bridge developers can save time and complete the whole development process with no added frustration,” said Erel Uziel, CEO of Anywhere Software. “There is no need for a special driver and developers can run their applications directly on the device. Users have already indicated that it works very smoothly and the connection is easy to establish.”