Here’s an early Christmas present: A new beta for the scriptures program. Changes from the previous beta include:
- Can move a bookmark from one chapter to another. Just select the “move bookmark” menu item, then select the bookmark in the list, and the bookmark will be updated to the new location you’re at.
- Added a new spot for a preference that will (but does not yet), allow you to turn off the screen orientation switching
- I’m still working on the bookmark nav button issue I mentioned in the previous version update.
- Other minor improvements
There was an incremental release between this beta and the previous beta that I’ve been running on my personal phone which I did not let out…mostly because it involved a total refactoring of the scripture listing activities and I didn’t want to blowup everybody’s scripture program. I’ve been running it for a couple weeks now, and I’m including the changes in this version. There should not be any change in functionality, but if there are changes from what you remember, please comment. There is one fix from that incremental version to this:
- Clicking the back button when browsing the scripture listings will now move back in the history instead of quitting the app. (This is what it should be like before the code refactoring)
Stuff to still to fix from this version before releasing on the market:
- After opening the bookmark page and selecting a bookmark, when you click on a history button you are taken back to the bookmark page instead of a scripture listing.
- Enable the “use screen orientation” preference
- Decrease database download times, using compression on files being downloaded. Initial data indicates a decrease in file sizes by as much as 4x for both LDS and KJV scriptures. Hopefully that will reduce the time for downloads as well.
Once the 0.3.0 version is complete, then the following is the feature/release plan:
- 0.4.0: Search
- 0.5.0: Highlighting, Notes
- 0.6.0: Update checker feature (is that even English?) (may or may not be included)
- 1.0 Touch up, a license screen, an about screen
Once the 1.0 version is out, then the serious work on the import utility will begin. The goal is to allow people to create their own content and read it on their own devices using the Scripture program. If they so desire, it could be submitted and included in the listing for general download via the Scripture program itself.
this is indeed exciting. my only question is, how do I install this? i downloaded it from my phone’s browser, and i installed it, but it identifies the app as “android system”. after it installs, the “launch now” button is dimmed out, and no scriptures app shows in my app menu.
thanks!
Hello Dave,
I was wondering if you would need any help with this project. I was originally going to make a scripture program for the Android operating system, but saw that you had already started. I would love to help in any way that I can. I am also LDS and would love to see this move forward. Thanks,
Adam Gessel
The thing I could use the most help on right now is the content creation tool. If you are interested I can give you the specs for the database.
Sounds good… please email me at damageless[at]gmail.com.
How do you plan to do those imports? Do you need more help? I’ve been hoping to get the manuals and conference talks in here too.
I’ve mentioned a small requirement list for the tool here: http://blog.digitalbias.com/?p=162. I think it would also be nice to have html at some point, but html is not very structured and would make it difficult to import into the database.
Tim: I just noticed that I never answered your question.
To install the application on your phone without using either the Marketplace or using the Android SDK, I copy the file to the sd card (i.e. I connect the phone to the computer, copy the file from my HD to the phone via the USB cable). I then disconnect the phone from the computer, open up “Android File Explorer” (an app from the Market), navigate to the directory I dumped the file in and open it. I’m asked to validate the security options and then it installs.
Hope that helps.
sure enough, that did it! thanks!
i had to rename the default filename for the lds scripture set download, /sdcard/scriptures/lds.db to /sdcard/scriptures/scriptures.db. for some reason, no matte how many times I set it to look for the db @ /sdcard/scriptures/lds.db, it couldn’t find it.
Thank you so much for all you work!
In the preferences screen you should be able to choose which file to use. Sometimes it requires a restart (a known bug in the latest versions I’m working on fixing…that’s why there hasn’t been a beta for a while). You can get to the preference screen via the menu on the main browse screen.
Robbie: The best thing that can be done to help get content for the application is to convert the content into either THmL or OSIS. The import tool will then read those formats and convert them into the correct database format for the application.
If you are a programmer than a script that reads the content and converts it into those formats would be useful, but would probably be a one-off for each source.
I’m interested in helping out, too. Do you have a public svn server?
This is great, Thanks! Please let me know if you come up with a hymn book!
Im having trouble getting beta 0.3.0 to work. I’ve followed all the instructions and downloaded androidscriptures.apk but when I open the scriptures app it says that the database is invalid. The download database or choose existing one pops up. I tried to choose the file while in the scriptures app but there is no ok button. I can only select the file but I cannot press ok in order choose the file. Please help!!
Utah_Dave: There is no public svn server for this. I’m using git, and it’s currently on a private server.
Michael: You choose the database in the preferences screen, which can be reached from the main screen by pressing the menu button.
Dave: I’ll see what I can do. Also, I think it’d be a good idea to get a small mailing list together so none of us who want to help have to post our emails to you and have the spambots hit our accounts…
Also, if you’re up for it I think a SVN tracker would be great.
I love the idea of a email list…so much so that I’ve created one: http://groups.google.com/group/androidscriptures
I would love to help. joined the google group.
Dave, Thanks for the emial. I joined the user group as well. Is that where you want to start discussions on issues we come across as well as suggestions?
Yes. I’d like to move the discussions there instead of here.