canOpenURL support within Corona SDK

Solar2D Daily Builds and Public Releases
#1

Hi there,

Can we get a Coronaized version of the ‘canOpenURL’ method. It returns a BOOL value if the URL can be opened or not.

Its main use for me is to silently check if my other apps are installed via the custom URL schemes and possibly offer incentives.

Objective C info:
http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/DOCUMENTATION/UIKit/Reference/UIApplication_Class/Reference/Reference.html#//apple_ref/occ/instm/UIApplication/canOpenURL:

Not sure if this exists for native android or not. [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 334243[/import]

#2

In build 986, system.openURL was updated to return a true/false value depending on the system’s ability to open the custom URL. In other words, canOpenUrl was built into the the call. Here’s the specific release note:

IOS: Fix system.openURL() to not display UI if custom url is not supported. This allows you to open things like Google Maps, but also handle the case where it will silently return false if the Google Maps app is not installed.

 if not system.openURL("comgooglemaps:") then  
 system.openURL("http://maps.google.com")  
 end

[import]uid: 199310 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136142[/import]

#3

Oh wow, thank you. I didn’t realise it was already implemented. Need to pay more attention to the daily builds! [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136143[/import]

#4

Hi again Rob,

Cant seem to get it to work, here is my code:

[lua]if not system.openURL(“app1:”) then
print “app1 not installed”
else
print “app1 installed”
end[/lua]

When I run it on my device, it just opens ‘app1’ which is not what I am after, I just want to know if it can open, not open it. If app1 is not installed, it hits the else clause ok.

I’m using the latest 993 build if that helps. [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136148[/import]

#5

Are you on iOS or Android? [import]uid: 199310 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136150[/import]

#6

iOS [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136151[/import]

#7

I have tried making an app that just has

[lua]print (system.openURL(“app1:”))[/lua]

It either launches app1 or returns ‘false’ [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136152[/import]

#8

yes would be cool to have option like this

system.openURL(“url”, runOnTrue = true) and by default would be true [import]uid: 111283 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136155[/import]

#9

Right this isn’t can open. If will open the URL if it can. If it can’t it returns false to let you know it can’t open it, then you can take an alternate action if it can’t open.

canOpenURL if course gives you information before launch. This doesn’t behave that way. It will open the URL if it can and return false if it fails.

[import]uid: 199310 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136156[/import]

#10

Yeah, I have been playing around with canOpenURL in xcode and it seems to do exactly what I am looking for to check if my app exists.

I have worked around it with Corona by bouncing the user between the two apps with customURL schemes, but It would be nice if canOpenURL is integrated into corona as it makes what im trying to do a smoother experience for end users. [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136164[/import]

#11

+1 [import]uid: 13632 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136210[/import]

#12

In build 986, system.openURL was updated to return a true/false value depending on the system’s ability to open the custom URL. In other words, canOpenUrl was built into the the call. Here’s the specific release note:

IOS: Fix system.openURL() to not display UI if custom url is not supported. This allows you to open things like Google Maps, but also handle the case where it will silently return false if the Google Maps app is not installed.

 if not system.openURL("comgooglemaps:") then  
 system.openURL("http://maps.google.com")  
 end

[import]uid: 199310 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136142[/import]

#13

Oh wow, thank you. I didn’t realise it was already implemented. Need to pay more attention to the daily builds! [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136143[/import]

#14

Hi again Rob,

Cant seem to get it to work, here is my code:

[lua]if not system.openURL(“app1:”) then
print “app1 not installed”
else
print “app1 installed”
end[/lua]

When I run it on my device, it just opens ‘app1’ which is not what I am after, I just want to know if it can open, not open it. If app1 is not installed, it hits the else clause ok.

I’m using the latest 993 build if that helps. [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136148[/import]

#15

Are you on iOS or Android? [import]uid: 199310 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136150[/import]

#16

iOS [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136151[/import]

#17

I have tried making an app that just has

[lua]print (system.openURL(“app1:”))[/lua]

It either launches app1 or returns ‘false’ [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136152[/import]

#18

yes would be cool to have option like this

system.openURL(“url”, runOnTrue = true) and by default would be true [import]uid: 111283 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136155[/import]

#19

Right this isn’t can open. If will open the URL if it can. If it can’t it returns false to let you know it can’t open it, then you can take an alternate action if it can’t open.

canOpenURL if course gives you information before launch. This doesn’t behave that way. It will open the URL if it can and return false if it fails.

[import]uid: 199310 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136156[/import]

#20

Yeah, I have been playing around with canOpenURL in xcode and it seems to do exactly what I am looking for to check if my app exists.

I have worked around it with Corona by bouncing the user between the two apps with customURL schemes, but It would be nice if canOpenURL is integrated into corona as it makes what im trying to do a smoother experience for end users. [import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 34243 reply_id: 136164[/import]