Fixing Android sharing in Corona SDK (other Android apps work fine)

Solar2D Android
#1

My app is now in beta and my users are complaining Android sharing is broken with both Facebook and Twitter. 

Unfortunately, they are correct. Corona SDK’s implementation of Android sharing forces developers to choose from one of two unpalatable options: share the headline/text (which incorrectly removes Facebook as a sharing option) or don’t share the headline/text (which vexes our users because they have to retype it). Other Android apps like Feedly work properly when the headline/text is shared.

In addition, Twitter sharing is broken because it’s listed twice as “Twitter” in Corona-built apps instead of separately as “Direct Message” and “Tweet.” This works properly on other Android apps.

I’ve posted some more details in this long-running post on the social media forum here:

https://forums.coronalabs.com/topic/52755-can-corona-enable-limited-facebook-sharing-on-android-via-nativeshowpopup/page-3

Hoping that Corona staff can fix this soon! At least it should be a simple fix.

#2

I should post an addendum to this: “Other Android apps like Feedly work properly when the headline/text is shared.” 

In this case Facebook silently discards the headline/text and uses only the URL, which is fine. Facebook should appear as an option in Corona SDK-built apps when sharing headline/text. It does not. That is the problem.

#3

Unfortunately, from what I understand, it’s against facebook policies now to share text automatically. Feedly will probably be forced to change too.

Dave

#4

Dave: You are correct, as far as I know, that Facebook does not permit pre-filling posts when using its SDK (implemented by Corona SDK as facebook.*); its official position is: “Our API does not support pre-filling the message for users.” 

But this thread is not about using the facebook.* API – it’s about using the Android sharing mechanism.

Fortunately Corona fixed this last month and it Now Just Works, as you can see in this related thread: https://forums.coronalabs.com/topic/52755-can-corona-enable-limited-facebook-sharing-on-android-via-nativeshowpopup/page-4

I will mark this thread as solved.

#5

I should post an addendum to this: “Other Android apps like Feedly work properly when the headline/text is shared.” 

In this case Facebook silently discards the headline/text and uses only the URL, which is fine. Facebook should appear as an option in Corona SDK-built apps when sharing headline/text. It does not. That is the problem.

#6

Unfortunately, from what I understand, it’s against facebook policies now to share text automatically. Feedly will probably be forced to change too.

Dave

#7

Dave: You are correct, as far as I know, that Facebook does not permit pre-filling posts when using its SDK (implemented by Corona SDK as facebook.*); its official position is: “Our API does not support pre-filling the message for users.” 

But this thread is not about using the facebook.* API – it’s about using the Android sharing mechanism.

Fortunately Corona fixed this last month and it Now Just Works, as you can see in this related thread: https://forums.coronalabs.com/topic/52755-can-corona-enable-limited-facebook-sharing-on-android-via-nativeshowpopup/page-4

I will mark this thread as solved.