On Mac, Corona Build not creating .app file, instead creates a .ipa file. How do I get the .app file?

Solar2D iOS
#1

Hello,

I am facing the issue that when I build my game for iOS in Corona on a Mac running macOS High Sierra and using Corona 2018.3223, Corona generates a file with the .ipa file extension. Why isn’t Corona giving me the .app file I need? What can I do to get the .app file? What use is a .ipa file? How can I extract the .app file from the .ipa file OR how can I make Corona create a .app file when it builds my application?

I am using a windows computer but am renting a mac online with MacinCloud. I don’t have admin access to the Mac. Is there anything I can do?

#2

What options are you choosing for the “After Build” options?

Copy to device:  makes a .app folder

Open in Xcode Simulator: makes a .app folder

Send to App Store: makes a .iap file

Show in Finder: makes a .app folder

Do Nothing: makes a .app folder.

Rob

#3

I am selecting the show in finder and it is still giving me the .ipa file

#4

a .iap file is just a .zip file. You can rename it to .zip and then decompress it in finder. The .app will be inside a folder named Payload.

I just ran through all the options and tried them all. Try “Install to device” and see what it outputs.

Rob

#5

When I build using “show in finder”, I still get an ipa file. I tried renaming the .ipa file to .zip, which didn’t work and decompressing it, which gave me the app file. However, the file won’t open in Xcode and seems to be a bad file altogether. Take a look at the images I provided and see what I mean. Thank you for helping me.

  1. First picture - Corona is building an ipa file when I choose show in finder.
  2. Second Picture - After renaming to a zip file and decompressing, the .app file seems to be unusable, as shown in the third picture.
  3. Third Picture - When I drag the file to xcode in an attempt to open it in xcode, I get an error message.
#6

Are you trying to open it in the Xcode Simulator or in Xcode to work on the bundle?

If you’re wanting to run it in the Simulator, choose Open in Xcode iOS Simulator.  If you’re wanting to work on the bundle, I’m not sure that’s allowed, since we’ve already signed the bundle.

If you’re wanting to do Xcode builds, you will want to start with the Corona Native app template, and do Xcode builds instead of simulator builds.

Rob

#7

I just want to get a .app file and upload it to the app store. Is the .app file with the big slash across it a properly built file? If it is, how can I upload it to the app store? Or at least, could you point me to some documentation that shows how to take a .app file and put it on the app store? I haven’t found any docs on the corona docs site. I looked all through the building and distribution page but couldn’t find any instructions on how to upload it to the app store. If the .app file with the big slash through it isn’t a properly built file, how can I get a properly built .app file?

When I say .app file with the slash through it, I mean the file shown in the picture attached to this reply

#8

There is an option on the build dialog “Send to the App Store”. This will launch ApplicationLoader which takes a .ipa file and send it to the App Store for you. There is not a need to touch Xcode for this.

Rob

#9

I followed the prompts and fixed some issues, and I got a message that said the app submitted successfully. However, I later got an email saying I had some issues. I am not sure what is wrong. The corona docs say this:

https://docs.coronalabs.com/guide/distribution/iOSBuild/index.html#creating-app-ids, but in the email saying I have an issue, the email says this: We have discovered one or more issues with your recent delivery for “Meteor Storm - Defend Earth”. To process your delivery, the following issues must be corrected:

Missing Info.plist value - A value for the Info.plist key ‘CFBundleIconName’ is missing in the bundle ‘com.bluedeskstudios.meteorstorm’. Apps built with iOS 11 or later SDK must supply app icons in an asset catalog and must also provide a value for this Info.plist key.  These seem to be contradictory. What can I do?

How can I fix this?

#10

Please see:  https://docs.coronalabs.com/guide/distribution/launchFile/index.html

Rob

#11

What options are you choosing for the “After Build” options?

Copy to device:  makes a .app folder

Open in Xcode Simulator: makes a .app folder

Send to App Store: makes a .iap file

Show in Finder: makes a .app folder

Do Nothing: makes a .app folder.

Rob

#12

I am selecting the show in finder and it is still giving me the .ipa file

#13

a .iap file is just a .zip file. You can rename it to .zip and then decompress it in finder. The .app will be inside a folder named Payload.

I just ran through all the options and tried them all. Try “Install to device” and see what it outputs.

Rob

#14

When I build using “show in finder”, I still get an ipa file. I tried renaming the .ipa file to .zip, which didn’t work and decompressing it, which gave me the app file. However, the file won’t open in Xcode and seems to be a bad file altogether. Take a look at the images I provided and see what I mean. Thank you for helping me.

  1. First picture - Corona is building an ipa file when I choose show in finder.
  2. Second Picture - After renaming to a zip file and decompressing, the .app file seems to be unusable, as shown in the third picture.
  3. Third Picture - When I drag the file to xcode in an attempt to open it in xcode, I get an error message.
#15

Are you trying to open it in the Xcode Simulator or in Xcode to work on the bundle?

If you’re wanting to run it in the Simulator, choose Open in Xcode iOS Simulator.  If you’re wanting to work on the bundle, I’m not sure that’s allowed, since we’ve already signed the bundle.

If you’re wanting to do Xcode builds, you will want to start with the Corona Native app template, and do Xcode builds instead of simulator builds.

Rob

#16

I just want to get a .app file and upload it to the app store. Is the .app file with the big slash across it a properly built file? If it is, how can I upload it to the app store? Or at least, could you point me to some documentation that shows how to take a .app file and put it on the app store? I haven’t found any docs on the corona docs site. I looked all through the building and distribution page but couldn’t find any instructions on how to upload it to the app store. If the .app file with the big slash through it isn’t a properly built file, how can I get a properly built .app file?

When I say .app file with the slash through it, I mean the file shown in the picture attached to this reply

#17

There is an option on the build dialog “Send to the App Store”. This will launch ApplicationLoader which takes a .ipa file and send it to the App Store for you. There is not a need to touch Xcode for this.

Rob

#18

I followed the prompts and fixed some issues, and I got a message that said the app submitted successfully. However, I later got an email saying I had some issues. I am not sure what is wrong. The corona docs say this:

https://docs.coronalabs.com/guide/distribution/iOSBuild/index.html#creating-app-ids, but in the email saying I have an issue, the email says this: We have discovered one or more issues with your recent delivery for “Meteor Storm - Defend Earth”. To process your delivery, the following issues must be corrected:

Missing Info.plist value - A value for the Info.plist key ‘CFBundleIconName’ is missing in the bundle ‘com.bluedeskstudios.meteorstorm’. Apps built with iOS 11 or later SDK must supply app icons in an asset catalog and must also provide a value for this Info.plist key.  These seem to be contradictory. What can I do?

How can I fix this?

#19

Please see:  https://docs.coronalabs.com/guide/distribution/launchFile/index.html

Rob