Launching 3rd Party IM Application

[bdowling]

Hi all,

I am writing an application that I'd like to be able to launch 3rd party IM clients for different networks, such as AIM, YIM and MSN, and other networks if clients exist.

Is there any mechanism for finding out what applications exist on the device, and what URLs they can handle? And if so is there a standard way to invoke third party applications?

...or would a better approach be to allow the user to select the application they would like certain URLs to be launched with?

Thanks in advance, Ben

[Skipper_Joe]

Hi

You can get list of installed modules and ApplicationDescriptors from net.rim.device.api.system.CodeModuleManager and check if some specific module is installed on device.
Then you can launch app using net.rim.device.api.system.ApplicationManager class, see runApplication() methods.

Is it what you want?

Andrey Eydelman

[bdowling]

That is definately useful, thanks.

That may have to be the way I do it, but ideally I'd like to be able to check "is there any application that handles aim urls?" - and get a list of applications. Is this possible?

Thanks again, Ben

[jfisher]

no, you'll have to code that yourself with a list of apps and check using the method described above.

[bdowling]

OK thanks

[Stinsonddog]

just an fyi in terms of functionality. I have switched to the Yahoo RIM client after I got the service book. Why. The dial from home screen shortcut makes it so easy. I even disabled Pocket Day to be able to use that feature.

[bdowling]

Having done a little more reading I've seen the 'service records' [EDIT: Service Book]. Is there anyway to use these to determine if an IM client is installed/can handle IM connections?

TIA, Ben

[bdowling]

I don't think I'm going to be able to find out what applications can handle what URIs from the service book.

I now know how to find out what applications are installed using the Application Manager. Therefore I can get the user to choose which application to launch a URI with. However, how can I pass the URI to the application, and will I have any way of knowing if the invoke was successful or not?

For example, say I have a URI: ymsgr://yahoo_chatter - I want the user to be able to launch it from inside my app. I present them with a list of apps. They could choose an installed IM client. How would I get that to start chatting to yahoo_chatter. They could choose something completely wrong, like the phone.

Is there any way to filter applications based on URIs they can handle?

[virusboy286]

Hey, do you have t-Mobile or verision wireless?
------------------------------------------------
T-Mobile
8700g

[bdowling]

O2 (UK) 8700g

[Skipper_Joe]

Ben

As far as I know, there is no general way to check if application is able to handle URI. You should implement custom logic for each IM application. Also there is no unified way to pass parameters to application. It is possible to define main() arguments when you use ApplicationManager.launch() or ApplicationManager.runApplication() methods, but it depends on application vendors, if they provide API for external applications or not.

Regards,
Andrey

[virusboy286]

Originally Posted by bdowling

O2 (UK) 8700g

Ever heard of OZ Instant Messaging?

[bdowling]

Nope? Is it an application? If so it doesn't solve any of my problems, because users could have any IM client installed

[virusboy286]

OZ instant Messaging is four clients in one wrap, use the coding of the app to redifine the source coding to meet your needs. Using base software sometimes cuts the frustration and time in making your own program. Using bits and pieces of source code is fine as long as the coding fits the purpose. When I usually did this I strung multiple program source codes to create a unquie app for myself. As for the ULI, and service books, upload the service book and mix it with the coding, though I can't tell you how just involve the ULI and the Service Book to look for a certain function
That help?

[bdowling]

Sorry, I don't think I quite understand.

Do you mean use the source code of "Oz IM", and build it into my own application?

That isn't really what I want to do. I don't want to create an IM app. I am creating a launcher application, that I want to be able to launch external applications based on a URI. So if the user wants to launch "ymsgr://chatter" then a Yahoo IM client is launched and starts chatting to the user "chatter".

[jfisher]

ignore this virusboy286 user - he has absolutely no idea about blackberry programming (not meaning to flame - but you're confusing every thread you post in)

[virusboy286]

Originally Posted by jfisher

ignore this virusboy286 user - he has absolutely no idea about blackberry programming (not meaning to flame - but you're confusing every thread you post in)

Okay, confuse I may, however, the problem I have is, don't you have to write the source coding on the PC before you enter it on the BB? Sorry to ask, but, the code you write wether it's for a Treo or a server, the base coding you write MUST be the same. Before you modify the source code for the platform to fit the app you want. Now as for the launcher, again your clients must have the ablity to access only the app from the menu they want. You want them to go Yahoo Chatter, okay they still need a program to go to the IM orginally, therefore the Links to the Chatter is required. URI is okay, along with the service book. However, don't make a specific table, have them post their own or design a HRT that everyone can use. I seriously hope this is helpful. And I know Visual basic. You can write BB programs on Visual Basic, so I should know what I'm talking about.

[jfisher]

clearly.

[John Clark]

To All: User CP >Buddy/Ignore List >Add to Ignore List

[bdowling]

Thanks for the tip John!