BlackBerry Tricks and Tips and Codes

How to create library jar file and use that jar in another project

2010-02-16T18:06:00.000+06:00

Sometimes we use some codes/classes redundantly in many application without any changes in the code.
In such type of cases its better to create a jar file with those classes and use only the jar file on other projects.
For exmaple, if we have some classes with custom UI , then we can create a jar file with the classes rather adding all the classes in other projects repeatdely also in those case we have to change the packge name based on the directory.

First , How to Create the Jar file
-------------------------------
1. Create a new workspace (for example lib.jdw)
2. Create a new project(for example lib.jdp) under lib.jdw
3. Add the classes you want to create jar.
4. Note that no main is reqired.
5. From project properties make the project as library.
    Right Click on the Project -> Properties.. -> Application Tab -> Select Project type as Library
6. Build the project
7. Now you should have a jar file named lib.jar in the project file directory.
8. Preverify the jar file
    a. Go to your JDE installation folder (C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE
        4.6.0\bin)
    b. Copy lib.jar file to bin folder.
    c. Now open your command prompt and change your current directory to your JDE installation
        directory.
    d. Now execute the following command:
      preverify -classpath "C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.6.0\lib
        \net_rim_api.jar" "lib.jar"
    e. In your bin directory(C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.6.0\bin) a folder
        named output will create.
    f. Preverified jar file resides here.

9. Now rename lib.jar as lib.zip and delete cod , csl , cso file from there
10. Rename it back to lib.jar (make sure cod,csl,cso has been deleted)
11. Now you have got the jar file that you can reuse.

Second, How to add this jar to other project
--------------------------------------------
1. For example, yow want to add this jar from another project (different workspace) app.jdp.

2. Import the jar file from the project app.jdp
    Right Click on the Project -> Properties.. -> Build Tab -> Add lib.jar as Imported Jar    files:
3. Now you will be able to import the classed of lib into the new project app.

Bikas

How to Deploy any Application on Real Blackberry Devices

2010-01-09T16:12:00.000+06:00

First of all the following files are required to install an application into real device.
a. appName.cod (appName1.cod, appName2.cod, ...)
b. appName.jad
c. appName.alx
d. .htaccess (required for OTA)

An application can be intalled in the real device in two ways.
a. OTA (Over The Air)
b. Connecting your device with the PC
b1. Using Javaloader
      b2. Using Desktop Manager

OTA Installation Process
----------------------------
Check this link.

Connecting your device with the PC
---------------------------------------------------------
1. First Connect your device through USB.
2. Sign the cod file if required
3. Then you can install your application in the following ways:
    a. Using javaloader:
        i. Goto the JDE bin directory(ex: C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.6.0\bin\).
ii. copy your cod and jad file there.
iii. execute the following command from there (you can create a batch file (*.bat) and just click will do )
javaloader -usb load applicationName.jad
   or
javaloader -usb load applicationName.cod
    b. Using Desktop Manager:
i. Install destop manager
ii. place *.alx and *.cod file in the same directory
        iii.select your *.alx file from desktop manager.
        iv.Then it should start installing the application in the device.

Also check out these videos from Developer Video Library.

Code Signing

2009-08-30T13:29:00.000+07:00

Quote from Knowbedge Article about code Signing:

"Research In Motion (RIM) must track the use of sensitive application programming interfaces (APIs) in the
BlackBerry JDE for security and export control reasons. In the API reference documentation, sensitive classes or
methods are indicated by a lock icon or are noted as signed. If you use these controlled classes or methods in your
applications, your application must be signed with a key or a signature provided by RIM before you can load the
application .cod files onto the BlackBerry smartphone."

For Buying Code signing keys Go Here. You have to spend 20 USD to buy the key.

Some Other Reference link from KB Article.

What Is - Code signing and obtaining signature keys
Register Signing Keys
How To - sign a .cod file

Also Have a look at this Article. Here signing steps explained clearly.

Once you have the key you can sign as many application as you want.
And just in case if you lost the keys RIM resend you the keys to your mail address by disabling your previous keys. For that you have to send a mail to devsupport@rim.com requesting the keys and regarding your issue about key lost. The normally respond within 2-3 business days.

Legally you cannot use the keys more than one PC.
But Practically you can use the keys in any PC. For this:

a. Preserve the following files:
i.   sigtool.db
ii.  sigtool.csk
iii. sigtool.set
b. Copy these files in the JDE bin directory. (ex: C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.3.0\bin)

Clickable BitmapField

2009-08-30T13:04:00.000+07:00

For making BitmapField clickable
------------------------------------------------


         Bitmap image = Bitmap.createBitmapFromResource("button.png");
         BitmapField  imageButton = new BitmapField(image, BitmapField.FOCUSABLE)
         {
                    private XYRect xyrect=new XYRect();
                    protected boolean navigationClick(int status, int time) 
                    {
                            // This is method will invoke after clicking the image
                            // System.out.println("Image Clicked");
                            return true;
                     }
        };

Align Field in Center

2009-08-30T12:53:00.000+07:00

For aligning ButtonField in a HorizontalFieldManager
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


           HorizontalFieldManager hfm = new HorizontalFieldManager(HorizontalFieldManager.FIELD_HCENTER);
           ButtonField  button = new ButtonField("Button",DrawStyle.HCENTER); 
           hfm.add(button);

For aligning LabelFIeld Center
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


           LabelField labelField = new LabelField("Center Label", LabelField.USE_ALL_WIDTH | DrawStyle.HCENTER);

Drawing a Circle

2009-08-30T12:39:00.001+07:00

There is no direct api in the graphics class to draw circle.
So for creating circle have to use eclipse or arc.

Circle Property
---------------------
1. Center point of the circle (x, y)
2. Radius r

Now circle can be drawn in the following ways
------------------------------------------------------------------

Graphics.drawEclipse(x, y, x + r, y, x, y + r, 0, 360);

Graphics.fillArc(x, y, r, r, 0, 360);
Graphics.drawArc(x, y, r, r, 0, 360);

Clickable LabelField act like Link (Href Field )

2009-08-30T00:37:00.000+07:00

The example of a LabelField which act like html link.


import net.rim.device.api.ui.Field;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.Font;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.FontFamily;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.Graphics;
import net.rim.device.api.system.Characters;


public class HrefField extends Field {

    private String content;
    private Font fieldFont;
    private int fieldWidth;
    private int fieldHeight;
    private boolean active = false;
    private int backgroundColour = 0xffffff;
    //private int textColour = 0x333333;
    private int textColour = 0x0000ff;
    private int maskColour = 0xBBBBBB;
    
    private int buttonId;
    private String buttonName;
    
    public HrefField(String content) 
    {
        super(Field.FOCUSABLE);
        this.content = content;
        fieldFont = defaultFont();
        fieldWidth = fieldFont.getAdvance(content)+2;
        fieldHeight = fieldFont.getHeight() + 3;
    }
    
    public void setColours(int backgroundColour, int textColour, int maskColour) 
    {
        this.backgroundColour = backgroundColour;
        this.textColour = textColour;
        this.maskColour = maskColour;
        invalidate();
    }
    
    public void setBackgroundColour(int backgroundColour)
    {
        this.backgroundColour = backgroundColour;
        invalidate();
    }
    
    public void setTextColour(int textColour)
    {
        this.textColour = textColour;
        invalidate();
    }
    
    public void setMaskColour(int maskColour)
    {
        this.maskColour = maskColour;
        invalidate();
    }
    
    public void setFont(Font fieldFont)
    {
        this.fieldFont = fieldFont;
    }
    
    public int getPreferredWidth() 
    {
        return fieldWidth;
    }
    
    public int getPreferredHeight() 
    {
        return fieldHeight;
    }
    
    protected void layout(int arg0, int arg1) 
    {
        setExtent(getPreferredWidth(), getPreferredHeight());
    }
    
    protected void paint(Graphics graphics) 
    {
    
        if (active) 
        {
            graphics.setColor(maskColour);
            graphics.fillRect(0, 0, fieldWidth, fieldHeight);
        } 
        else 
        {
            graphics.setColor(backgroundColour);
            graphics.fillRect(0, 0, fieldWidth, fieldHeight);
        }
        
        graphics.setColor(textColour);
        graphics.setFont(fieldFont);
        graphics.drawText(content, 1, 1);
        graphics.drawLine(1, fieldHeight-2, fieldWidth-2, fieldHeight-2);
    }
        
    protected boolean navigationClick(int status, int time) 
    {
        fieldChangeNotify(1);
        return true;
    }
    
    public void setButtonId(int buttonId)
    {
        this.buttonId = buttonId;
    }
    
    public void setButtonName(String buttonName)
    {
        this.buttonName = buttonName;
    }
    
    public int getButtonId()
    {
        return buttonId;
    }
    public String getButtonName()
    {
        return buttonName;
    }
    public boolean keyChar(char key, int status, int time)
    {
        if (key == Characters.ENTER)
        {
            fieldChangeNotify(0);
            return true;
        }
        
        return false;
    }
    
    
    protected void onFocus(int direction) 
    {
        active = true;
        invalidate();
    }
    
    protected void onUnfocus() 
    {
        active = false;
        invalidate();
    }
    
    public static Font defaultFont() 
    {
        return Font.getDefault();
    }
}

Ignore Click Event outside of a Field in Storm

2009-08-30T00:31:00.000+07:00

In Storm sometimes click event in invoked by clicking outside of a focusable field.
To solve this just add the following code to the MainScreen or a Manager.


    protected boolean touchEvent(TouchEvent message)
    {
        int event = message.getEvent();
        if (event == TouchEvent.CLICK || event == TouchEvent.UNCLICK)
        {
            // Ignore clcik events that happen outside any fields
            if (getFieldAtLocation(message.getX(1), message.getY(1)) == -1)
            return true;    // kill the event
        }
        return super.touchEvent(message);
    }
    
    // The regular getFieldAtLocation returns wrong values 
    //in open spaces in complex managers, so we override it
    public int getFieldAtLocation(int x, int y)
    {
        XYRect rect = new XYRect();
        int index = getFieldCount() -1;
        while (index >= 0)
        {
            getField(index).getExtent(rect);
            if (rect.contains(x, y))
            break;
            --index;
        }
        return index;
    }

Knowledge Base Article Links

2009-08-30T00:15:00.000+07:00

Some Knowledge Base Article Links.



1. Application Deployment
#########################

Genaral Topics
--------------
How To - Define the position of an application icon on the BlackBerry smartphone Home screen How To - Handle stored data when removing an application
How To - Load applications onto a BlackBerry smartphone
Support - A module with that name already exists in the application
Support - Application installation errors
Support - BlackBerry MDS Runtime 1.1.2 with BlackBerry Device Software 4.3.0 stops responding when an application calls from the on_init script
Support - MIDlet has verification error at offset
Support - Module net_rim_bbapi_mail not found
Support - Protocol not found- null error
Support - Unable to activate custom theme or theme not listed
Support - Version 4.0 applications do not run on the device
What Is - Indications of insufficient space to install an application on the BlackBerry device
What Is - JVM error codes
What Is - JVM error codes for BlackBerry Device Software 4.2 and later


OTA Download
------------
How To - Programmatically read the attributes of a JAD file
Support - 907 Invalid Jar Error when installing an application wirelessly  
Support - Warning - This application does not contain a signature. It might not be from a trusted source.
What Is - The file size limit for wireless downloads
What Is - The required MIME types for a web server to serve BlackBerry applications


Desktop Loading
---------------
How To - Configure ALX files to make an application 'required'
How To - Create a single ALX file to install multiple versions of an application  
How To - Install the BlackBerry API update via Desktop Manager or wirelessly 
How To - Remove wirelessly downloaded applications
How To - Update the registry to deploy Java applications using Desktop Manager
Support - Handheld displays net_rim_xml not found error  
Support - Invalid digital signature errors when installing an application  
Support - No system software was found for your device  
Support - Unspecified error encountered [J-0x00000011] when upgrading a third-party application  
What Is - An .alx file


Enterprise server application push
-----------------------------------
How To - Deploy an icon to the BlackBerry smartphone for a web application or URL


Blackberry Application Web Loader
-----------------------------------
Support - The BlackBerry Application Web Loader is unable to create a local copy of files


2. Java APIs & Samples
#######################

Memory Management
-----------------
How To - Download large files using the BlackBerry Mobile Data System
How to - Prevent a memory leak when implementing an ApplicationMenuItem  
Sample Code ---- Object Groups - Why and How to Use Them
What Is - File storage limits in the Content Store
What Is - Object Grouping - Using resources effectively

Mail
------
How To - Retrieve the default email address for the device  
How To - Access HTML email messages
How To - Capture the contents of email and PIN messages before sending  
How To - Create a custom Attachment Handler on the BlackBerry device  
How To - Create an Attachment  
How To - Create and send messages  
How To - Display a PopupScreen from a SendListener  
How To - Implement the ViewListener interface  
How To - Programmatically send a PIN message  
How To - Retrieve More of a Message  
How To - Send a message from a non-default email address  
Support - Error when sending a PIN message - MessagingExceptionPin message not sent. Do not have the permissions to send the message.
Support - Transport.more fails to retrieve all of a message  
What Is - Application is not notified when new messages arrive


Invoking Blackberry Application
-------------------------------
How To - Invoke applications
How to - Make a running UI application go to the background and resume in the foreground
How To - Open a file in a Documents To Go application
What Is - Application does not provide invocation feedback

GPS
----
How To - Add an ApplicationMenuItem to BlackBerry Map  
How To - Configure a Bluetooth GPS Receiver for use with the Location API  
How To - Define criteria to retrieve a GPS fix  
How To - Detect when GPS is no longer available and when to reset the LocationProvider  
How To - Invoke BlackBerry Maps  
How To - Manage simultaneous GPS and phone usage on the BlackBerry 8703e and the 7130e smartphones  
Support - Cellsite fix prevents acquiring autonomous GPS fixes  
Support - Incorrect network time  
Support - Invoking BlackBerry Maps throws unexpected runtime exception  
What Is - Best practices for designing GPS applications for BlackBerry smartphones operating on CDMA networks  
What Is - BlackBerry Maps location document format  
What Is - The BlackBerry smartphone models and their corresponding GPS capabilities  
What Is - Verizon GPSSettings signing requirement


Cryptography APIs and Security
------------------------------
How To - Save requested application permissions in the Application Permissions screen  
How To - Create a Unique long from a String  
How to - Use Advanced Encryption  
How to - Use Basic Encryption  
How To - Use Content Protection


Browser API
-----------

How To - Change the RenderingOptions of a RenderingSession  
How To - Create a Fixed Size BrowserField  
How To - Create a web icon  
How to - Create a web signal registration application  
How To - Enable cookies in BrowserField  
How To - Invoke a non-default browser session  
How To - Invoke the browser  
How To - Invoke the browser with raw HTML  
How To - Invoke the default browser
How To - Perform a browser push over SSL
What Is - A ControlledAccessException is thrown when using the HttpFilterRegistry  
What Is - The Push notification format

Bluetooth - USB - Serial
-------------------------
How To - Run the BlackBerry Serial Port Demo  
How To - Use the Bluetooth classes  
How To - Use the ServiceRouting API  
Support - IOException thrown when opening a server-side Bluetooth connection 
What Is - Bluetooth support on BlackBerry devices


Audio & Video
--------------
How To - Invoke the media application  
How To - Obtain the media playback time from a media application  
How To - Play audio in an application  
How To - Play video within a BlackBerry smartphone application  
How To - Record audio on a BlackBerry smartphone  
How To - Specify Audio Path Routing  
How To - Support streaming audio to the media application  
How To - Take a snapshot using the built-in camera of a BlackBerry smartphone  
Known Issue - Delay in playing audio when streaming to a Bluetooth headset  
Support - Alert.startBuzzer() does not work  
Support - Playing audio in an application pauses the Media application on BlackBerry smartphones running on the CDMA network  
What Is - Media application error codes 
What Is - setMediaTime does not work for AMR files  
What Is - Supported audio formats


Menu Item and Options
-----------------------
How To - Add a custom menu item to an existing BlackBerry application  
How To - Add application options to the BlackBerry Options  
How To - Handle ApplicationMenuItem Invocation


MIDP & CLDC APIs
----------------
How To - Access images in a MIDP application  
How To - Capture volume keys in a MIDlet  
How To - Create a MIDlet that uses custom animation  
How To - Create an auto-start MIDlet using the PushRegistry  
How To - Establish an HTTP connection  
How To - Implement basic HTTP authentication  
How To - Register a MIDlet with the PushRegistry   
How To - Use RMS storage efficiently in BlackBerry applications  
Support - Classname does not exist in the current application package  
Support - Verification error using javax.microedition.rms.RecordStore on BlackBerry Device Software 3.8 and 4.0  
What Is - Cannot run a MIDP 2.0 application in BlackBerry Device Software 4.0


Micellaneous
------------
How To - Access and Obtain Service Books on a device
How To - Capture Signature on the BlackBerry Storm  
How to - Create a singleton using the RuntimeStore  
How To - Detect Alt and Shift key clicks  
How To - Determine if a BlackBerry smartphone supports Wi-Fi capabilities  
How to - Display custom messages in the request permission dialog  
How To - Format the electronic serial number (ESN)  
How To - Get time zone offsets with DST  
How To - Implement a Comparator to compare objects  
How To - Implement a string splitter based on a given string delimiter  
How To - Interpret wireless network signal levels How To - Write safe initialization code  
Known Issue - The RadioStatusListener.mobilityManagementEvent method is not invoked  
Support - Preventing verification errors  
What is - Event injection  
What Is - New and Deprecated APIs in BlackBerry Java Development Environment 4.0
What Is - New and Deprecated APIs in BlackBerry Java Development Environment 4.1
What Is - New and Deprecated APIs in BlackBerry Java Development Environment 4.2


Networking
----------
How to - Determine the country code of the current mobile subscriber  How To - Determine the MCC and MNC of the current network


Persistence
-----------
How To - Programmatically determine if a microSD card has been inserted

Phone
-----
How To - Implement the PhoneListener interface  
How To - Log Phone Calls  
Support - The getDevicePhone method returns null


PIM-PDAP
--------
How To - Access Address Book contacts  
How To - Add a PIM item to a custom category  
How To - Create an Event within the Calendar application  
How To - Launch the Address Book and return a contact  
How To - Use Remote Address Lookup through coding  Support - Application stops receiving event notifications when using the PIMListListener API


SVG Content
-----------
How to - Use Plazmic Content Developer's Kit in your BlackBerry Application
Known Issue - Irregular focus behaviour on first hotspot when loading PME content  
Known Issue - Losing the anchor when rendering SVG images in MIDlets  
What Is - Browser fails to retrieve resources using relative URLs in PME content


Synchronization APIs
--------------------
How To - Backup and restore small amounts of data using SyncItem  
How To - Compile the Desktop Add-In sample  
How To - Save data with RMS  
How To - Store persistent data on the BlackBerry smartphone


System Classes
--------------
How To - Add plain text or binary files to an application 
How To - Allow an application to restart itself  
How to - Capture power change events  
How to - Code time-sensitive applications  
How To - Detect if the BlackBerry smartphone is holstered or flipped  
How To - Display a GUI when the BlackBerry device starts up  
How To - Enable the backlight and prevent the screen from turning off  
How To - Launch a third-party application from another third-party application  
How To - Obtain the operating system version of a BlackBerry wireless device 
How to - Programmatically install and upgrade applications  
How To - Retrieve the BlackBerry Device Software version  
Support - An unsupported API was called by the JVM RadioGetGprsState  
Support - getObjectSize and getAllocated return 0  
What Is - Global Events and Global Event Listeners  
What Is - Supported System.getProperty keys  
What Is - System Global Events  
What Is - The reason a reset is required when upgrading an application



Voice Notes
----------
How To - Use the Voice Notes APIs
Samples --- VoiceNotesDemo Sample Code


XML
---
How To - Control the behavior of white space when parsing an XML document  
How To - Use the XML Parser


User Interface
--------------

Fields
======
How To - Add a TreeField to a device screen  
How To - Apply a phone number filter to an AutoTextEdit field  
How To - Change the text color of a field  
How To - Create a colour ListField 
How To - Create a custom field using attributes of other UI objects  
How To - Create a custom width for a ListField  
How To - Create a ListField with check boxes  
How To - Create a Scrollable Image Field  
How To - Create custom fields  
How To - Determine the number of visible items on the BlackBerry device screen  
How To - Display a progress bar in handheld applications
How To - Display an animated GIF  
How To - Display dates and times in handheld applications  
How To - Format text in a RichTextField  
How to - Make list items appear on a screen  
How To - Show focus changes using BitmapField  
How to - Use an image in an application  
How To - Use the paint() method to draw objects to the screen  
How To - Work around ListField painting issue in early versions of BlackBerry Device Software version 4.2.2  
Support - A Field's font is displayed incorrectly when set in the paint method  
Support - Error starting [Application Name].Symbol'DateField.[init] not found  
Support - NullPointerException is thrown when the isEditable and fieldChangeNotify methods of EditField are overridden  
Support - The Custom Field is not drawing properly



Managers
========
How To - Create a custom layout manager for a screen  
How To - Create a screen with stationary headings  
How To - Create tabbed view screens  
How To - Manage bitmaps in an application using field managers  
How to - Perform double buffering using the BlackBerry UI  
How To - Place multiple UI fields on one line  
How to - Use the User Interface API to create an editable table  
Support - My scrollable manager is not scrolling



Screens
=======
How to - Change the background color of a screen  
How To - Clear the status of a MainScreen  
How To - Create a custom Dialog  
How To - Create a File Selection Popup Screen  
How To - Create a splash screen  
How To - Have Your Application Perform an Action after a Global Alert  
How to - listen for a dialog closed event  
How To - Obtain the Height and Width of a Screen  
How To - Prevent a UiApplication from being listed in the application switcher  
How To - Properly Push and Pop Global Screens  
How to - Protect BlackBerry applications with a password screen  
How To - Remove the default "Close" or "Hide" MenuItems from a Screen  
How to - Update a screen on the Main Event Thread  
How To - Use a Backdoor Sequence



General
=======
How To - Add Copy, Paste, and other context-specific items to a menu
How To - Alert a user from a Background application  
How To - Capture and save a screen shot  
How To - Change fonts in a BlackBerry application  
How To - Control the screen orientation  
How To - Create an icon for an application  
How To - Define a rollover icon for an application  
How To - Detect when an application or screen moves to the foreground or background  
How To - Distinguish between a full menu and a primary actions menu  
How to - Leverage pattern matching in BlackBerry smartphone applications to provide an integrated user experience  
How to - Make your BlackBerry application more user-friendly  
How to - Manage UI interactions  
How To - Programmatically determine type of keyboard  
How To - Use a background image in application screens  
Known Issue - Screen.invalidate() does not cause a subsequent call to paint()  
What Is - BlackBerry UI hierarchy  
What Is - Image formats used in BlackBerry applications  
What Is - Screen buffer size



3. Blackberry Administration API
################################
How To - Get started with the BlackBerry Administration API
What Is - Sample application demonstrating BlackBerry Administration API technology



4. Blackberry JDE
#################

Executing clean.bat does not delete third-party applications from the BlackBerry Smartphone Simulator  
How To - Add a Certificate to DeviceKeyStore
How To - Add files to a project  
How To - Compile a JAR file into a BlackBerry Library  
How To - Compile a MIDlet into a COD file  
How To - Compile an application  
How To - Configure an application to start automatically when the device is turned on  
How To - Configure multiple versions of BlackBerry JDE on the same computer  
How To - Configure the BlackBerry Mobile Data Service Simulator to allow reliable push connections  
How To - Connect the JDE to a specified simulator bundle  
How To - Debug an application running on a live BlackBerry smartphone  
How To - Detect a deadlock using the JDE  
How to - Detect system availability on startup  
How To - Determine the Current Network Name  
How To - Enable a keyboard shortcut for an application  
How To - Find memory leaks in code  
How To - Gain access to the BlackBerry JDE  
How To - Get started with the BlackBerry JDE  
How To - Obfuscate code for a BlackBerry application  
How To - Setup an alternate entry point for my application  
How To - Update the Path environment variable  
How To - Use Javaloader to take a screen shot  
How To - Use the Coverage tool to provide code coverage when testing applications  
How To - Use the Profiler tool to optimize application code  
How To - Use the RAPC compiler  
Support - BlackBerry Java Development Environment and supported locales  
Support - BlackBerry JDE 3.7 IDE Fatal Error on startup  
Support - BlackBerry JDE crashes when using the Objects view  
Support - BlackBerry JDE fails to start  
Support - BlackBerry JDE JAR files no longer function after WinRAR is installed  
Support - BlackBerry JDE stops responding when viewing project properties  
Support - Compiled application size is larger in BlackBerry JDE 4.3.0 or later  
Support - Connection Timeout error when launching JDWP from Eclipse  
Support - Error - com.sun.tools.javac.code.Symbol$CompletionFailure - file net\rim\device\internal\ui\Border.class not found  
Support - Error cod data section too large
Support - Error when debugging - Cannot find RIMIDEWin32Util.dll. This is a required component of the IDE.  
Support - How to fix BlackBerry JDE screen artifacts  
Support - I/O Error CreateProcess  
Support - I/O Error Import file not found appears when building an application  
Support - Missing stack map at label  
Support - Ordinal 11 could not be located in the dynamic link library DSound.dll  
Support - Signing does not apply the RIM Runtime signature key  
Support - Unable to Open Socket when running JDWP 
Support - Vtable record size exceeds maximum record size
What Is - A library and how to use it  
What Is - A stack trace  
What Is - Appropriate version of the BlackBerry JDE  
What Is - Control Flow Verification Information Too Large 
What Is - Introduction to the BlackBerry JDE  
What Is - 'javaw' error when starting the JDE after installation  
What Is - Supported versions of Java for different BlackBerry JDE versions  
What is - The Alias List for a project in the BlackBerry JDE 
What Is - The debugger  
What Is - The project size limit
What Is - Writing applications for the Java-based BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds in C and C++ native code

Resize Image in Blackberry

2009-08-29T23:58:00.000+07:00

Sometimes it is needed to resize an image.
Resizing an image to a smaller resolution may cause some distortion of the image.

Image can be programatically resize in many ways.

Approach 1
----------


  private Bitmap getScaledBitmapImage(EncodedImage image, int width, int height)
  {
      // Handle null image
      if (image == null)
      {
          return null;
      }
    
      //return bestFit(image.getBitmap(), width, height);
    
      int currentWidthFixed32 = Fixed32.toFP(image.getWidth());
      int currentHeightFixed32 = Fixed32.toFP(image.getHeight());
    
      int requiredWidthFixed32 = Fixed32.toFP(width);
      int requiredHeightFixed32 = Fixed32.toFP(height);
    
      int scaleXFixed32 = Fixed32.div(currentWidthFixed32, requiredWidthFixed32);
      int scaleYFixed32 = Fixed32.div(currentHeightFixed32, requiredHeightFixed32);
    
      image = image.scaleImage32(scaleXFixed32, scaleYFixed32);
    
      return image.getBitmap();
  }

Approach 2
------------


  public static Bitmap resizeBitmap(Bitmap image, int width, int height)
  {
      int imageWidth = image.getWidth();
      int imageHeight = image.getHeight();
    
      // Need an array (for RGB, with the size of original image)
      int rgb[] = new int[imageWidth * imageHeight];
    
      // Get the RGB array of image into "rgb"
      image.getARGB(rgb, 0, imageWidth, 0, 0, imageWidth, imageHeight);
    
      // Call to our function and obtain rgb2
      int rgb2[] = rescaleArray(rgb, imageWidth, imageHeight, width, height);
    
      // Create an image with that RGB array
      Bitmap temp2 = new Bitmap(width, height);
    
      temp2.setARGB(rgb2, 0, width, 0, 0, width, height);
    
      return temp2;
  }

  private static int[] rescaleArray(int[] ini, int x, int y, int x2, int y2)
  {
      int out[] = new int[x2*y2];
      for (int yy = 0; yy < y2; yy++)
      {
          int dy = yy * y / y2;
          for (int xx = 0; xx < x2; xx++)
          {
              int dx = xx * x / x2;
              out[(x2 * yy) + xx] = ini[(x * dy) + dx];
          }
      }
      return out;
  }

Approach 3
----------


   public static Bitmap bestFit(Bitmap image, int maxWidth, int maxHeight)
   {
       // getting image properties
       int w = image.getWidth();
       int h = image.getHeight();
     
       //  get the ratio
       int ratiow = 100 * maxWidth / w;
       int ratioh = 100 * maxHeight / h;
     
       // this is to find the best ratio to
       // resize the image without deformations
       int ratio = Math.min(ratiow, ratioh);
     
       // computing final desired dimensions
       int desiredWidth = w * ratio / 100;
       int desiredHeight = h * ratio / 100;
     
       //resizing
       return resizeBitmap(image, desiredWidth, desiredHeight);
   }

907: Invalid Jar

2009-08-29T23:50:00.000+07:00

During installing blackberry application through OTA this the following error message may occur.
“Invalid 907 COD: Unable to import ZIP file”.

To resolve this problem:
If the cod file size is more than 64K then Rename your big *.cod file to *.zip file and unzip it. Then there will be several smaller *.cod files. Now delete the *.zip file.

Also the details soltion of this error is described in this Knowledge Base Article.

OTA Installation of a Blackberry Application

2009-08-29T23:11:00.000+07:00

After completing an application the next big step is to install the application OTA(over the air).

The Steps for OTA installation
------------------------------

1. For OTA the cod and jad files will be needed.

2. Sign your cod if required.

3. Now if cod file size is bigger than 64 kb then rename it to *.zip file and try
    to unzip.
    a. If it cannot be unzipped rename it to *.cod, there are no sibling files inside.
    b. If it can be unzipped, delete zip file after it is unzipped.
     Then you will have more than one cod like name.cod, name-1.cod, name-2.code, and so on.

4. Place jad file and all extracted cod files to a folder(for example : ota) on
    your web-site.

5. Now you have to set MIME types for the files.
    a) Inside the folder (ota) that contains jad and cods, create a file with name .htaccess
     please note a dot symbol before the name.
    b) And add the following content to this file and save it.
     AddType text/vnd.sun.j2me.app-descriptor jad
     AddType application/java-archive jar
     AddType application/vnd.rim.cod cod

6. Now you are ready to install the application through OTA.

7. Just hit the link of the jad file through the bb browser. It will automatically
    start install the application in the device.

How to Add jar file in Blackberry

2009-08-02T15:48:00.000+07:00

Something it is required to add third party application jar in your blackberry application.
For example you want to use KXML Parser to parse XML in your application.

Then go through the steps below to add the kxml jar to your application:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Preverify your jar file (just in case if it is not preverified). Follow the steps below for preverifying:
   a. Go to your JDE installation folder (C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.3.0\bin)
   b. Copy the jar file to bin folder.
   c. Now open your command prompt and change your current directory to your JDE installation directory.
   d. Now execute the following command:

preverify -classpath "C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.3.0\lib\net_rim_api.jar" "your_jar_filename"

   e. In your bin directory(C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.3.0\bin) a folder named output will create.
   f. Preverified jar file resides here.

2.Now Add the preverified jar file to your project like normal java file (Right Click on the project -> All File to    Project...).
   If it not works with just adding then you have to add the jar as a library project.
   How_To_-_Compile_a_JAR_file_into_a_BlackBerry_Library

How to Animate GIF Image in Blackberry

2009-08-02T15:33:00.000+07:00

For animating a gif image in bb screen follow the steps:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Add the gif image (ex. myImage.gif) in the project (Right Click on the Project -> Add File to Project...).

2. Images added to a project are automatically converted into the Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format when
    the application is built into a .cod file.

3. This problem can be resolved by any of the following approach:
     a. rename the gif image as *.bin (myImage.bin) and then add in the project
     b. Project Properties -> Compile Tab -> Check Don't convert image files to PNG

4. Load the image into GIFEncodedImage
    GIFEncodedImage image;
    EncodedImage encodedImage = EncodedImage.getEncodedImageResource("myImage.bin");
    byte data[] = new byte[4000];
    data = encodedImage.getData();
    image =(GIFEncodedImage) EncodedImage.createEncodedImage(data,0,data.length);

5. Create a AnimatedGIFField using the GIFEncodedImage
    AnimatedGIFField animatedGIF = new AnimatedGIFField(image);

6. Finally add the field into the screen and get gif image animated.
    add(animatedGIF);

Writing Custom TextBox in Blackberry

2009-07-28T00:15:00.000+07:00

Something it is required to write customized TextBox because using native API you cannot get the border, backgound color, backgroung image, left shift characters when text are more than one line without customizing.

In such type of cases you can create a Class extending Field
and the following things have to override:
* sublayout()
* paint()
* getPreferredWidth()
* getPreferredHeight()

The below Class demonstrate the above implementation:


import net.rim.device.api.ui.Manager;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.Field;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.component.EditField;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.component.BasicEditField;
import net.rim.device.api.system.EncodedImage;
import net.rim.device.api.system.Bitmap;
import net.rim.device.api.system.Display;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.Graphics;
import net.rim.device.api.system.Characters;
import net.rim.device.api.math.Fixed32;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.DrawStyle;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.Font;

public class CustomTextBox extends Manager
{
    /**
     * Default margins
     */
    private final static int DEFAULT_LEFT_MARGIN = 10;
    private final static int DEFAULT_RIGHT_MARGIN = 10;
    private final static int DEFAULT_TOP_MARGIN = 5;
    private final static int DEFAULT_BOTTOM_MARGIN = 5;
    
    /**
     * Default paddings
     */
    private final static int DEFAULT_LEFT_PADDING = 10;
    private final static int DEFAULT_RIGHT_PADDING = 10;
    private final static int DEFAULT_TOP_PADDING = 5;
    private final static int DEFAULT_BOTTOM_PADDING = 5;
    
    /**
     * Margins around the text box
     */
    private int topMargin = DEFAULT_TOP_MARGIN;
    private int bottomMargin = DEFAULT_BOTTOM_MARGIN;
    private int leftMargin = DEFAULT_LEFT_MARGIN;
    private int rightMargin = DEFAULT_RIGHT_MARGIN;
    
    /**
     * Padding around the text box
     */
    private int topPadding = DEFAULT_TOP_PADDING;
    private int bottomPadding = DEFAULT_BOTTOM_PADDING;
    private int leftPadding = DEFAULT_LEFT_PADDING;
    private int rightPadding = DEFAULT_RIGHT_PADDING;
    
    /**
     * Amount of empty space horizontally around the text box
     */
    private int totalHorizontalEmptySpace = leftMargin + leftPadding 
                                       + rightPadding + rightMargin;
    
    /**
     * Amount of empty space vertically around the text box
     */
    private int totalVerticalEmptySpace = topMargin + topPadding 
                                  + bottomPadding + bottomMargin;
    
    /**
     * Minimum height of the text box required to display the text entered
     */
    private int minHeight = getFont().getHeight() + totalVerticalEmptySpace;
    
    /**
     * Width of the text box
     */
    private int width = Display.getWidth();
    
    /**
     * Height of the text box
     */
    private int height = minHeight;
    
    /**
     * Background image for the text box
     */
    private EncodedImage backgroundImage;
    
    /**
     * Bitmap version of the backgroundImage.
     * Needed to reduce the calculation overhead incurred by 
     * scaling of the given image
     * and derivation of Bitmap from the 
     * EncodedImage every time it is needed.
     */
    private Bitmap bitmapBackgroundImage;
    
    /**
     * The core element of this text box
     */
    private EditField editField;
    //private BasicEditField editField;
    
    //private String entireText;
    
    public CustomTextBox()
    {
        // Let the super class initialize the core
        super(0);
        
        // An edit field is the sole field of this manager.
        editField = new EditField();
        //editField = new CustomEditField();
        add(editField);
    }
    
    public CustomTextBox(EncodedImage backgroundImage)
    {
        this();        
        setBackgroundImage(backgroundImage);
    }
    
    public void setSize(int width, int height)
    {
        boolean isChanged = false;
        
        if (width > 0 // Ignore invalid width
                && this.width != width)  
        {
            this.width = width;
            isChanged = true;
        }
        
        // Ignore the specified height if it is less 
        // than the minimum height required to display the text.
        if (height > minHeight && height != this.height)
        {
            this.height = height;
            isChanged = true;
        }
        
        // If width/height has been changed and background image 
        // is available, adapt it to the new dimension
        if (isChanged == true && backgroundImage != null)
        {
            bitmapBackgroundImage = getScaledBitmapImage(backgroundImage, 
                                    this.width - (leftMargin+rightMargin),  
                                    this.height - (topMargin+bottomMargin));
        }
    }
    
    public void setWidth(int width)
    {
        
        if (width > 0 && width != this.width)
        {
            this.width = width;
            
            // If background image is available, adapt it to the new width
            if (backgroundImage != null)
            {
                bitmapBackgroundImage = getScaledBitmapImage(backgroundImage,
                                        this.width - (leftMargin+rightMargin),
                                        this.height - (topMargin+bottomMargin));
            }
        }
    }
    
    public void setHeight(int height)
    {
        // Ignore the specified height if it is 
        // less than the minimum height required to display the text.
        if (height > minHeight)
        {
            this.height = height;
            
            // If background image is available, adapt it to the new width
            if (backgroundImage != null)
            {
                bitmapBackgroundImage = getScaledBitmapImage(backgroundImage,
                                        this.width - (leftMargin+rightMargin),  
                                        this.height - (topMargin+bottomMargin));
            }
        }
    }
    
    public void setBackgroundImage(EncodedImage backgroundImage)
    {
        this.backgroundImage = backgroundImage;
        
        // Consider the height of background image in 
        // calculating the height of the text box.
        // setHeight() does not ensure that specified 
        // height will be in effect, of course, for valid reasons.
        // So derivation of Bitmap image in the setHeight() method is not sure.
        setHeight(backgroundImage.getHeight() + topMargin + bottomMargin);
        if (bitmapBackgroundImage == null)
        {
            bitmapBackgroundImage = getScaledBitmapImage(backgroundImage, 
                                    this.width - (leftMargin+rightMargin), 
                                    this.height - (topMargin+bottomMargin));
        }
    }
    
    /**
     * Generate and return a Bitmap Image scaled according 
     * to the specified width and height.
     * 
     * @param image     EncodedImage object
     * @param width     Intended width of the returned Bitmap object
     * @param height    Intended height of the returned Bitmap object
     * @return Bitmap object
     */
    private Bitmap getScaledBitmapImage(EncodedImage image, int width, int height)
    {
        // Handle null image
        if (image == null)
        {
            return null;
        }
        
        int currentWidthFixed32 = Fixed32.toFP(image.getWidth());
        int currentHeightFixed32 = Fixed32.toFP(image.getHeight());
        
        int requiredWidthFixed32 = Fixed32.toFP(width);
        int requiredHeightFixed32 = Fixed32.toFP(height);
        
        int scaleXFixed32 = Fixed32.div(currentWidthFixed32, requiredWidthFixed32);
        int scaleYFixed32 = Fixed32.div(currentHeightFixed32, requiredHeightFixed32);
        
        image = image.scaleImage32(scaleXFixed32, scaleYFixed32);
        
        return image.getBitmap();
    }
    
    
    protected void sublayout(int width, int height)
    {
        // We have one and only child - the edit field. 
        // Place it at the appropriate place.
        Field field = getField(0);
        layoutChild(field, this.width - totalHorizontalEmptySpace, 
                    this.height - totalVerticalEmptySpace);
        setPositionChild(field, leftMargin+leftPadding, topMargin+topPadding);
        
        setExtent(this.width, this.height);
    }
    
    public void setTopMargin(int topMargin)
    {
        this.topMargin = topMargin;
    }
    
    public void setBottomMargin(int bottomMargin)
    {
        this.bottomMargin = bottomMargin;
    }
    
    
    protected void paint(Graphics graphics)
    {
        // Draw background image if available, otherwise draw a rectangle
        if (bitmapBackgroundImage == null)
        {
            //graphics.drawRect(leftMargin, topMargin, 
                                width - (leftMargin+rightMargin), 
                                height - (topMargin+bottomMargin));
            graphics.drawRoundRect(leftMargin, topMargin, 
                                   width - (leftMargin+rightMargin), 
                                   height - (topMargin+bottomMargin), 5, 5);
        }
        else
        {
            graphics.drawBitmap(leftMargin, topMargin, 
                                width - (leftMargin+rightMargin), 
                                height - (topMargin+bottomMargin),  
                                bitmapBackgroundImage, 0, 0);
        }
        
        // Determine the rightward text that can fit into the visible edit field
        
        EditField ef = (EditField)getField(0);
        String entireText = ef.getText();
        
        boolean longText = false;
        String textToDraw = "";
        Font font = getFont();
        int availableWidth = width - totalHorizontalEmptySpace;
        if (font.getAdvance(entireText) <= availableWidth)
        {
            textToDraw = entireText;
        }
        else
        {
            int endIndex = entireText.length();
            for (int beginIndex = 1; beginIndex < endIndex; beginIndex++)
            {
                textToDraw = entireText.substring(beginIndex);
                if (font.getAdvance(textToDraw) <= availableWidth)
                {
                    longText = true;
                    break;
                }
            }
        }
        
        if (longText == true)
        {        
            // Force the edit field display only the truncated text
            ef.setText(textToDraw);
          
            // Now let the components draw themselves
            super.paint(graphics);
        
            // Return the text field its original text
            ef.setText(entireText);
        }
        else
        {
            super.paint(graphics);
        }
    }
    
    public int getPreferredWidth()
    {
        return width;
    }
    
    public int getPreferredHeight()
    {
        return height;
    }
    
    protected boolean keyChar(char ch, int status, int time)
    {
        if (ch == Characters.ENTER)
        {
            return true;
        }
        else
        {
            return super.keyChar(ch, status, time);
        }
    }
    
    public String getText()
    {
        return ((EditField)getField(0)).getText();
    }
    
    public void setText(final String text)
    {
        ((EditField)getField(0)).setText(text);
    }    
}

Title Bar in Blackberry

2009-07-27T21:31:00.000+07:00

The common approach of setting title in BB scrren is like:
setTitle(Field)

But problem of using setTitle method is the border color that you cannot remove.
This is associated with the device theme.

Then one have to write his own title bar.

The following TitleBar has the below properties:
* background color is black
* title image is placed horizontal center
* title bar height is same as the height of the title image


import net.rim.device.api.ui.container.MainScreen;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.component.BitmapField;
import net.rim.device.api.system.Bitmap;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.Color;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.Graphics;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.component.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.container.*;
import net.rim.device.api.system.*;


/**
 * customized Title Bar
 * background color is black (BACKGROUND_COLOR) 
 * image is placed horizontal center (titleImage)
 * title bar height is same as the height of the title image (fieldHeight)
 */
public class TitleBar extends Field implements DrawStyle
{
    private int fieldWidth;
    private int fieldHeight;
    private int fontColour;
    private int backgroundColor;
    
    private Bitmap titleImage =  Bitmap.getBitmapResource("topBannerTransparent.png");
    private static final int BACKGROUND_COLOR = 0x00000000;
    
    
    public TitleBar() 
    {
        super(Field.NON_FOCUSABLE);
        fieldHeight = titleImage.getHeight();
        fieldWidth = Graphics.getScreenWidth();
        
        //background color is black
        backgroundColor = BACKGROUND_COLOR;        
    }
    
    public void setBackgroundColour(int _backgroundColour)
    {
        backgroundColor = _backgroundColour;
        invalidate();
    }
    
    protected void layout(int width, int height) 
    {
        setExtent(getPreferredWidth(), getPreferredHeight());
    }
    
    public int getPreferredWidth() 
    {
        return fieldWidth;
    }
    
    public int getPreferredHeight() 
    {
        return fieldHeight;
    }
    
    protected void paint(Graphics graphics) 
    {
        
        int w = this.getPreferredWidth();
        int h = this.getPreferredHeight();
        
        graphics.setColor(backgroundColor);
        graphics.fillRect(0, 0, w, h);
        
        int marginX = (w- titleImage.getWidth() ) / 2 ; 
        graphics.drawBitmap(marginX, 0, w, h, titleImage, 0, 0);
    }
}

To make this TitleBar treat like original title bar( always visible in the top) the main scrren have to modify like below:


import net.rim.device.api.ui.container.MainScreen;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.Graphics;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.component.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.container.*;
import net.rim.device.api.system.*;

class TitleBarExampleScreen extends MainScreen
{
    TitleBar titleBar = new TitleBar();
    int titleBarHeight = titleBar.getPreferredHeight();
        
    public TitleBarExampleScreen() 
    {
        
        super(NO_VERTICAL_SCROLL);
                
        //title Bar added here
        this.add(titleBar);
        
                
        VerticalFieldManager verticalManager = new VerticalFieldManager(Manager.VERTICAL_SCROLL | Manager.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR )
        {
            public void paint(Graphics graphics)
            {
                graphics.setBackgroundColor(0x00000000);
                graphics.clear();
                super.paint(graphics);
            }
            protected void sublayout( int maxWidth, int maxHeight )
            {
                int displayWidth = Display.getWidth();
                int displayHeight = Display.getHeight() - titleBarHeight;
 
                super.sublayout( displayWidth, displayHeight);
                setExtent( displayWidth, displayHeight);
            }
        };
        
        //now add everything in the verticalManager
        verticalManager.add(new LabelField("Test Label"));
        verticalManager.add(new ButtonField("Test Button"));
        
        //and at last add  verticalManager in scereen   
        this.add(verticalManager);
    }
}

How to Read, Write and Copy file in Blackberry

2009-07-23T21:58:00.000+07:00

It is very common feature in Blackberry to read/write/copy file programatically in BlackBerry.

Read file in the SDCard in the following way:

InputStream inputStream = null;
FileConnection fileConnection = (FileConnection) Connector.open( "file:///SDCard/testfile.txt");
if (fileConnection.exists())
{
inputStream = fconn.openInputStream();
}

ByteArrayOutputStream byteArrayOutputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
byte[] buffer = new byte[BUFFER_SIZE];
while (true) {
int bytesRead = inputStream.read( buffer, 0, BUFFER_SIZE );
if (bytesRead == -1)
break;
byteArrayOutputStream.write( buffer, 0, bytesRead );
}
byteArrayOutputStream.flush();
byte[] result = byteArrayOutputStream.toByteArray();
byteArrayOutputStream.close();
String resultString = new String(result);

Write/Save file in SDCard in the following way:

FileConnection fc = (FileConnection) Connector.open(System.getProperty("file:///SDCard/"+"fileName.txt"),Connector.READ_WRITE);
if(!fc.exists())
{
fc.create();
}
OutputStream os =fc.openOutputStream();
os.write("Test");
os.close();
fc.close()

Copy file in SDCard in the following way:

public static void copyFile(String srFile, String dtFile)
{
try
{
FileConnection f1;
FileConnection f2;

f1 = (FileConnection) Connector.open(srFile,Connector.READ_WRITE);
f2 = (FileConnection) Connector.open(dtFile,Connector.READ_WRITE);
if(!f2.exists()) // if file does not exists , create a new one
{
f2.create();
}
InputStream is = f1.openInputStream();
OutputStream os =f2.openOutputStream();
byte[] buf = new byte[1024];
int len;
while ((len = is.read(buf)) > 0)
{
os.write(buf, 0, len);
}
is.close();
os.close();
}
catch(IOException e)
{

}
}

Also check this link for more information about file path.

How to Place a Field Vertically and Horizontally center in the Blackberry Screen

2009-07-23T21:44:00.000+07:00

For placing a Field (for example HorizontalFieldManager) in center of the screen simple setting margin will do the trick.

Here is an example of placing a HorizontalFieldManager in the center.



        HorizontalFieldManager hfm = new HorizontalFieldManager();    
       
        LabelField testLabel1 = new LabelField( "Test Label1");    
        LabelField testLabel2 = new LabelField( "Test Label2");
        hfm.add(testLabel1);
        hfm.add(testLabel2);
        
        int leftEmptySpace = (Display.getWidth() - hfm.getPreferredWidth()) / 2;
        int topEmptySpace = (Display.getHeight() - hfm.getPreferredHeight()) / 2;
        hfm.setMargin(topEmptySpace, 0, 0, leftEmptySpace);
        
        //now add this manager to MainScreen
        this.add(hfm);

How to set Background color of Blackberry Screen

2009-07-23T01:33:00.000+07:00

For setting background color in Blackberry screen we need to do the following.

Disable Vertical scrolling of the main screen.

Now create a VerticalFieldManager with vertical scroll enabled. This will be the main manger where screen component have to add. Set the width and height of this manager as Screen width and height by overriding sublayout() method.
And override paint() method to set backgroung color

Here is the example code with above implemented.


import net.rim.device.api.ui.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.component.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.container.*;
import net.rim.device.api.system.*;

class TestScreen extends MainScreen{

    private VerticalFieldManager verticalManager;
    private HorizontalFieldManager hrzManager;
    
    TestScreen() 
    {    
        super(NO_VERTICAL_SCROLL);

        //rather than  adding component 
        //in the mainScreen add components
        //in this verticalManager and then
        //add this manager to mainScreen  
        verticalManager = new VerticalFieldManager(
                          Manager.VERTICAL_SCROLL | 
                          Manager.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR)
        {
            public void paint(Graphics graphics)
            {
               //blue 
               graphics.setBackgroundColor(0x000000ff);
               graphics.clear();
               super.paint(graphics);
            }            
            protected void sublayout( int maxWidth, int maxHeight )
            {
               int width = Display.getWidth();
               int height = Display.getHeight();
               super.sublayout( width, height);
               setExtent( width, height);
            }
        };
     
        ButtonField button1 = new ButtonField("Button1");
        ButtonField button2 = new ButtonField("Button2");
        ButtonField button3 = new ButtonField("Button3");
        ButtonField button4 = new ButtonField("Button4");
        ButtonField button5 = new ButtonField("Button5");
        
        verticalManager.add(button1);
        verticalManager.add(button2);
        verticalManager.add(button3);
        verticalManager.add(button4);
        verticalManager.add(button5);
        this.add(verticalManager);
        
    }
}

Also have a look at this KnowledgeBase Article for getting better idea.

How to set Background Image in Blackberry

2009-07-23T00:20:00.000+07:00

For setting image in the background of the Blackberry screen we need to do the following.

First create a VerticalFieldManager and override the paint method of that manager and then draw Bitmap inside paint() method with the device width and height. Disable vertical scrolling of this manager.

Now create another VerticalFieldManager with vertical scroll enabled. This will be the main manger where screen component have to add. Set the width and height of this manager as Screen width and height by overriding sublayout() method.

Here is the example code with above implemented.


import net.rim.device.api.ui.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.component.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.container.*;
import net.rim.device.api.system.*;

public class TestScreen extends MainScreen
{
    
    private VerticalFieldManager mainManager;
    private VerticalFieldManager subManager;
    private Bitmap _backgroundBitmap = Bitmap.getBitmapResource
                                              ("sunset.png");       
    private int deviceWidth = Display.getWidth();
    private int deviceHeight = Display.getHeight();
    
    public TestScreen() 
    {
        super(NO_VERTICAL_SCROLL);
        
        //this manager is used for the static background image
        mainManager = new VerticalFieldManager(
                          Manager.NO_VERTICAL_SCROLL | 
                          Manager.NO_VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR )
        {            
            public void paint(Graphics graphics)
            {
                graphics.clear();
                graphics.drawBitmap(0, 0, deviceWidth,            
                         deviceHeight, _backgroundBitmap, 0, 0);                 
                super.paint(graphics);
            }            
        };
        
        //this manger is used for adding the componentes
        subManager = new VerticalFieldManager(
                         Manager.VERTICAL_SCROLL |  
                         Manager.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR )
        {
            protected void sublayout(int maxWidth, int maxHeight)
            {
                int displayWidth = deviceWidth;
                int displayHeight = deviceHeight;
 
                super.sublayout( displayWidth, displayHeight);
                setExtent( displayWidth, displayHeight);
            }
        };
                
        /// add your component to this subManager       
        subManager.add(new ButtonField("Test Button"));
        /////////////////////////////////////////
        
        //add subManager over the mainManager
        mainManager.add(subManager);
        
        //finally add the mainManager over the screen
        this.add(mainManager);   
    }  
}

HelloWorld in BlackBerry

2009-07-22T16:58:00.000+07:00

Before starting anything its became a tradition to start with HelloWorld.
Here list of HelloWorld programming in 200 different languages.

So to maintain the tradition we are going to write helloWorld in BlackBerry. :)

1. Open the JDE

2. Create a new workspace (File -> New -> Workspaces) and name it as helloWorld .

3. Create a new Project under the helloWorld workspace
File -> New -> Projects or
Right click on the helloWorld.jdw (on the left side of the JDE) and click 'Create new Project in
helloWorld.jdw ...' and name it as helloWorld.

4. Now create a file under the helloWorld project.
Right click on the helloWorld.jdp and click 'Create new File in
Project ...' and name it as HelloWorld.java

5. Paste the following in the HelloWorld.java file.


import net.rim.device.api.ui.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.component.*;
import net.rim.device.api.ui.container.*;
import net.rim.device.api.system.*;

class HelloWorld extends UiApplication
{
        public HelloWorld()
        {
        super();
      
        /// creating mainScreen to diaply hellowrld
        MainScreen helloWorldScreen = new MainScreen();
        LabelField lbl = new LabelField("Hello World");
        helloWorldScreen.add(lbl);

        //pushing that screen to Display
        this.pushScreen(helloWorldScreen);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
         HelloWorld helloWorld  = new HelloWorld();
         helloWorld.enterEventDispatcher();
 }
}

6. Now build and Run the project (Build -> Build All and Run)

7. Go to the home screen of the simulator and click the application named helloWorld.

8. Enjoy HelloWorld in the BB Simulator.

Create the Environment for BlackBerry development

2009-07-22T15:23:00.000+07:00

Before starting HelloWorld we need to create the environment for BlackBerry development.

Blackberry applications can be developed using Blackberry JDE, Eclipse Plugin, Netbeans plugin and Visual Studio Plugin.

I use Blackberry JDE for my development. I prefer this because this is provided by the RIM.

We have to follow the following steps for making our PC to start HelloWorld using BB JDE.

1. Before staring it is very important to choose the JDE. Have a look at this KnowledgeBase article.

2. For example you chosen JDE 4.6.0.
You can download any other version from here.

3. Now Install the "BlackBerry_JDE_4.6.0.exe" that you downloaded

4. Install any latest JDK (ex: jdk-6u5-windows-i586-p.exe)

5. Update your environment variable.
Control Panel -> System -> Environment variables -> click path in the system variables ->
Edit. Now add the following in Variable value ; each with a semicolon in the end
a) C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_05\bin

b) C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin

c) C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.6.0\bin

6. Restart your PC or simply the logoff will do.

Now we are ready to start HelloWorld in Blackberry :)