Happy to share that there is a new Mobile Development Kit (MDK) client app released on the Apple app store. The app is popularly known as SAP Mobile Services Client. It is a generic client app that presents the mobile app you have created using the mobile development kit editor and integrated as an SAP cloud platform mobile services.
The mobile development kit is an extensive feature of SAP Cloud Platform Mobile Services. For better understanding, see the tutorial here: https://developers.sap.com/mission.mobile-dev-kit-get-started.html
Are you a newbie in the landscape of Mobile Development Kit?
Simply, download the app and click “Try the demo”. The mobile development kit demo is a straightforward app, running offline, that portrays the type of applications you can create using the tool. Then, review the Learning Journey that offers an overview topic, blogs, videos and tutorials to help you get started the right way.
Also, to view more than just the offline demo, the trusted mobile app development company offer the connection is made to a specific SAP Cloud Platform Mobile Services MDK app. The SAP mobile services client consist of an onboarding feature that allows you to easily set up the generic app to connect to your mobile services MDK app.
Herein, this blog offers the details to onboard your Mobile Services App Store.
Selecting The Right Mobile Development Kit Client
With the recent launch of the mobile development kit client for iOS to the app store, users can make a selection among three MDK client options:
- Download and install the SAP mobile services clients from the Apple app store.
- Use the cloud created a feature in the SAP cloud platform mobile services to present a personalized client for iOS.
- Create and customize a client on your device in your organization for the iOS development environment.
In some scenarios, offering choices also birth the shadow of doubts. Like, Which option suits best for you?
While you can opt for any clients for most of the use cases, every client has strengths for specific use cases. So, let’s summarize the functionality of each client for various used instances.
Welcoming The “SAP Mobile Services Client In The Apple App Store”
As already mentioned, the latest option is the client in the Apple store. Irrespective of being easy to install, this client consist of an enriching demo, so you can observe all the functionality is used just be running the client in the demo mode.
Although, each user must also perform a step or two to get the specific connection strings into the client to connect this client to your own MDK kit app.
The Perks:
- Automatic access to newly entrant SAP innovations through app store lifescycle management.
Pre-requisite:
The SAP mobile services app has no predefined acknowledgement of how to connect to your mobile development kit app so there is a need of extra effort to get the correct endpoints into the app for each device.
The Ideal Fit For:
- Instant testing.
- The percentage of completion focuses on the metadata app functionality.
- Distribution outside of your Enterprise Mobile Management or mobile device management system.
- Instantly present capabilities with the help of demo mode.
- Distribution to production users that are comfortable with the usage of the generic SAP client along with simple setups.
- Integration through EMM from the Apple app store.
Customized Client With Mobile Services Cloud Build Services
Mobile services consist of cloud build services that help in building a customized mobile development kit client that includes the connection strings to your MDK client, with no extra onboarding step required.
Besides, this feature offers users to customize the app name and icon, plus you can develop a customized client for every MDK app you support. However, it solely depends upon you to distribute this customized app the clients.
The Perks:
The significant feature of the cloud build service is that it automates appropriate endpoints. Url’s into the client base on the mobile services app information. As those values are incorporated inside the app, you don’t have to distribute them to users separately as you must follow if you use the app store client. After installation is completed, the client will automatically connect to your app when the client is released.
Add-on Customization:
If you are not in mind to override the endpoints later through QR code, hire a mobile app developer that specify your own iOS schema name. You can also turn on the database encryption.
Branding:
You can use your own app launch icon. In addition, you can also offer the client a name that makes sense to you and your users.
Prerequisite:
The user needs to upload their enterprise’s iOS signing certifications and provisioning profile before the start of building any process.
All that matters is to rebuild the client to incorporate any new features introduced when SAP launched a new mobile development kit client. Your present client will continue to work and can be upgraded on own terms, but simultaneously need to develop from the latest version of the client to take advantage of newly introduced features.
The Ideal Fit For:
- A POC that sheath evaluation of client onboarding and setup potentials.
- Distributing to any production users or test.
- Deployment to the MDK client used in it’s default form except for basic branding and configuration.
Customized client Through Your Organization’s iOS Development Environment
The MDK client Software Development Kit allows you to build a complete customized client on your Apple device in the enterprise’s iOS development space. In this, not only connection strings are included but you can do exclusive personalization to optimize the client to tick the boxes of your requirements.
The Perks:
The biggest advantage of creating the client in your enterprise’s iOS development arena has absolute control.
The custom client can cover the app endpoints automatically, and your own iOS schema name also set the values for how frequent to check for app updates. To add, you can again clutch extensions, plugins, datasets and the list goes on.
The user has entire control over the version, the bundle id, the icon and the display name. You can also set the timer values that manage how often the client validate mobile services for an updated version of your mobile development kit app. The Cloud build services and App store versions of the clients check for updates about every half hour.
Prerequisite:
All you need is an iOS device in your organization’s development ambience with all prerequisites installed.
You require to rebuild the client to incorporate any latest features introduced when SAP launched a new mobile development kit client. Your present client will continue to work, and you can thus, upgrade on your own terms, but you need to build the new versions of the client to reap advantages of the new features.
The Ideal Fit:
- POC that covers client onboarding and setup abilities
- Apps that use plugins or extensions
- Distribution to any test or production user
The Postulates
You need to install your own mobile services accounts to start creating and testing your own MDK apps.
I assume you have already installed you SAP Cloud Platform mobile services account following the link aforementioned. Else, you can also follow a mobile development kit setup video on YouTube.com.
How To Install From Apple App Store
#Step 1:
Go to the Apple store and type for SAP Mobile Development Kit or SAP mobile services client. The SAP mobile services pop up as this is the official name for the mobile app development kit client.
#Step 2:
Download it on your device.
The Steps To Create An OnBoarding String To Connect The Client to Custom MDK App
The MDK app requires users to connect to specific mobile services apps. And, to do this, you need to develop a URL using your mobile services applications details. The URL consists of App ID, SAP Cloud Platform base URL, and Auth Security URLs. Further, you will outgrow a QR code and scan it to onboard your app.
To develop the URL string, go to your mobile development kit application in SAP Cloud Platform mobile services and follow the steps discussed below. Else, you can hire a mobile app developer with distinctive expertise in using MDK app:
#Step 1: Log in to mobile services and select Native or Hybrid under the Mobile Application from the menu on the left side.
#Step 2: Ensure to see the list of mobile services applications you or your development partner have already created. Click on the mobile development kit application you want to connect to the SAP mobile services client on the device. This drives you straight in the application details page.
#Step 3: By now, you would have created a URL to present a QR code and click on from the respective device. It’s advisable to open a text file, copy the base URL on it and add the respective ids and URLs for your app.
#Step 4: From the mobile services app, select the app ID and swap the {} with the ID you have earlier copied.
#Step 5: Select and click the API tab, placed above the application details section. Then, copy the server URL , without “/” and replace it with {} for SAP cloud platform endpoints.
#Step 6: Repeat the process to get all the remaining URLs. Remember to click on Security under Assigned Features.
#Step 7: Now, use the URL to present a QR code. Also it uses your device camera to scan the QR code. You can use any QR code generator and copy the URL and paste it.
“A TIP: If you are using iOS 11.x, you will see a pop-up notification asking for permission to open the SAP mobile services client. Then, click on the notification and step to the next number and skip the email instruction part if the QR part is not working for you.”
#Step 8: Open email in your device. Click the link and it will ask for your authorization to open the SAP mobile services client. And, then select open.
#Step 9: Clicking on the notification from the QR code or email, the device should automate with the SAP mobile services client and open. Click “start”.
Afterwards, you will see the login screen. Login with your SAP cloud platform account credentials.
#Step 10: Now a new screen appears with Authorize. Select authorize and accept the user license agreement and enable Touch ID. Or, you can ask your partner mobile app development company to enter a password for the app if Touch ID is not setup on your device.
#Step 11: Now, you are all set to login to mobile services and download the respective app content. If you don’t have any content presently, you will have a blank screen with the title SAP mobile development kit.
#The Final Step: You are all ready to create your apps in the mobile development kit.
In The End… This comprehensive walkthrough helps you overcome the roadblocks in the technology driven era with ease. And, this blog outlines the essential steps from setup and installing to reaping maximum benefits.