Using CMS Builder to drive an app
11 posts by 5 authors in: Forums > CMS Builder
Last Post: January 6, 2016 (RSS)
We have been asked to develop a mobile application for a school and I would like to use CMS Builder to manage the content. There will be the usual functionality such as calendar, photo gallery, documents etc.
We of course need to be able to feed the app from CMS builder using an appropriate feed method. Would you have any suggestions on the best way to achieve this?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Sincere thanks.
Geoff
By gregThomas - October 7, 2015 - edited: October 7, 2015
Hey Geoff,
We've created several apps for both iPhone and Android that use CMS Builder as the back end to inject content into the App.
We use phoneGap build, which is a system created by Adobe that allows you to turn a site into an app. The app is essentially a browser that opens the site for you. You can create apps for several different devices, including iPhone and Android.
You can find out more on this system here: https://build.phonegap.com/
We've found that Google is fairly lenient in what they'll add to the Play Store. But the Apple app verification process is much stricter, they insist that the app isn't just a website wrapped in an app and that it has some app-specific functionality (for example a QR code scanner, push notifications, etc).
Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers,
Greg
PHP Programmer - interactivetools.com
By Toledoh - October 7, 2015
Geoff - a few links you may be interested in. As Greg indicated - App Store can be REALLY time consuming...
http://www.interactivetools.com/forum/forum-posts.php?Mobile-App-80183
http://www.interactivetools.com/showcase/detail.php?APSI-Mobile-App-215
http://www.interactivetools.com/showcase/detail.php?Murray-216
Tim (toledoh.com.au)
By JeffC - December 17, 2015
Hi Tim
i am interested in employing your services to create a cmsb driven app. I've looked a phonegap, downloaded the 'hello world' demo and it looks like it will do everything I need it to do.
I already have a website that integrates with cmsb I would essentially like this website packaged up as an app.
The key thing for me is that whatever solution i find I am not tied into any subscription models. I have been using adobe publishing suite and I am getting rather fed up with it. Adobe keep on changing the model and increasing the price - so much so that it is now financially unviable.
By Toledoh - December 17, 2015
Hey Jeffncou.
Can you shoot me an email with contact details etc and we can have a chat about it? tim at toledoh dot com dot au
Tim (toledoh.com.au)
By gversion - January 5, 2016
Hi Tim,
I am looking into building a mobile app using cmsBuilder and Phonegap and Ross from Interactive Tools directed me to this forum post.
I have downloaded your APSI app for the iPhone as I would love to see how this works however I need login details to access the app.
Are you able to share a demo account with me please? Or do you have another app I can explore that was built using cmsBuilder and that doesn't require a login?
Thanks,
Greg
By Toledoh - January 5, 2016
Hey Greg.
The user table for the APSI app is actually synchronised with CMSB from an externally managed database. I'll ask the client to set up a demo that you can use. Can you shoot me an email and I'll return it to you.
I also have https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/murrays-keg-scanner/id1024316752?mt=8 run by CMSB. It's a fairly simple app used to track beer kegs. You can scan multiple barcodes, then hit the Locate button which will grab your current location (Lat / Long) and that data is then submitted to the database. Behind the scenes, we can see where all the kegs where last scanned so we can chase them up and get them returned.
Tim (toledoh.com.au)
By gversion - January 6, 2016
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the reply! I will send you an email shortly.
The keg app sounds neat. Out of interest, did you use the cmsBuilder Geocoder plugin for the locate button functionality?
Regards,
Greg
By Toledoh - January 6, 2016
Hey Greg.
Thanks for the email.
No - most app functionality I utilise https://cordova.apache.org/plugins/ with PhoneGap. In this case, the Lat/Long is captured from the device, then I just display the locations via google maps.
Tim (toledoh.com.au)
By gversion - January 6, 2016
Hi Tim,
Thanks for letting me know.
Could you have used the Geocder plugin or would that have introduced limitations?
I am looking for a way to have just one codebase for my web application so ideally wouldn't have PhoneGap plugins used on the mobile app and cmsBuilder plugins used on the desktop version.
Regards,
Greg