Compilation Issue

[aklisiewicz]

I have a project with an MP3 audio file which is about 20Mb. Since I have added the file to the project it takes very long to compile and install to the emulator. It seems that B4A tries to upload this file to the appropriate folder every time I try to run the App. Compliation/Installation time inceased from about 10sec to qbout 2min. Is there any way to prevent this mp3 file from uploading every time (if it already exists in the folder) ?

One other question: are the media file names case sensitive ? Another words if I refer MyFile.mp3 int the code and have myfile.mp3 in the folder, would it make a difference ?

Arthur

 

[eps]

Yes the filenames and directory names are case sensitive.

A 20MB MP3, really? If you really need such a large file, you might want to consider having it as a separate expansion file to your project. I haven't dealt with those, but see here for more info :

APK Expansion Files | Android Developers

although it might not yet work in B4A, but maybe it will just work for simple cases, see this post by Erel : http://www.b4x.com/forum/basic4android-updates-questions/23064-apk-file-expansion.html#post133867

 

[eps]

Alternatively whilst developing and testing, debugging etc.. you could have a smaller version of the file say 1MB or quite a bit less, so that this speeds up the development process. Otherwise, if it's in Files it will upload it every time.

Can you not compress or downsample the MP3 in any way? It seems awfully large.

 

[Erel]

Files under the Files tab (asset files) are packaged inside the APK. Installing a 20mb APK on the emulator will be slow.

You can copy the mp3 file to File.DirRootExternal and then remove it from the Files tab.

 

[aklisiewicz]

Files under the Files tab (asset files) are packaged inside the APK. Installing a 20mb APK on the emulator will be slow.

You can copy the mp3 file to File.DirRootExternal and then remove it from the Files tab.

yes, this sounds reasonable, the only question is where exactly I need to copy the file:
1. Emulator on the PC ?
2. Connected device ?
what folders ?

Art

 

[Erel]

The simplest way to do it during development is to use File.Copy in your program.

 

[aklisiewicz]

thanks but my question was:

where the mp3 file should reside on
- device
- in PC (running emulator)

what folders?
Art

 

[moster67]

thanks but my question was:

where the mp3 file should reside on
- device
- in PC (running emulator)

what folders?
Art

Use "trial and error" method. That is what I do. When you have found out, please let me know where it should be copied since I am interested. Thanks!

 

[Erel]

1. Run your program and copy it to File.RootExternal.
2. Stop your program and delete the files from the files tab.