Making my first app for distribution. My question is if I use a IOS certificate for the build which is for app store - can I both put it on the app store and provide the QR code/link from studio to users to download the app or can they only download it from the app store? Also, if I am using an app store certificate can I only use the QR code/link from studio or do I have to submit it to the app store?
So as an add on to this - I used my development certificate and was able to download the app from the link/QR code just fine. Now I made and generated the app using a ios store certificate and now when I download via the link it starts to install and then stops. If I click on the icon it says "Unable to Install (my app name)" Please try again later. If you use an ios store certificate does it have to be downloaded through the app store?
Hello Jason,
I believe that when you're referring "iOS certificate", you're talking about the build type of your IPA file.
About your questions:
1) If you use your build type as App Store to generate your builds, then your users won't be able to test it via link or QR code. This type of build will be the one that you need to submit to the store. If you generate with any other build types, you won't be able to submit to the stores. By the time it is approved, then users will be able to download it from the app store.
2) If you use your build type as Development or Ad-Hoc to generate your builds, then your users will be able to download the app if you provide the QR code / link from Service Studio.
3) Yes, if you use an App Store build, they need to download the app through the store.
Hope that this helps you.
Kind regards,
Rui Barradas
Rui Barradas wrote:
1) If you use your build type as App Store to generate your builds, then your users won't be able to test it via link or QR code (since they are directly related to your Provisioning Profile). This type of build will be the one that you need to submit to the store. If you generate with any other build types, you won't be able to submit to the stores. By the time it is approved, then users will be able to download it from the app store.
Rui - for item 2, if I set it to be development and provide the QR code/link, is there a limit to the number of people who can download it? I believe that with Ad Hoc you have to specify their device id's before they can download it which I don't want to do.
Side-Loading is prevented by default on iOS. You can't install an app signed with their store certificate and side-load it on your own device. The only method to side-load is what you already did with your developer certificate.
If you set it to be Development or Ad-Hoc, you need to specify their device IDs (called UDIDs) for both of these build types. Because when you generate your builds, they are directly related to your Provisioning Profile file, which has the information about the devices that may access to the application. Unfortunately, this is a requirement for both of those build types. So you need to have an apple developer's account and register those UDIDs and generate the Provisioning Profile with those devices registered.
About the limit number of people who can download it, there is a limit of UDIDs that you may register and this limit is related to your apple developer's account. In my case, I think that's 100 devices.
About the limit number of people who can download it, there is a limit of UDIDs that you may register and this limit is related to your apple developer's account. In my case, I think that's t's 100 devices.
Ok - sounds like I am going to have to go through app store for what I want then. Thank you!
Hello again Jason,
Glad that I could help with your questions.
There is something that you may want to use instead of going through app store which is the TestFlight distribution.
I have never used it, but I know that you can invite a large amount of testers using their e-mail addresses or sharing a public link. This is usually used when you have a large amount of users and you want to give them the opportunity to test your app before releasing it to the store.
Maybe you could take a look into it: https://developer.apple.com/testflight/
I'll also leave this tutorial if you find it useful.
Rui - I did use test flight to use the OutSystems now app to test it. It is ready to go. Also I made another forum post but I am stuck at another point. I have made the .ipa file to submit to the app store, but I do not have a mac, only windows, so not sure how to actually get the file into the app store request as they do not have a place to just upload the file, you have to do it with one of their 3 tools all of which it seems like needs a mac.
Hi Jason,
Yes, you are correct. Unfortunately, you need a Mac...