Using custom URL schemes
Specifying a custom URLs allow an application to be woken up when a specific URL is selected on a device. For example, the custom URL could be a home URL of the application web page.
Creating the sample stacks
This lesson uses 2 stacks,
1. The "launchee" stack, which is launched by a custom URL
2. The "launcher" stack, which calls the URL causing the first stack to launch.
The "launchee" stack can also be launched by entering the URL in a web browser.
The Launcher Stack
The "launcher" stack consists of 3 buttons which launch various URLs. The custom URL of the "launchee" stack is "webme" and any URL beginning with that string will launch the app. The rest of the URL can contain arguments or extra information that can be used by the "launchee" stack.
The script of the top button is
on mouseUp
launch url "webme://"
end mouseUpThe other also use the launch url command.
The Launchee Stack
This is the stack that is launched, it has a field to display the the URL that caused it to be launched and a button that uses the mobileGetLaunchURL function to display the URL.
The script of the button is
on mouseUp
local tURL
## This function returns the URL that was used to launch the application.
put mobileGetLaunchUrl() into tURL
answer tURL with "Okay"
end mouseUpThe urlWakeUp message
The "launchee" stack also handles the urlWakeUp message. This message is sent to an app when it is launched via a custom URL, it has 1 parameter, wakeUpString, which is the URL that launched the app. The "launchee" stack handles this message in the card script.
on urlWakeUp pURL
## This message is received by the app when a custom url is used to launch the app
put pURL into field "url"
end urlWakeUpSetting the Custom URL
An app's custom url is specified the the iOS or Android pane of the Standalone Application Settings. In this example the custom URL we want to use is "webme".
Launching the app from the Launcher stack
Deploy both stacks to your simulator or device, open the "launcher" stack and click any of the buttons. The "launchee" stack will open and the URL you selected will be displayed in the field. If you click the "Get Launch URL" button and answer dialog will be shown displaying the URL.
Launching the app from a browser
Once the "launchee" app is on your device you can also launch it from a browser, by going to any URL that starts with the custom URL of the app.
Nice!
Is there a way for the launchee to send back a message to the Laucher with data or perhaps a "Successful" or "Unsuccessful" message directly?