The Android Export Module allows you to build your application as an Android application.
What do you need to create an Android application?
You need to download and install 2 external packages :
- You need to install the Java Development Kit (JDK). The first time you build an Android application, if CF 2.5 asks you for the pathname of the JDK directory, select it in the folder selector. For example C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_25. You can later change it in the preferences if necessary. Note for 64-bit machines : install at least the 32-bit version of the JDK, not only the 64-bit version. The 64-bit version may cause a conflict with the SWF exporter.
- You need to install the Android SDK. Do not install the ADT Bundle. Click "Use an existing IDE" and then download the "SDK Tools for Windows" (EXE installer). And then in the Android SDK Manager install at least the Android 4.0 platform package (API #14). When you build your first Android application CF 2.5 will ask you for the pathname of the Android SDK directory. You can change it at any time in the preferences of CF 2.5.
EDIT: as things have changed in the Android SDK since this documentation was written, if you install Android Studio instead of the simple SDK and use the build 283 of CF 2.5 or lower, then you need to manually find the directory where Android Studio has installed the SDK. It's usually in C:\Users\your_user_name\AppData\Local\Android\sdk. From the build 284 CF 2.5 should in theory automatically detect this folder.
And later when you want to release applications:
- You will need a certificate to sign your applications before being able to release them.
- If you want to publish applications on the Android Market, you will need to register a developer account on https://market.android.com/publish/signup ($25).
Where to find documentation about Android development ?
Although the export module makes it simple to develop an Android application, you will still need to read Google's documentation, especially and the sections that explain how to publish your application, test it, etc. The main page for Android development can be found at : http://developer.android.com/index.html
Minimum requirements for Android applications created with CF 2.5
Android applications created with the export module require Android 2.3 or above, and Android devices with a GPU (graphic processor). Applications created will run on Android devices without GPU but they will be very slow.
