Easy way to create preinstall application (PA from SA)

[Leanid]

After having some problems of creating preinstall application (PA) I found easy way to do it. I have tested on Symbian 3rd - N92.

Just create regular SA application. Run installation on the phone, choose install on memory card.

Take card out and set read-only permission on all files in /sys/bin/myapp.exe, \private\10003a3f\import\apps\myapp_reg.rsc, private\10202dce\[UID].is
resource\apps\*.mif, resource\apps\*.rsc

Now you can put this card in any other phone it will behave as preinstall application with TYPE=PA.

What is good about it:
1) No need of another PA package troubles.
2) After you signed your SA .sis file you can use for both type of deployment: regular and preinstalled one.

Limitations:
You can not do any custom or condition steps during installation. For example if I want to have one card to be used for both UIQ and Symbian3rd phone it will not, since I will have to select what kind of files to install. In this case I'll need PA type, but if you need simple installation it's simple to use SA type of installer. I still can play with this. For example I use different UID for Symbain3rd and UIQ application and install them both on one card. Would be interesting to see what symbian will do when I insert this card in device.

What do you think?

[antonypr]

It doesn't work for me in my Nokia N73. I tried using Hello World example from S60 3rd FP1.

When you insert the memory card to another device, do you see "Installing" dialog pops up?

Does it work with self-signed application?

Antony

[Leanid]

Yes, install dialog pops up.
It behave same way as PA. It does not auto start installation if this application (same UID) has been ever install on that phone and uninstall after that.

So try your card on another phone that this Helloworld has never been installed on

or do factory reset:
*#7370#
then Lock code
12345
and then insert your card.

I think this is Symbian feature. If you unisnstalled preinstall application user still can use this card without auto-installing this apps over and over again.

I tested it for application from protected range, and signed with developer cerificate.

[Leanid]

Just found even simple way.
If you just put your SA sis into private\10202dce\ it will auto-start when you insert card into phone.

Tested on N73, N92, N80 and UIQ 3.0 phone M600i.

For symbian phone you have to do reformat *#7370# then Lock code 12345
to enable auto-start if application with the same UID has been ever installed on phone. Or go to AppManager and install it from there.

On UIQ phone it always auto-starts.

Just make me think why do we need PA type at all.

[amitkankani]

Hi,

though this is a very old post, I would still like to thank for the information provided.

Specially this information:

For symbian phone you have to do reformat *#7370# then Lock code 12345
to enable auto-start if application with the same UID has been ever installed on phone. Or go to AppManager and install it from there.

I was trying this and was not able to get the intented result, however, after formatting the phone, it worked.

Thanks.