Frequently Asked Questions for iPad
Creating your app
- How can I create my application?
- How can I customize my app look and feel?
- How can I manage my content?
- How to add a page to my application?
- How to remove a page from my app?
- How can I convert a page to different type (function)?
- What functions are supported by iBuildApp ?
- What’s the application statuses?
Testing and Publishing
- I finished designing my application. What’s my next step?
- How can I test the application on my device?
- How can I get my device ID?
- How can I publish my application on the app store?
- How can I generate Certificate Signing Request?
- How can I save Certificate ( .p12 file) on my computer?
- How can I create Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision)?
Managing your apps
- How many apps can I manage using the iBuildApp online control panel?
- Can I make changes to my app after it’s published?
- Do I have to resubmit my application to Apple every time I do the update?
- Can you submit my app for me to the iTunes App Store under my developer account?
- Do we need a MAC Apple computer for creating the Iphone app and their certificates?
- Do I need to pay $299 per app to submit to Apple store?
Q: How can I create my application?
The first step towards creating your application is to choose a template that best fits your needs:
Then, you will be required to enter the Application Info. This information will appear with your application on the Apple store (iTunes Application Name is required field).
Once done, you’ll be redirected to the Application Management Panel, where you can customize your Home page (F.A.Q. How can I customize my app look and feel?) and manage your content (F.A.Q. How can I manage my content?):
Edit background image, upload your logo, and manage navigation buttons and tabs:
Use iPad simulator to navigate through your app. When clicking on a navigation control (button or tab), it will display an appropriate page. The right section will get updated accordingly, so you can edit the page associated with selected navigation element:
Once you’ve complete with content and interface for your application, you have to make sure that your application is ready for release. Go to Application Info page, fill in required information and click Submit to AppStore.
When you click on the Submit button, you’ll be redirected to Publishing page with publishing options and instructions. Follow these instructions; once your app is submitted, you can download your application build and publish it on the App Store.
Q: How can I customize my app look and feel?
Once on the Application Management Panel, you will see your app’s Home page with navigation controls (buttons and tabs), logo image, and/or introduction text. Variety of elements presented on the Home page depends on selected template:
Step 1. Start designing the Home page – edit your background image. You can choose a solid color, a pre-designed background image, or upload your own background image:
Step 2. Upload your logo
Note: The image dimension must be 320 x 60 in pixels; otherwise it will be scaled and cropped to fit the size. File must be under 1MB.
Step 3. Manage navigation buttons and tabs - as they appear on your Home page. Each control has a default title and image. You can change the title and upload custom image by clicking the pencil icon next to the control:
Manage navigation tabs – change the title and select custom image by clicking the pencil icon next to the tab:
All changes will be immediately available on the iPad simulator.
You can also remove a button or bottom tab by clicking the red ‘X’ icon next to it:
Restore a deleted button/tab by clicking on green cross icon .
Q: How can I manage my content?
Use iPad simulator to navigate through your app. When clicking on a navigation control (button or bottom tab) from your Home page, it will redirects to a page associated with the navigation control. The right section will get updated accordingly, so you can edit the appropriate page:
You can make changes to the app’s pages at anytime – live.
Q: How to add a page to my application?
Each template has a limited number of pages. For example, the Business template is limited by 8 pages. So, if you want to add a new page, in fact, you need to redefine one of existing pages.
Step 1. Select a navigation control on the Home page. This navigation control will be associated with your new page.
Upon clicking on the button/tab, it will update both iPad preview screen and editing section on the right:
Step 2. Select a type (function) for your page:
Step 3. Enter your content:
Q: How to remove a page from my app?
To remove a page from your app, you need to remove all buttons/tabs associated with this page, or change the page functionality – all content entered before will disappear.
Q: How can I convert a page to different type (function)?
To change a feature: Log into your application management panel and navigate to desired page using iPad simulator. Select a type (function) for your page from the ‘Function’ drop down:
When changing a page type, the system will notify you: ‘if you change the functionality for this page, all the content you’ve entered before will disappear.‘ Click ‘Continue‘ to change the function, or ‘Cancel‘ to keep the current content.
Q: What functions are supported by iBuildApp?
We designed iBuildApp features so you could benefit from using easy-to-understand and convenient tools when building or updating your applications. Your application users will benefit from simplicity and quick load time.
Creating your own app with iBuildApp takes only a few minutes and absolutely FREE. Your followers will see your name and icon in the App Store, they can upload your app on their mobile device, while backstage you have a powerful content management system to update the app “on the fly“, any time, as often as you would like.
Please learn more about iBuildApp features here: https://ibuildapp.com/features/
Q: What’s the application statuses?
- In-Design – the application is in the design phase, you can continue building it via your Application Management Panel.
- Submitted – the application has been submitted, that means that iBuildApp had created your app’s binary file and you can download it from ‘My Applications’ page (.ZIP – for submission on the app store, .IPA – for testing on your device or ad hoc distribution).
- Submitted (Paid) – means that we’ve received your request for publishing it on the AppStore.
- In-Review – the application is under review: our team reviews the app in terms of any inappropriate content, blank pages, etc.
- In-AppStore – the application has been successfully submitted on the Appstore
- Missing Content – some corrections to your application are required: we found some issues with the content. Details will be sent to you via email.
- Ready for Sale – your application is ready to go live on the Apple Store.
- Rejected – the submitted app was not approved by Apple.
Q: I finished designing my application. What’s my next step?
Once you’ve complete with content and interface for your application, you have to make sure that your application is ready for release. Go to Application Info page, fill in required information and click ‘Continue’:
When you click on the Submit button, you’ll be redirected to Publishing page with publishing options and instructions. Follow these instructions; once your app is submitted, you can download your application build and publish it on the App Store.
Q: How can I test the application on my device?
The first step towards testing your applications on a real device is to sign up for the Apple Developer Program at https://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/. There are two programs available – Standard and Enterprise. For most developers wanting to release applications on the App Store, they can simply sign up for the Standard program, which costs US$99. Check out https://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/apply.html to know more about the differences between the Standard and Enterprise programs.
In order to test your iPad applications on your device, you need to obtain a Distribution Certificate (.p12 file) and a Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision file), and upload those two files in our system.
Before you can get your certificate ( .p12 file) you have to generate a Certificate Signing Request, download your certificate and install it on your local machine (F.A.Q. How can I generate a Certificate Signing Request, download your certificate and install it on your local machine?)
A Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision file) will contain a set of iOS Certificates, Unique Device Identifiers and an App ID (F.A.Q. How can I create Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision)? ).
Once you get your Certificate and Distribution Provisioning Profile, upload them into the System (on Application Publishing page) and click on ‘Continue‘ button – iBuildApp will automatically create your app’s binary file (.IPA).
Drag your Provisioning Profile into iTunes.
Download the binary from ‘My Applications’ page, drag it into iTunes and synchronize with your device. That’s it – test it!
Q: How can I get my device ID?
- Connect your device to your computer and open iTunes.
- Select your your device in iTunes. Select the Summary tab.
- Click on the Serial Number black label. It doesn’t look like something you can click on, unfortunately, making this more of a “hidden feature”. Serial Number will turn into Identifier (UDID).
- Press Command+C (Ctrl+C) to copy the UDID to your clipboard:
Q: How can I publish my application on the app store?
The first step towards publishing your applications on app store is to sign up for the Apple Developer Program at https://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/. There are two programs available – Standard and Enterprise. For most developers wanting to release applications on the App Store, they can simply sign up for the Standard program, which costs US$99. Check out https://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/apply.html to know more about the differences between the Standard and Enterprise programs.
In order to publish your iPad application, you need to obtain a Distribution Certificate (.p12 file) and a Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision file).
Before you can get your certificate ( .p12 file) you have to generate a Certificate Signing Request, download your certificate and install it on your local machine (F.A.Q. How can I generate a Certificate Signing Request, download your certificate and install it on your local machine?)
A Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision file) will contain a set of iOS Certificates, Unique Device Identifiers and an App ID (F.A.Q. How can I create Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision)? ).
Once you get your Certificate and Distribution Provisioning Profile, upload them into the System (on Application Publishing page) and click on ‘Continue‘ button – iBuildApp will automatically create your app’s binary file (.ZIP).
Follow step-by-step instructions to upload your binary in app store:
Step 1. Login to iTunes connect under your developer account and select ‘Manage Your Applications‘:
Step 2. Click on Add New Application button:
Step 3. Enter App Name and select your Application bundle:
Step 4. Enter your application info:
Step 5. Define rating of your application
Step 6. Upload your logo icon (size 512×512 px) and screenshots:
If you have downloaded iOS SDK 3.2 or later, you already have Application Loader stored here: /Developer/Applications/Utilities/Application Loader.app. Otherwise download and install the Xcode 3.2.5 & iOS SDK 4.2 from https://developer.apple.com/devcenter/ios which installs Application Loader automatically.
Step 7. Open Application Loader:
Step 8. First time you must login to your apple developer account using Setup Wizard:
Step 9. Enter login and password for your apple developer account and click next:
Step 10. Once done, you can upload your app on iTunes Connect. Open App ZIP archive:
Step 11. Before uploading your binary code you must register for uploading your application on iTunes Connect. Select app from the list and click ‘Next‘:
Approve the uploading and you’re done!
Q: How can I generate Certificate Signing Request?
To request an iOS Distribution Certificate , you first need to generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) utilizing the Keychain Access application in Mac OS X Leopard. The creation of a CSR will prompt Keychain Access to simultaneously generate your public and private key pair establishing your iOS Developer identity. Your private key is stored in the login Keychain by default and can be viewed in the Keychain Access application under the ‘Keys’ category.
Please follow the instructions below to generate a CSR:
Step 1. In your Applications folder, open the Utilities folder and launch Keychain Access.
Step 2. In the Preferences menu, set Online Certificate Status Protocol (OSCP) and Certificate Revocation List (CRL) to “Off“:
Step 3. Choose Keychain Access -> Certificate Assistant -> Request a Certificate from a Certificate Authority . Note: If you have a noncompliant private key highlighted in the Keychain during this process, the resulting Certificate Request will not be accepted by the Provisioning Portal. Confirm that you are selecting “Request a Certificate From a Certificate Authority…” and not selecting “Request a Certificate From a Certificate Authority with :”
Step 4. In the User Email Address field, enter your email address. Please ensure that the email address entered matches the information that was submitted when you registered as an iOS Developer.
Step 5. In the Common Name field enter your name. Please ensure that the name entered matches the information that was submitted when you registered as an iOS Developer.
Step 6. No CA (Certificate Authority) Email Address is required. The ‘Required’ message will be removed after completing the following step.
Step 7. Select the ‘Saved to Disk‘ radio button and if prompted, select ‘Let me specify key pair information‘; then click ‘Continue‘.
Step 8. If ‘Let me specify key pair‘ was selected, specify a file name and click ‘Save‘. In the following screen select ‘2048 bits‘ for the Key Size and ‘RSA‘ for the Algorithm. Click ‘Continue‘.
Step 9. The Certificate Assistant will create a CSR file on your desktop.
Step 10. Login using your Apple developer account credentials on https://developer.apple.com/iphone.
Step 11. Select “iOS Provisioning Portal” on the right sidebar:
Step 12. Select “Certificates” from the left sidebar, and then “Distribution” tab:
Step 13. Click on “Request Certificate” button.
Step 14. On Provisioning Portal click “Choose File” (or “Upload File”) button, then select request.csr file you saved in previous step and click “Submit“.
Step 15. Once submitted, your certificate should be in Pending Approval state. Click on “Approve” button.
Step 16. Click on “Download” button next to the certificate name to download your iOS Certificate to your local machine:
On your local machine, double-click the downloaded .cer file to launch Keychain Access and install your certificate.
Once done, you need to save the certificate as Personal Information Exchange (.p12) file.
Q: How can I save Certificate ( .p12 file) on my computer?
If you choose to publish your app under your own developer account, you need to save your certificate as a Personal Information Exchange (.p12) file.
Before you can get your certificate ( .p12 file) you have to generate a Certificate Signing Request, download your certificate and install it on your local machine (F.A.Q. How can I generate a Certificate Signing Request, download your certificate and install it on your local machine?)
Once you’ve installed your certificate on your computer, follow the instructions below to save it as a Personal Information Exchange (.p12) file:
Step 1. Open keychain access:
Step 2. Open “My certificates” on the left sidebar:
Step 3. Locate the certificate and select ‘Export‘:
Step 4. Save the certificate as “Personal Information Exchange (.p12)” file
Step 5. Enter a password for exporting (you may leave it blank):
Step 6. Upload the certificate on iBuildApp’s Application Publishing page:
Q: How can I create Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision)?
A Provisioning Profile is a collection of digital entities that uniquely ties developers and devices to an authorized iOS Development Team and enables a device to be used for testing. A Distribution Provisioning Profile (.mobileprovision file) will contain a set of iOS Certificates, Unique Device Identifiers and an App ID.
- Step 1. : Select ‘App IDs‘ from the left sidebar and then click on the “New App ID” button.
- Step 2. : Enter all required information and press ‘Submit‘ .
- Step 3. : Select ‘Provisioning‘ from the left sidebar, then choose ‘Distribution‘ tab and click on the “New Profile” Button
- Step 4. : Select Distribution Method (‘App Store‘ – if you want to publish your app on the Apple store; ‘Ad Hoc‘ – if you want to distribute it among your friends); then enter Provision Profile name and select your App ID When selecting Ad-Hoc method you should specify which devices will be associated with the provisioning profile. If a device’s UDID is not included in the provisioning profile the profile and your application cannot be installed on that device.
- Step 5. : Click Submit and next download the Provision profile to your local computer.
Q: How many apps can I manage using the iBuildApp online control panel?
As many as you want, iBuildApp supports multiple app management. This means you can create specialized apps for specific purposes then make real-time changes to any of them from one centralized location.
Q: Can I make changes to my app after it’s published?
Yes, the iBuildApp online control panel allows you to make real-time, instant changes to your application – even after it’s published and in use. However if you change the template it will go through the App Store approval first. End users will see changes the next time your app is launched on their device.
Q: Do I have to resubmit my application to Apple every time I do the update?
NO, you can change the content in your application real-time using the Content Management System from web-interface. Just log into your control panel and update the app. You can also change your color scheme and modify the layout, fonts, colors, headers, etc. Once you save your application the changes are life. However, changing the name of your application, loading image, and icon require new submission to App Store.
Q: Can you submit my app for me to the iTunes App Store under my developer account?
Yes, this is a separate service, please refer to our Services section.
Q: Do we need a MAC Apple computer for creating the iPhone app and their certificates?
NO, you don’t need to have a MAC computer – iBuildApp has a solution for you!
If you don’t know how to create a Certificate, Private Key and Provisioning file, or you don’t have a Mac computer, iBuildApp will help you to create it, for FREE: once you app is ready for publishing and you’re on the ‘App Publishing‘ page, select the first FREE option: “Publish on Apple store under your own developer account (self publishing)“
Then choose: “I don’t know how to create a Certificate, Private Key and Provisioning file, or I don’t have a Mac computer“.
Before you can get your certificate and private key (.p12 file) you have to generate a Certificate Signing Request, download your certificate and install it on your local machine. Just follow our step-by-step instructions:
Once you’ve uploaded your certificate, wait for 3-5 sec for the further instructions – follow them to get your Distribution Provisioning Profile:
When you’re done, enter the build version and click on ‘Continue‘ button to get the app build.
Now you may upload your app build from ‘My Apps‘ page. Please allow up to 10 minutes for the system to generate the build.
The next time you’ll need a MAC computer when uploading your app build on the apple store.
Q: Do I need to pay $299 per app to submit to Apple store?
Not necessarily. You may submit it by yourself, for free.
Once you app is ready for publishing and you’re on the ‘App Publishing‘ page, select the first FREE option: “Publish on Apple store under your own developer account (self publishing)“
IMPORTANT: before publishing, you need to sign up for the iPhone Developer Program at https://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/.