Universal links support for TestFlight apps - deep-linking

I have an app in TestFlight right now, and it's not ready to go public. I'm willing to add universal links to it, so I can invite my testers to test the app via a universal link which holds a few parameters.
The flow would be:
Generate a universal link with specific invitation params -> User taps on the link -> if TestFlight is not installed it will go download TestFlight -> then will go to download the app from TestFlight -> Then will run the app and pass the params
I have tried to validate the do-ability of this, but couldn't find any helping articles about it.

This is very doable.
Within the apps menu of appstoreconnect, select your application that you want to share via TestFlight.
From the App page select the TestFlight menu option in the second menu.
You'll find the External Testing menu item in the left side menu and click the blue plus button to add a new group.
Submit a build of your application to that group for review by Apple
Upon app review approval you'll be able to generate a link from this same page that will allow anyone who accesses this link to join that group and test your application within test flight.
Edit: Not sure exactly what you mean by a universal link which holds a few parameters... so I hope this is still helpful

Related

Getting IOS app in test flight

guys, we outsourced our mobile app development and the company is just giving me an IPA file that I have to re-sign then upload it to iTunes connect. Now I only want to see this app in test flight I watched a youtube video thought it would be straightforward so I created a production certificate after I did my app id then I created a distribution provisioning profile and selected app store as my distribution. I used to design in order to change everything I found this tutorial here but when I use application loader and submit the app into iTunes connect I have a choice to use that build to send for review in the app store but I cannot choose this build in a test flight. Here are some pics where it shows my build in the activity but I can't select this build in a test flight. I am a noob when it comes to this so any help would be great. Also every time I upload this I have to ask them to change the build string and re-send back to me which is getting annoying
Two type of testers in TestFlight
iTunes connect the user
In this case, you have seen when you have submitted build after processing completes, you have asked to complete compliance ( Wheather this app contains encryption or not etc ). Once it is done it available to testers immediately.
Non-iTunes connect user
In this case you have to select testers group and select build tab. after this select "+" option
After this, you will be shown a dialog to select build and proceed with the submission process.
You should be at least "App Manager" for this app.
Hope this will help you.

TestFlight build on App Store Connect stuck at 'Ready to Submit'

Since the recent update to App Store Connect, I can't figure out at all as to how I submit a new TestFlight build for beta review.
Under 'iTunes Connect Users' it says 'Ready to Test', while under 'External Testers' it says 'Ready to Submit'.
Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but how do I submit for beta review? I already have multiple versions on TestFlight.
Discovered the answer, the key was to go on iTunes Connect > My Apps > TestFlight > Any Group > Builds, and then submitted it via adding a new build in there.
In App Store Connect, this process has slightly changed. You must create a testing group in order to start external testing.
Here's how to do that:
Navigate to My Apps/TestFlight and click on Add External Testers on the left sidebar.
Give your group a name and click on Create.
Select Builds on the top and click on the little plus icon underneath.
Select your build and give the test information necessary for the review process.
In order to Submit an app for review you'll need to add external users from the TestFlight > Builds screen. Select the build you want to submit, and add Individual Testers from this screen. As long as at least one of them is external a series of dialog boxes will walk you through the rest of the submission.
My problem was similar, stuck on the ready to submit step. I had a successful build in the appsote, I just need to update its version to newer one. This article actually helps me.
Create a new version
When you’re ready to distribute a new version of your app, you create a version using the same app record you created for the original version. The new version will be available free to customers who purchased a previous version. You can only create a new version if the current version status is Ready for Sale or Developer Removed from Sale.
Keep in mind that it's not possible to revert to a previous version on the App Store if you have an issue with your app. You must create and submit a new version.
Role is very important, with developer role you can't submit the app for review.
Required role: Account Holder, Admin, or App Manager. See Role permissions.
After having the proper role you need to follow these steps
From the homepage, click My Apps, then select the app.
The App Store page opens with App Information selected.
In the left column, click the Version or Platform Add button (+) and choose a platform from the pop-up menu.
In the New Version dialog, enter an incremental App Store version number, and click Create.
Under App Information, review and enter metadata about the new version.
When you create a new version, the metadata from the current version is transferred to the new version automatically. Properties you can change will appear in editable fields on the App Information page.
For a description of the version properties, go to Platform version information. For the required and localizable properties, refer to Required, localizable, and editable properties.
In the upper-right corner, click Save.
7.In Xcode, increment the build string before you upload your build to App Store Connect, as described in Set the version number and build string.
Upload your new build to App Store Connect.
When you are ready to submit your build, add it to your latest App Store version, then submit your app to app review.
My problem was similar, stuck on the ready to submit step. I had a successful build in the appsote, I just need to update its version to newer one. I added a detailed answer here https://stackoverflow.com/a/57160753/557396
Go to my apps. Then select the + icon next to the iOS App. And then create a new version. Then select the build in the test flight. Finally, save the details and submit your app for review.

How to feed information to internal testers of iOS app

I am developing an iOS app, that is currently in internal testing phase. The internal testers receive updates of my product through Apple's Testflight. Is it possible to add a description of sorts that would direct my testers with information about the changes done on a certain build?
On the organizer windows from Xcode, there is a build description field, but it seems that the information isn't sent along-side the app itself.
If you wanna give some additional info for testers you can do it following https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/iTunesConnect_Guide/Chapters/BetaTestingTheApp.html > Add or Edit Metadata for your Prerelease App
If you would like to add or make changes to the Test Information, such
as What to Test or Description, you can do so at any time by viewing
your build from the Activity pane.
Open the App Details page, as described in Creating an iTunes Connect
Record for an App.
Click Activity.
Select All Builds for the platform of the build you want to edit.
Click the build number you want to test.
On Test Information, provide information for your testers such as What to Test, App Description, your feedback email address, and URLs. You will also provide information for App Review in the Beta App Review Information section, including contact information, demo account information, and any special notes on the build. Please note that this information is specific to Beta App Review and is not the same as the App Review contact information you provide when submitting your App Store version.

iOS - Archive item is not associated with any known iTunes Connect platform

I'm trying to validate my in-app purchase content package so I'd be able to upload it to iTunesConnect.
But when I click validate I get this error:
Archive item is not associated with any known iTunes Connect platform.
I already created a non-consumable product in iTunesConnect and made sure that the product ID is the same as IAPProductIdentifier.
What am I missing?
Thanks in advance.
For googlers who end up here and can't figure it out, here's how I got it to work with Xcode 8.2 and Application Loader 3.6 (Xcode menu > Open Developer Tool > Application Loader)
First, make sure you have your app registered with Apple iTunesConnect and you have created the in-app product as a non-consumable product with Content Hosting turned on. The in-app product will probably be in a Waiting for Upload status.
Create a new Xcode project, change the type to Cross-platform and choose the In-App Purchase Content template. The product name and organization information does not really matter because you're going to change them. Save the project.
With the new project open, make sure the project root is selected on the navigator panel, then choose the General tab. Change the Product ID to match the Product ID you configured in iTunes Connect. This must match!
Drag and drop your content files into the project.... movies, images, whatever content you're delivering with this in-app product. If it is not executable (its a movie for example) ensure that it is not be part of the Target Membership.
Next, archive it using the Product > Archive menu. The Organizer for archives will open. Highlight your archive and choose Export on the right. Export it as an Installer Package. Save it anywhere you can find it later.
Open Application Loader, sign in, choose your app and click Manage. On the In-App Purchases panel find and highlight the product. Assuming you have Content Hosting enabled you will see a panel at the bottom for Hosted Content. Open Hosted Content and choose the Installer Package you created earlier.
Switch to the Delivery panel (at top) and click Deliver. A few minutes after the loader finishes successfully, you will see your product in iTunesConnect has the package associated to it.
To actually download and use the content in your app, you will need to call SKPaymentQueue startDownloads and implement the updatedDownloads observer... which is a different question entirely.
For reference, the Application Loader doc is here but it does not explain all of the information above:
https://itunesconnect.apple.com/docs/UsingApplicationLoader.pdf
So I used Application Loader instead and everything is working fine now.

New to Apple TestFlight

I'm new to ios development. I've built an application and now I'm trying to publish it to TestFlight.
I am referencing two tutorials to keep me on track.
I have uploaded the archive through xCode, and logged into iTunes connect.
Both tutorials say something like:
To enable beta testing of your app, go to the My Apps section on the
iTunes Connect home page and click on your app. Select the Prerelease
tab and you’ll find your latest build.
But I do not have a "Pre Release" tab.
Both of my tutorials show pictures like this:
Though clicking on my app in iTunesConnect brings up a page like this:
Can anyone tell me what I am missing?
You need to go to the "TestFlight" tab in the new interface of iTunes Connect.
After you can select the build you want to enable for TestFlight, and add some internal testers (up to 25) or external testers (which will need Apple validation)

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