Got this error "java.lang.RuntimeException: no such class" when import extension

[Gordon_Lu]

I'm sorry, I misread your post.

If you haven't, you should exit the companion and reconnect again for starters. The extension is considered like an asset file and sent to the companion when you are connecting, and maybe, the extension is not sent to your device.

If this still persists, then you may have to build the app in order to test.

How to avoid runtime errors with the companion app

1. After importing an extension, please restart the companion app.

2. If you like to use an extension on a different screen, in Screen1 additionally drag the extension into the working area.

While starting the companion app, all necessary assets and also the imported extensions of your project will be copied to your device. So in case the no such class error shows up, the extension code to run the extension is not available on your device. Without that code the companion app is not able to execute methods from the extension.

In case restarting the companion app does not work for you after trying several times, then as it looks like the only way for you to test you app will be after building it using the apk file.

Taken from App Inventor Extensions | Pura Vida Apps.

If that still is a problem, clear the assets of your companion and try.

How to delete all files from assets with Companion

Here is an app that can be used to remove all files from assets with Companion - regardless of the Android version of the test device. This is sometimes necessary so that it still works (properly), for example after an extension update. deleteAssetsCompanion.aia (800.7 KB) Credit to Sunny - @vknow360 for his FileTools extension! [grafik] Android 9: [grafik] After that, disconnect Companion, reload the browser and reconnect to Companion...

[Anke]

@mistik1

add any extension at all and Companion with not work period until you remove the extension

Android or iOS?
Error message? Post a screenshot of it.

[mistik1]

I am using Android ver 9 on my phone, connected via USB
The extension I am currently trying to use is ColinTreeListView but that same happens no matter which I try (FirebaseAuth, FirebaseStorage, TaifunTextBox and more always fails).
I will try that clear assets shortly.

[mistik1]

This is actually funny (not).
I imported that deleteAssetsCompanion.aia, certainly does not load into companion, so I built it and installed and list files show blank array delete files seems to do nothing.
I restart the browser and companion upon restart the deleteAssetsCompanion was the last project so it autoloads and wham case in point error.

[Anke]

Does this simple test app work for you (with TaifunTextbox extension):
TaifunTextbox.aia (18.8 KB)

If not, post a screenshot again and try to connect via "AI Companion" (WiFi).

[mistik1]

I got a different error now.

BTW: I saw another flash by before that

[Anke]

Build the APK and try ...

[Anke]

@mistik1

I got a different error now.

Did you connect via "AI Companion" (or via USB again)?

[mistik1]

Via USB, I have no WIFI to try.
For what its worth I've been filtering logcat and I see a bunch of _values POST but I don't see _extensions.
12-25 04:59:03.449 20200 20254 D AppInvHTTPD: POST '/_values'

[Anke]

So did you try testing with the APK?

[Anke]

@mistik1

Via USB

Btw, I have no issues with USB connection.

Facing issue with AI companion connection

Download AI2Starter (I use the "Portable" version: .zip), unzip it in a folder of your choice and start it. That's all. I've been doing it for more than 7 years with all AI2 versions (online / offline) and with almost all Android versions (4.x - 11) and on dozens of devices. I've never had any problems with it, either with Win7 or Win10.

Facing issue with AI companion connection

[grafik]

[mistik1]

Yes I did test with APK, that works fine. Using the APK is how i've using AI2 because the companion has never worked with extensions for me but its become a pain to do so here I am trying to get it working.
When I examine the logs and grok the code it almost seems like the scheme code is getting evaluated before the extension get there.
Still groking

[Anke]

Facing issue with AI companion connection

It almost seems like I'm the only one with the USB connection working. For me it works on 2 different notebooks, on 3 different PCs with Win7 / Win10 with 15 different test devices (Android 4.x, 5.x, 7, 8.x, 9, 10, 11) and that for many years; actually since my first days with App Inventor.

USB - video

So where could the problem be?

[mistik1]

I wonder if me running Linux has anything to do with it. Mark my words I will track this issue down since my last little app took about 100 build/download/install apk. I'm done with that cycle.
I'll report my finding on here, thanks a lot for your help so far.

[Anke]

How to make Companion run without WiFi

Download AI2Starter (Installer or Portable version) here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/ai2u/files/ai2u%204.6/ AI2Starter46.exe / AI2Starter46.zip I’m not (absolute) sure if there is a more recent version, but it works.

[mistik1]

Very curios error via logcat...

12-25 06:25:32.542 22764 22764 D ReplForm: onCreate
12-25 06:25:32.545   688  2137 I StorageManagerService: Cmd send mkdirs /dev/null/Android/data/edu.mit.appinventor.aicompanion3/files/
12-25 06:25:32.545   283   283 E vold    : Failed to find mounted volume for /dev/null/Android/data/edu.mit.appinventor.aicompanion3/files/
12-25 06:25:32.547 22764 22764 W ContextImpl: Failed to ensure /dev/null/Android/data/edu.mit.appinventor.aicompanion3/files: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Failed to prepare /dev/null/Android/data/edu.mit.appinventor.aicompanion3/files/: android.os.ServiceSpecificException:  (code -22)

[mistik1]

Are you guys certain that extension can be loaded via USB connection?
I ask this because looking at the code for all this the only mechanism I can see for actually getting extensions over to the Companion is via the AssetFetcher.loadExtensions which builds a list and calls ReplForm.loadComponents which then fetches the file with the url provided from replmgr.js, This does not get called at all when you are in usb/emulator mode so how could it be working.
I have gotten it working for myself but my fix would not work unless you are running locally.

My fix is as follows:

File: appinventor-sources/appinventor/blocklyeditor/src/replmgr.js
Added the line to line 1170
top.ReplState.hasfetchassets = true;
This is what tells it to process extensions.

File: appinventor-sources/appinventor/misc/emulator-support/aiStarter.py
Added the line to line 125
subprocess.check_output('"%s" -s %s reverse tcp:8888 tcp:8888' % (ADB, device), shell=True)

This just sets up a forward from my phone to my local machine running AI2, it just works then.
A more permanent fix would be to just implement the rendezvous stack into aiStarter and it could in turn fetch the files and pass it along.

Cheers!

[Anke]

If it doesn't work under Linux for you, you could certainly run Windows under Linux. (However, I've never done it.) As I said, I've been using AI2Starter for almost 10 years now on various versions of Windows and on dozens of computers/notebooks without any problems.