You can customize BlackBerry device templates from the resource manager (Manage | Devices) or the template manager (Build | Templates) in Mobile Web Studio. Each resource ID can have one active BlackBerry template.
Developers can also modify how applications display
on various device types, taking into account screen dimensions and
orientation. This is different from customizing BlackBerry client
device templates for a specific RID. See the Unwired Accelerator
Developer’s Guide for information about modifying how
an application displays on various device types.
Once you customize the BlackBerry client device template, you must run a script to create new .cod, .alx, and .jad files.Before you can run the script, you you need the following:
RIM JDE 4.0.2 – install Java Development Environment (JDE) 4.0.2 on the same machine as Unwired Accelerator. You can download the RIM JDE for no charge.
RIM Code signature – obtain a code signature from RIM. You can request the code signature from RIM by submitting a form, paying a fee (typically $100.00), and obtaining the user name and password that you will need.
To learn more about code signatures, see the BlackBerry
JDE 4.0 BlackBerry Application Developer Guide,
Volume 2.
When you run the script, the Signature prompts you for the code signature, then creates new files. You can push the updated BlackBerry client to users, or inform them the updated files are available OTA.
Customizing the BlackBerry device template
Log in to Mobile Web Studio.
Select Manage | Devices from the Mobile Web Studio left pane.
Under Device Manager, navigate to Objects | Customization | Templates.
Select New from the toolbar in the right pane. The Device Template Customization window displays.
Select each of the tabs and make modifications.
Device tab – change the template name, COD file name, and set client version, icons, and default profiles. See “Device tab”.
Application List tab – set the header, footer, application for list view, including images, font color, font type, and font size. See “Application List tab”.
Application View tab – set the default header, row, and alternate row properties, and unique settings for individual applications. See “Application View tab”.
Splash Screen tab – identify the splash screen and text for the UA client. See “Splash Screen tab”.
Menu tab – design the main menu and application menu, and rename menu options if desired. See “Menu tab”.
Select Finish to save and close Device Template Customization.The new template displays on the Mobile Web Studio right pane. The template customization settings are saved as an XML template, and linked to a resource ID.
Before you can deploy the new BlackBerry template, you must build a new BlackBerry client.
Verify that any icons you changed are placed in this directory, or the images will not be included in the new BlackBerry client:
SYBASE\tomcat\webapps\onepage\bb\customization\images
Installing JDE 4.0.2
To build the new BlackBerry client, you need the RIM JDE 4.02 installed on the same machine as Unwired Accelerator. The scripts use RIM executables that are packaged with the JDE.
In a Web browser, navigate to the RIM download Web site.
Under Downloads, select BlackBerry Java Development Environment v4.0.2.
On Software Download for Developers, select BlackBerry Java Development Environment v4.0.2 and click Next.
Follow the prompts and instructions to install the JDE on the same machine as Unwired Accelerator.
Obtaining a code signature
To build the new BlackBerry client, you also need to obtain a code signature from RIM. To learn more, see see the RIM Web site.
In a Web browser, navigate to the BlackBerry Code Signing Keys Order Form.
Fill out the form as required and submit payment to RIM. Once your request is processed, you receive the private key and password via e-mail.
Building a new BlackBerry client
You must build the BlackBerry client on a Windows machine, which requires JDK 1.4.2 or later. When you request to build the BlackBerry client, UA server generates the customization XML. The customization XML is zipped in with the BlackBerry client libraries, ant, and RIM utilities. A script, which implements a Signature Tool, generates new ALX, COD, and JAD files.
From Mobile Web Studio, highlight the template in the right pane.
Select the down arrow from the toolbar in the right pane (the tooltip indicates Build). You are prompted to provide the destination for the customization.zip file.
Supply the destination for the file, typically SYBASE\tomcat\webapps\ onepage\ota\bb\direct\customization. You can browse to the location. The customization.zip file is downloaded.
Navigate to the location, and extract the files in the destination you specified, such as SYBASE\tomcat\webapps\onepage\ota\bb\direct\ customization.
Double-click run.bat to run the script. The script runs.
When the Signature Tool prompts you, enter the private key and password you received from RIM, and click OK.
When the script finishes, the new .cod, .alx, and .jad files are generated and placed in the \build directory where the files were extracted; for example:
SYBASE\tomcat\webapps\onepage\ota\bb\direct\customization\build\codfiles
Navigate to the these locations.
Move the files to the BlackBerry, OTA, or simulator directories:
SYBASE\tomcat\webapps\onepage\bb
SYBASE\tomcat\webapps\onepage\ota\bb
RIM\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 4.x\simulator
Notify BlackBerry users that the new BlackBerry client is available. You can use a push sync notice to do so, as described in “Managing synchronization”.
