STK91 Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 Hi All, Our ICT Dept are wanting to use MIT App Inventor for creating android apps etc I have installed the software onto the machines which it requires and when the App Inventor for Android Blocks Editor is open on the machine, if you click New Emulator then it opens a command window which stays open but as soon as the emulator pops up a few seconds into it loading it just closes the emulator window and the command running in the background. It works for my self when logged onto the machine as admin, I have set full permission on the App Inventor folder in program files for the year group which I am testing it on but still no joy. Anyone else have any ideas? Is there anything in Group Policy which I am missing? Thanks
themightymrp Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 I just deployed this to a bunch of rooms over the half term, have you got the latest version of Java 6 installed (update 35)? I installed both at the same time and haven't had any issues?
LukeC Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 Are you using google chrome? Becuase it has a few known issues with IE
themightymrp Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 We are using only IE here, both versions 8 and 9 depending on OS (7 or XP). Not had any issues but then it's only been in a week lol.
STK91 Posted November 12, 2012 Author Posted November 12, 2012 Tried google chrome but same problem happens, also got latest version of java on machines.It works perfect on my login, but when staff/students login and go through the website to invent an app,when clicking the 'open the blocks editior' button at the top right then it opens the java program on the machine and runs perfect for staff/students but as soon as you click 'new emulator' then it opens the cmd window and the emulator '5554: ' few seconds into it loading it then closes it's self and the cmd window. Looks like something is blocking it but not quite sure what lol
themightymrp Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 A thought occurs, I had to modify the run-emulator.bat file! In the file it references %homepath% as a variable. For some reason this was defaulting to "\" which was causing the software to create a .AppInventor folder in the ROOT of the c: drive!! If you have restrictions there it would explain it not working for students! I changed it to say %homeshare% which now creates the folder in the users personal space i.e. their network drive 3
themightymrp Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 Also, do you have running .bat scripts disabled via group policy?
STK91 Posted November 12, 2012 Author Posted November 12, 2012 Thankyou!!, I have fixed it by editing the run-emulator.bat Steven
themightymrp Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 Excellent!! Bit of an oversight in the program to make it create a folder there, I would have thought at the very least it would go to the users profile??
FragglePete Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 I've been informed by our ICT Teachers that they *have* to use this specific application for the GCSE Computing course. I've spent the whole day trying to get this to run, and I've got the problem where the Blocks Editor will not launch (haven't even got to the Emulator bit yet). It downloads, goes to run and it claims it is open but no Block Editor is visible for our students. I've just spent most of this afternoon picking apart my GPOs and I've found the culprit.... Prevent access to registry editing tools and/or have the setting: Disable the command prompt script processing also? set to Yes. Of course we have this set to Enabled, but this prevents the thing from running. Am I to compromise the security of the network to allow this to run? Has anybody else got this to work in a proper manner? Or, am I over-reacting? Pete 1
CyberNerd Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 I've been informed by our ICT Teachers that they *have* to use this specific application for the GCSE Computing course. Yes - its the only software the exam board allow, and there is only one exam board. We managed to get it running in a few different scenarios without compromising any security: On Citrix using a published app, on Linux, and on windows with full admin rights.
kestrel1 Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 We have it running on a Citrix thin client network, but if more than one user runs certain things other users are unable to do anything. Had our Network support look, but they haven't come up with anything. Why does an exam board say to use software that is in Beta & has known issues?
CyberNerd Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 We have it running on a Citrix thin client network, but if more than one user runs certain things other users are unable to do anything. Had our Network support look, but they haven't come up with anything. Run it as a published app and have it invoke Firefox. Better they choose this than a costly program and that kids can't use at home.
psbresner Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 I can't believe the exam board have told us to use this. I have it working on our network but as its accessing an external website it runs very slowly, to the point of not being usable. Has anyone managed to set it up as a personal server on one of their windows servers? Thanks Paul:D
bwestlake Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 I have used bat to exe so it runs as an exe file to start the emulator ect
falko1 Posted July 4, 2013 Posted July 4, 2013 I've been informed by our ICT Teachers that they *have* to use this specific application for the GCSE Computing course. I've spent the whole day trying to get this to run, and I've got the problem where the Blocks Editor will not launch (haven't even got to the Emulator bit yet). It downloads, goes to run and it claims it is open but no Block Editor is visible for our students. I've just spent most of this afternoon picking apart my GPOs and I've found the culprit.... Prevent access to registry editing tools and/or have the setting: Disable the command prompt script processing also? set to Yes. Of course we have this set to Enabled, but this prevents the thing from running. Am I to compromise the security of the network to allow this to run? Has anybody else got this to work in a proper manner? Or, am I over-reacting? Pete This is what happens to me 'It downloads, goes to run and it claims it is open but no Block Editor is visible for our students.' have not tried your fix but hope it works for us as i cant see anything else in our GPO, but like you said should this reg editing be enabled??
FragglePete Posted July 4, 2013 Posted July 4, 2013 It would seem my jumping up and down has had some effect as they are now using Eclipse Android Bundle with PyDev. This seems to be a much better solution for what they need, and no faffing around with Beta software. Pete
falko1 Posted July 4, 2013 Posted July 4, 2013 yeah we have eclipse installed for them but they are wanting to do App Inventor. the Gpo edits of course just worked for me. (thanks) now im not quite sure how to deal with this lol
caffrey Posted December 2, 2013 Posted December 2, 2013 (edited) So what hoops do I need to jump through to make this run ? I have some heavy restrictions on student users e.g. Software restriction policies :- blocked access to cmd.exe and command.com bat and exe blocked Prevent access to command prompt Prevent access to the registry drive c: hidden and access prevented I've tried disabling some of these and I still get a "App inventor suspects your setup software is out of date" I'm certainly not comfortable opening up the computer to students. Seems like it needs an elevated command prompt. For now I've had to submit and create some time enabled staff accounts for the students to use (albeit with restricted internet and no mapped drives..) Edited December 2, 2013 by caffrey
Danp Posted December 3, 2013 Posted December 3, 2013 I had this working last year on our CC4 network but there was always the odd random machine that did not work. This year I plan to setup an VM through https://www.virtualbox.org/ so they have an open machine in there but with no shared drives apart from their own one.
baha Posted December 5, 2013 Posted December 5, 2013 Anyone used this software in a Citrix/Remote Desktop environment? Just got the email saying we *have* to use this software too
EekGude Posted July 30, 2014 Posted July 30, 2014 Regarding this issue on x64 bit Windows. We got it working after much deliberating... By copying the Appinventor install folder from Program Files (x86) to the Program Files folder as well. This clears the error and all works well.
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