I found the File Manager in self-hosted, and I am not sure how it works. When I upload a file, where does it go? It doesn't seem to be FTPed to my server--at least I couldn't find the files I uploaded. Does the File Manager eliminate the need to drag files into Eclipse and Xcode? Thank you!

You still need to add the files to Eclipse and Xcode. By adding the files using the file manager it's easier to use the image file again. Just point and click. You can apparently use the URL to the file instead of embedding the file. Still need to explore its potential. Fred

Perhaps a better explanation http://www.buzztouch.com/forum/thread.php?tid=FCAF7C891F1E0EA302CDA04&command=isSearching&currentPage=1&topicTitle=bulk&createdBy=&repliedBy=&minViews=-1&maxViews=-1&minReplies=-1&maxReplies=-1&forumCategory= Fred

a) File uploaded in the file manager go to that apps "data directory" (more on that in a minute). b) If you upload a file, then use the file manager to select it's NAME, you'll still need to include it in the project after downloading. But, if you select it's URL, you dont' have to add it to the project after downloading. Pros and cons of each. We may eventually pre-package all the files you selected using the file manager and include them in the app download automatically. There are lots of gotcha's with this idea (even though it sounds cool) so who knows if it will ever be the best approach. Dunno. For now, add the files after download the project unless you use a file URL. Apps Data, where does stuff go! Here's a step-by-step rundown of what happens technically when you make an app. This should help make it easier to understand... a) You make a new app. If this is all you do, only one thing happens. A new database record is created in the bt_applications table. You can easily see this record by using a mySQL manager tool like phpMyAdmin. Each record in this table represents one app. 50 apps in your control panel, 50 records in this table. b) Normally, after you create an app you begin tinkering with it. When you load it's control panel (the apps home screen) a few directories are created to save some possible data for the app. These directories are in the softwares "Data Directory" / applications / [app id]. The default data directory is called "files". So, if you didn't change anything, and have three apps in your control panel, you'll see BT-server/files/applications/[app id #1] BT-server/files/applications/[app id #2] BT-server/files/applications/[app id #3] App Id's are long and ugly, not simple numbers. This id matches the GUID column in the bt_applications table. So, bt_applications.guid = the app id in the /files/applications folder. Next, each application has a few subdirectories. Images, Documents, etc. This means each app's directory actually looks like: BT-server/files/applications/[app id #1] ..../documents ..../Images ..../etc, etc (have a look at one, can't remember them all) So, each app has it's own directory and some subdirectories. All the apps will have the same subdirectories. File Manger: When you upload a file using the File Manager, the file will be in that app's Documents, or Images, or ?? directory. Additionally, a new records for each file upload will be created in the bt_files table in the database. One file upload = one database record in the bt_files folder and one file in the app's documents (or images) directory. Note: You'll also see the apps icon in the /app id / images folder. No database record is created in bt_files for app icons, just the file itself.

I should probably add: The boy and I went for a sail tonight. We got a bunch of miles offshore (amazingly nice night) when the wind went on vacation. Started engine, began the long motor home. Ran out of fuel. I never EVER bother checking the fuel in this thing, it's always windy in Monterey - right! So, we are bobbing right now, as we speak, about a mile or so left to go. My little WiFi hotspot thing-a-ma-jig works great up to about 2 miles offshore. Sweet! Some small little waves are pushing us along at about 1/2 a knot. Super fun. The kid is laughing at mouth breathing sea creatures, I'm answering forum posts - too cool. I love the internet!!!

Just logged into David's GPS and unfortunately the wind has changed direction. Here he is now: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14540206/temp/gps-David.jpg Looks like he is heading for Hawai. David, come back soon.

Brilliant Paddy. Sounds like a sweet night David.

David I am jealous!...Sailing NEVER sucks! Headed for the condo in Destin in about 2 weeks myself, been up at the boy scout camp all summer directing the new STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) program and needing a break from people. Course i only plan to lay on the beach with my laptop and sip adult beverages and do research, sailing would definitely beat the beach... :-)

David, thank you so much for the explanation. When clients use the self-hosted to control their app, they should use the url option for now. When you do make it so that the files will download with the project I could I could see the file manager being used to take one hassle out of making an app. Dragging the files in is relatively easy, but the self-hosted panel could also be used by an employee with less knowledge of Xcode. For example, I worked with a college student to make my Minneapolis Lakes app last summer; she understood Buzztouch 1.5 but only understood enough Xcode to run the simulator. She could have been trained to drag files into Xcode, but it adds another challenge. If the files are all in the project and download with the app project, then anyone with access could download the entire project from the panel. Lots of things to think about. I hope you made it back ok! Monteray is such a cool place!

Got the docklines on about 12:00 AM. I spend a ton of time at the harbor coding from my little "office" at the marina. Coffee, WiFi, and the smell of seal poop, a perfect combination! I tend to hole up in the evenings, where it's quiet, which is for sure not a tiny beach house (more like a shack) with teenagers. My son (15) is the super-sailor and he and I spend a few hours "out" each evening. It's 50 / 50. Either foggy, cold, damp.... Or, amazing and beautiful. There isn't much in between in Monterey. He heads home on the bicycle or skateboard and leaves me "at work" until I find my way home later. The girls (wife, daughter) sometimes come, usually not. Just the way we like it! LOL. The little out-of-gas adventure last night was typical, we almost never get back to the dock when we hope to. I sometimes think this is on purpose. As long as we can TXT momma, nobody worries too much. TXT seems to work up to about 5 miles out...3G goes away around 2 miles, go figure. "Can you hear me now" is very very common in our house! Good stuff. @Paddy: The location you pinned on the map is spot on. I have a bucket list that includes sailing to Hawaii someday. You have me about 500 miles from the big island! It's about 2500 hundred miles from Monterey - downhill. I will make this trip someday. If my WiFi gadget worked at sea I would leave tomorrow. Really. Sooooo can't wait to do this. Been trying to get it done for many many years but just can't seem to get all the pieces in order. It's getting closer but it's still on the bucket list. @MacApple: Stoked to see you back the last few days. I heard about your time-away...well done! @SusanMetoxen: I could not agree more! Step one (for us) was getting the file manager going to make it a bit easier to organize assets for a project. There are a few more steps to make it much much easier. It makes sense that the downloaded package would auto-magically package up the necessary files and include them in the download. As you can imagine, "it's not that easy" - LOL. Your college friend is a perfect example of why we need to continue working on this, each additional step makes the process exponentially more difficult. Even simple steps, like dragging files around, adds a great deal to the complexity. If I'm hearing you right, you're now running a global app making machine with world HQ in Minny. I can imagine an office full of interns pumping out amazing products for international clients. Oh, wait..I'm a little ahead of myself, that won't happen for a few more years ;-)

Cheers @David. Seems a lot happened in my absence, still playing catch up. Still have post vacation blues, Barcelona is my new favourite city, fresh fish, fruit and veg and some of the most striking architecture I've ever seen. Perfect temp as well, now back in KY with nasty humidity and 106 heat index.

Give me a few months, anyway. I would love to create a product that could be replicated by a team of employees and grow exponentially. But I would be very happy as a freelance mobile developer as well. We had a presentation at a local mobile club from a developer who two years ago started making real estate apps. Now he has the real estate market niche and 12 employees. buzztouch gives us all a huge head start by getting us all into both the Android and iOS marketplaces. And the self-hosting gives each of our own companies an identity and a new ability to be able to charge monthly fees, making the buzztouch model even more valuable to us. Thank you, David!

Good to hear you got back. I used to be in the yacht industry before with Dufour Yachts. Two great new experiences sailing; - how dark and starry the sky is out at sea. - how we sleep like a baby. Just being berced by sea and boat sounds. (forgot how to say that in English) oh, yes and the third fuel tank, guess you have one of those too. You can leave the first fuel tank dry (like last night) but never the third. What's in yours ? Sorry Susan for the ot.

@Paddy: Dufour - wow - outta my league. This is a Cal 2-29, just big enough to dream about going somewhere but also small enough to get us in constant trouble! Good stuff. The third tank tends to hold coffee, lots of it. I've had a few other surprised aboard but it's a family affair recently. Too funny. @MacApple sent us some goodies a bit ago (to drink from) and he'll be happy to hear that one of them lives on the boat and is used occasionally! He's promised to get to Monterey eventually. When he does, we'll share something fancy ;-) For the rest of you, when you arrive, (as long as it's not all at once), I'm happy to show you the amazing, whale infested, chilly Monterey bay without paying the tour boat guy an arm and a leg to shout at you on the bullhorn. Something unattractive about 100 people crammed on a whale watcher powerboat, half of them seasick, learning about Sea Otters. Good stuff.

Lol, you got the right size boat. Yep, can come on day trip, sorry no room to sleep. Spot on. You can always tie a couple of zodiacs from the stern for the family and friends that snore. Damn, Macapple sent you that 90° proof stuff. You could have used that for the engine last night to get home.

Boy do I miss the sea David / Paddy, the beautiful blue of the Med seems so long ago now. Love Kentucky and the countryside, just with it wasn't landlocked. Glad to hear there is a small Scottish token being put to good occasional use. Back to work. Peace all and sorry for not contributing to post in a meaningful BT manner! Wasn't trying to hijack or should I say jump onboard.

Yeah, if there is any of that MacApple Scottish dynamite on board, make sure no one smokes...

Love it! Sadly it was the receptacle for the dynamite Paddy. I'm Scottish, we dont give away out water of life!

With that stuff even the empty receptacle is enough to provoke an explosion. And yes, between cousins you do share your water of life...on for a bar battle ? When finished, we go sleep in David's boat, if we can find it. Guess David is now sailing to Hawai for good.

Sounds like a plan and you are very much correct. If I have a wee dram in my hand you'd better believe the person next to me does as well, it's a Glasgow / Isle of Lewis thing. I do plan on visiting the BT guys next year hopefully, can he / they handle a Scot and an Irishman at same time? That said I'm a changed man now.

@David, nearly forgot the most important and third point that I learnt. Sailing teached me that I was nothing compared to mother nature. She sneezes and I'm no longer here. She coughs, I have a bad time. We can try to read her, but can never ride her. I kinda forget this on land. She decides (a bit like my wife). @MacApple, guess we got to get a fourth tank filled for David. David's on coffee, can you drink and sail in the States ?

Back, a few fires less. Drinking and Sailing is VERY popular! Funny. It must be illegal but for sure it's a common thing. CA has "no drinking and boating" initiative like driving the car. But, I can't say I've ever seen somebody handcuffed at sea. Lakes, happens all the time. Ocean, never seen it. I think more than anything it's the difference between an old salty dude sailing along and a bunch of teenagers tearing around on Jet Skis. Glasgow / Isle of Lewis - not that's an awesome plan. I'm finding it on the map now. As far as mother nature putting the smack down on us, for sure. The sea makes me feel very very small each and everytime. Strange how many of us will go back, again and again only to find ourselves salty, cold, sick, wet, and late for something else more important. Go figure!

Drinking and sailing indeed. You re so right about the inland lakes and sea difference and I think it makes sense. I used to go fishing up on te Isle of Lewis with the old salty types, great times. Interesting wee fact. My grandmother used to walk barefoot to school with Donald Trump's mother up in Lewis, true story, I have photos! I used to stand on the beaches of the west coast of Lewis, looking out over the Atlantic and thinking about my family that left in the 20's for the US thinking 'I'll be there someday'. Here I am.

I think it's something to do with that inner peace. A bit like praying, I can't see you, but you can see me. A little like going to see a divinity, knocking on her door. Good that she doesn't answer so we can go home. But if she does open the door one day, I'm ok with that too. Salty seas, that's why we are thirsty... Checkout Isle of Islay for the next European Buzztouch Meeting, best whiskey in the world, no cars, so no traffic police, heaven... I'm sure MacApple can tell us more. Second thoughts, I'd vote Barcelona.

Used to do the same thing from the Connemara, where you living now ? I ended up in a Med Island, Corsica, not enough money to get to the States and officials in the Dublin Embassy told me there was no way I would pass control with my face.

Susan, just to say, sorry, hihacked your post and talking, sailing, beer, whiskey, coffee, Scottish, Irish, and bull**** nothing to do with your original topic.

Paddy. In Kentucky now, I know, I know, don't say anything. Islay, now you you are talking. Once you sample all the other Whisky variations you graduate to the Islay single malts. The cream of the crop and my top occasional tipple is Laphroaig. Peaty, salty and very medicinal it really is like no other. I was going to send the BT crew a bottle of it but will wait to buy them a wee dram instead. Always a pleasure Paddy! Ps To echo the above, sorry Susan! Know you won't mind too much! Next wee dram is on me.

No problem on hijacking the post! It's a great reflection of our Buzztouch community and proud to have started this one.

You are a star Susan! A welcome, vocal, relevant addition to the community. I dont always post 'sense' but I enjoy every post and contribution I make. Consider yourself on the single malt party list.