Signing

Note

Signing Strategies:

  • You should ensure that your key has a validity period that exceeds the expected lifespan of that application…

  • A validity period of 25 years or more is recommended (A value of 10,000 days or greater is recommended)…

  • If you are publishing your application for the Android Market, your keystore must have a validity period ending after 22 October 2033.

Key

Eclipse

You can create a key store (and key) by right clicking on the Android project in Eclipse, select Android Tools, Export Signed Application Package…

Command Line

keytool -genkey -v -keystore mycompanydev.keystore -alias 4thscreendev -keyalg RSA -validity 10000

Sign Up for the Android Maps API

  • Get the fingerprint of your certificate:

    c:\>keytool -list -keystore C:\repository\android\key\mycompanydev.keystore
Enter keystore password:

Keystore type: JKS
Keystore provider: SUN

Your keystore contains 1 entry

mycompanydev, 26-Aug-2009, PrivateKeyEntry,
Certificate fingerprint (MD5): D5:1D:43:34:D4:5F:41:22:44:66:D0:25:60:25:B0:8D

    Note: This process didn’t work for me. I think it might have something to do with the Eclipse IDE settings for Android. I had to use the debug keystore (press Enter, or try android, when asked for the keystore password):

    keytool -list -keystore C:\Users\Patrick\.android\debug.keystore

  • Browse to http://code.google.com/android/maps-api-signup.html

  • Paste your certificate’s MD5 fingerprint into the box and click the Generate API Key button:

    Thank you for signing up for an Android Maps API key!
Your key is:
0ZTwMTa0IihJDsoBHY4AAbxfVPsWo1R3LNKxrrQ
This key will work for all apps signed with your certificate whose fingerprint is:
D5:1D:43:34:D4:5F:41:22:44:66:D0:25:60:25:B0:8D
Here is a sample xml layout to get you started on your way to mapping glory:
    <com.google.android.maps.MapView
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:apiKey="0ZTwMTa0IihJDsoBHY4AAbxfVPsWo1R3LNKxrrQ"
    />

Signing

  • Open your AndroidManifest.xml file and increment the value of the android:versionCode element.

    Note: This must be incremented on every release.

    If required, amend the android:versionName element. This is a string value that represents the release version of the application code, as it should be shown to users…

  • Right click on the Android project in Eclipse, select Android Tools, Export Signed Application Package…

    Use the keystore and key created in the steps above.

    An apk file will be created e.g:

    C:\repository\android\app\myapp.apk