documentation/manual/source/android.rst

Android App

Installation

OpenLP gives you the ability to control your service from an Android based smartphone. The following tutorial will describe how to download, install and use the application. For this example we will be using the HTC Incredible. Other Android phones may vary slightly in appearance and installation.

Click the screen button on the phone to bring up the start menu for "All apps" and scroll to and select Play Store seen at the top right of the image.

Once selected you will be taken to the Google Play main screen.

Click on the hardware magnifying glass or the magnifying glass on the top right and type in openlp and select it.

Once selected, this screen will appear and you will select OpenLP.

Click on Install

The next page shows the Permissions you will need to accept to continue the download. Click on Accept & download.

The downloading progress bar will appear verifying you are downloading the app.

Once the install is complete you will see a window where you can Open OpenLP for use. You will also find the OpenLP icon in your application menu.

Android application settings

After the installation is complete and you open the OpenLP Android application you will need to configure your preferences and settings.

Text Size Type

Clicking on Text Size Type will bring up a selection to choose your desired font size for the application display.

Display Blank Type

Using the display blank type gives you the ability to blank your screen to the methods described below. You can find out more about this feature and how it operates on the main computer at blank_control.

Screen:

Choosing this option will blank your projector to black as if it were shut off.

Theme:

Choosing this option will show your blank theme only, without lyrics or verses. If you are blanking a song with an assigned theme it will blank to that theme. If no theme is assigned or you are blanking a presentation or image, it will blank to the global theme.

Desktop:

Choosing this option will show your desktop wallpaper or a program that you have open on the extended monitor or projector. You can seamlessly switch between the desktop wallpaper or a program and OpenLP by Blank to Desktop.

Server

You will need to configure the server settings you will use with your phone. You can find these instructions and settings in the OpenLP desktop application under remote_tab.

Note: To use the Android application you will need to be on the same network as the main computer.

Select the Server button and enter the Serve on IP address found in remote_tab. After entering the IP address in the box select OK

The next step is to enter the port number. Select Port. Use the Port number found in remote_tab and enter it in the box. After entering the port number select OK.

Custom Timeout

In general the OpenLP Android application will work fine without having to change the custom timeout settings. If you experience connection issues or are having trouble staying connected, you can change these settings. Select the box next to Enable Custom Timeouts.

Connection Timeout

If you are having trouble connecting please double check your settings first and be sure you did not type any extra characters or spaces. If your settings are correct and you are still having trouble, you can increase the Connection Timeout settings and try again.

Socket Timeout

If you are having trouble maintaining a connection you can increase the timeout settings here.

When you are happy with your settings you can press the back button on your phone to check for connection. Make sure OpenLP is running on the main computer. If you were successful in your setup you will see the OpenLP application running.

If you need to change or adjust your settings you can always press your hardware menu button on your phone while OpenLP is running and selecting Settings and it will take you back to the configuration screen.

Using OpenLP Android Application

After you have completed the setup you will be on the main page with six buttons.

Service

Selecting the Service button will take you to the Service Manager. Selecting an item with a short press in the service will immediately take it live on the projection screen and you will stay on the service screen on your device. Selecting an item with a long press in the service will immediately take it live on the projection screen and to the live display on your device. You can also move up and down through the service items using the Previous and Next buttons as shown below. Use your hardware back button to take you back to the main screen.

Slide

If you selected a service item with multiple verses or images you can change verses or images by either selecting them with your finger or using the Previous and Next buttons. Use your hardware back button to take you back to the main screen.

Live

Selecting the Live button will display what ever is live at the time from to your Android device. Use your hardware back button to take you back to the main screen.

Display

Selecting the Display button will give you the ability to blank and unblank your projection screen from your chosen method above <droid_blank>.

The title Blank display to means your display is live. Touching the Blank display to will blank the projection screen to the chosen method defined in Settings and the button will change to Reset display from. Touching it again will cycle back to Blank display to unblanking the screen for the live display.

Stage

Selecting the Stage button will display the stage view on your Android device. See the stage_view section in the manual for a detailed description. Use your hardware back button to take you back to the main screen.

Alert

You can send an alert to the projection screen by entering the text in the box and clicking on Send. The alert will be displayed as you have it configured in configure_alerts. Use your hardware back button to take you back to the main screen.

Search

Using the search function gives you the ability to search for a particular media, add it to the service or display it immediately.

To use search, press the hardware magnifying glass button on your phone or you can press the hardware menu button and then select Search and you will be taken to the search screen.

Enter the text you want to search for in the text box at the top. For this example we are using the search word "Jesus". You can click the magnifying glass next to the text box or press the return on your phone keyboard. You will be presented with a list of media in which your search word was found.

Note: When searching the Bible you must enter the exact name, chapter, verse or verses. Searching songs will search titles and lyrics with the text used.

This screen shows the number of instances your searched text is found.

As you can see in the example, there are 130 songs with the word "Jesus" in them. You can scroll through the list of songs until you find the one you want.

Click on Add to Service to add your media to the bottom of the creating_service. Click on Send Live to immediately display your media on the projection screen.

When you have completed your search you must press the back button on your phone to return to the main screen.