distribute Ad-HOC ios app on Personal WebServer

[aLXXXX]

Hi, all

I made an' Ad-hoc ios app (with apple company developer license) with XDK.

If I put the IPA file on my webserver and try to download with safari on my (registered) iphone, I have a message like this:
"Unable to install application because the certificate for the site www.....xxxx  is not valid"

I have made the plist file by me, but doesn't work...
Someone can help me ?

I don't have a MAC, I only have windows!!

[John_H_Intel2]

When you build your app, you will get a build email sent to the email address on the account. In that email, there is a link to a .plist file, its in red text of the email. You will need to download that file and then upload it to your server. 

You can then create a webpage that contains a link to that file, which users can click on to install the app. All devices must be contained in the provisioning profile or they will not be able to install the app. 

[John_H_Intel2]

Also, gmail does not allow this to work. You must use a different email account than gmail.

[aLXXXX]

Thanx John !! you save the day!!

I had some problem to download the plist file, but finally I get him !
But Now, if I put plist and ipa on my server I have the same error-message!!

Anyway,   I opened the file and I have found  an "Url-string" like this:
https://am-xdk2.s3.amazonaws.com/cust.b24ff459-590a-4e39-. ecc.ecc

Is it correct ? but if I want to put the Ipa file in my server ,  I must change this string  with my url ?

I tryed but I have the same error again.
 
So, For now I have made a link from my web server to App Link on intel server.. 
It's a partial solution, but it works fine.

I'd be very grateful If you have more advices for me or some tutorial link !

Really Thanx  for your support. Xdk is Great!

[John_H_Intel2]

I tried making this work, but am having issues...

It must be on a SSL server, so I tried using dropbox, but that didnt work. It started to work, started to download, but then the download failed.

I will post back if I make any headway.

On another note, did you try using Apples TestFlight?

[sandro_b_]

Hi John!

I can't use TestFlight (it's only for mac... and I didn't have!)

It' s really strange... It's a nightmare deploy an'ios app on a personal webserver without a mac !!

[John_H_Intel2]

I am pretty sure you can use test flight without a mac.

[Hamilton_Tenório_da_]

Uhn... is it possible? Is there any tutorial?

I am suffering a lot with this situation. I have only on iPhone 3S and and can´t test any app before try to publish at Apple Store. I have only Windows/Linux equipament. I already send dozens of versions and (after a long wait), Apple reply with some issue. 

If is there a way to test before try to publish, it will be a great value.

[John_H_Intel2]

So I feel like a noob. Spent the morning trying to get an app to install via dropbox, only to find out the issue was that my iOS cert expired today...

I was able to take an ad hoc ipa from the build system, put it on dropbox, make a plist file and an html page which allows the download. Remember, the only devices that can install the ipa, must have their UDID in the provisioning profile list. Attached are files which should point you in the right direction :)

Make sure you update the links in the files. On a PC to edit the plist, install pListEditor Pro. 

pushWoosh2 is the name of my app, so you probably want to replace that with the name of your app.

All of this must be done on a server that uses https.

[aLXXXX]

OOOOKKKK !!

Finally WOOORKS !!

John and Hamilton ... REALLY REALLY THANX FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

[Hamilton_Tenório_da_]

Great news. I will try too.

>John: in the email that I receive, there is no link on the red line:

The iOS build for FaleparaoWhatsApp was successful.

Click here to install your app OTA on iOS 4+ devices.

You can download your application with this secure link.  Once you have downloaded your Adhoc Application you may install the application on your device through iTunes.

Is there another way to get this file?

[aLXXXX]

Hi Hamilton...

You don't need to have the PLIST file. You can create by yourself. It's really simple.
The only things you need are:

1) The URL where you put the IPA file (Example:  https://www.MyWebServer.com/MyApps/iphoneApp.ipa )
2) Go in xdk / Project Page / BUILD SETTINGS / IOS
   and Take:
   a) App-ID  (example: com.alx.mykillerapp )
   b) AppName (example: myApp )

3) Now Open NOTEPAD (!!) and paste this lines

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0"><dict><key>items</key><array><dict><key>assets</key><array><dict><key>kind</key>
<string>software-package</string><key>url</key>
<string>https://www.MyWebServer.com/MyApps/iphoneApp.ipa</string>
</dict></array><key>metadata</key><dict><key>bundle-identifier</key>
<string>com.alx.mykillerapp</string>
<key>kind</key><string>software</string><key>subtitle</key>
<string>alxapp</string><key>title</key>
<string>alxapp</string></dict></dict></array></dict></plist>

4) change https://www.MyWebServer.com/MyApps/iphoneApp.ipa with the URL of your IPA file.
     change com.alx.mykillerapp with your APP-ID
     change alxapp with your APPNAME
 
5) Save the file with the name MANIFEST.plist
6) Upload the Manifest.plist on your web server (where you put the ipa file)
7) Open again a new-file with NotePad  and PASTE this lines

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" />
</head><body><h2>
<a href="itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=https://www.MyWebServer.com/MyApps/MANIFEST.plist">
CLICK HERE TO INSTALL ON YOUR IPHONE !
</a></h2></body></html>

8) Change the https://www.MyWebServer.com/MyApps/MANIFEST.plist Text with your url of Manifest.plist
9) Save with the name myapp.html
10) Upload myapp.html on your web-server (where you put the ipa and plist file)

You're Ready !
Take your Iphone, Open safari and go on
https://www.mywebserver.com/myapps/myapp.html
click... and Install!!!

THATS' ALL !!

Please: Remember 2 things!
1) Your web-server must have SSH !! (you must enable to use https , not http ) 
   (If you don't have an ssh server you can try with DropBox !)

2) Your server must be enabled to serve plist and ipa mime-type
    you can test with any pc-browser, go to https://www.mywebserver.com/myapps/manifest.plist
   if you have an error.. your server is not enabled for this mime-type !
   

Good Luck !!

[John_H_Intel2]

As I said earlier in this thread, the red links do not work in gmail on a computer. 

Follow what alxxxx said and you should be good, or use the files that I provided and edit them.

[Hamilton_Tenório_da_]

@aLXXXX and @JOHN,

Thank you! It will be very useful to test.

Apple is a new strange world to me...