HOWTO: upload midlets (third party software) to your blackberry for all, even BWC!

[headtailgrep]

I hope the moderators don't mind, but this procedure will show everyone how to upload third party software (midlets) to your blackberry. Midlets are java applications written for phones under the MDIP specification. There are hundreds of midlets already available to try, from network-enabled applications such as telnet, ssh, vnc, instant messagers, to games!

Where to download midlets? using Google, i come up with:

http://midlet.org
http://www.javamobiles.com/midlets/

Search around for more..

Who needs to do this and why? We all want more third party software for our Blackberries, and this adds hundreds of potential titles to our third party software base! The folllowing scenarios are Blackberry users who benefit from this procedure:

a) All blackberry users without BES, such as BWC users
b) Blackberry users who use the redirector
c) Blackberry users with BES lower than 3.6

If you have BES 3.6 or higher running, you can download JAR/JAD midlets directly from your blackberry browser, as the BES does the conversion to COD for you automatically. However, you can still do this procedure if you really need to..

What technical requirements do I need to perform this task:

a) You need to be comfortable using DOS
b) You need to download and install the Blackberry JDE (free from the rim developer website)
c) You need to download and install the Sun Java SDK 1.4 or higher.
d) You do NOT need to know how to use the Blackberry JDE, you merely need some of the DOS apps that come with it.

Here's how to convert and upload midlets (JAR/JAD) files to your Blackberry. This is not for the faint of heart, but any person with reasonable technical computer skills can do it:

a) Download and install the RIM Java Development Environment.
from http://www.blackberry.net/developers/

This software requires the sun Java SDK, so

b) Download and install the Sun Java SDK.
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html
MAKE SURE YOU GET THE SDK! *NOT* THE JRE!

Once both are installed, download the midlets you wish to put on your blackberry. Midlets are BOTH a .jar and .JAD file.

c) For ease of use, move the JAD and JAR files for each midlet you want to convert to the BIN directory in the RIM Java Development Environment directory on your hard drive, for example:
c:\program files\Research in Motion\Blackberry JDE 3.7\bin\

Using RAPC.exe in DOS, convert the midlet to a COD as follows, all on one line (might be easier to make a .bat file out of this)
d) rapc import="c:\Program Files\Research in Motion\Blackberry JDE 3.7\lib\net_rim_api.jar" codename=virca -midlet jad=Virca.jad Virca.jar

Subsitute a different codename, jad and jar filename for whatever application you wish to convert. If successful, it will say no errors and you will have a COD file. The import= is a REQUIRED step.

Using javaloader.exe from a DOS prompt to upload the newly created COD file to your blackberry (in my case a USB blackberry)
e) javaloader -usb load filename.cod

And that's it! An icon will appear in your ribbon. Give it a try and see if it works. Not everything will work, but most do. Mileage wil vary..

Caveats:

a) If you use the application loader at a future date, the loader WILL remove your midlets as they are not known by it. You will probably have to re-upload them again in this case.
b) Make sure you have enough free space to upload the applications..
c) If something goes wrong, Be sure you are familar with the RAPC or Javaloader.exe documentation. If not sure, use google to help you.
d) If you can, Test your Blackberry JDE on a sample application. Compile, and run a sample app in the simulator to ensure that your JDE functions correctly.

Good luck..!

[williec30]

great work HTG... i vote to sticky this one

[Mark D. Rejhon]

Hi,

Excellent information for those times where Over The Air is not possible. For most users, it is much easier to install software directly from a .jad file over the air on a Blackberry. However, this is not always possible, and your instructions fall into place.

Check out my other thread:
Over-The-Air Software Downloads

[Mark D. Rejhon]

Oh, and if you have MDS -- VIRCA is available by Over-The-Air download.

Just Click this via your Blackberry:
http://www.vidarholen.net/contents/virca/Virca.jad

IRC chat on your Blackberry... It is superior to WirelessIRC (WLIrc)

[headtailgrep]

No, i don't have MDS.

I still use WAPIRC for IRC on my blackberry. It works..

I will have to wait for MDS for BWC before i can use anythign else..

[lej]

I just don't get the rapc = import part. What do I need to type into DOS? I am dying to try to get DopeWars from .jad to .cod. Downloading it by using the Blackberry Browser is getting me nowhere. Thanks!

[headtailgrep]

You need to use the DOS prompt to run an application. You run the executable from DOS to convert the JAR/JAD to COD.

I provided the entire command you need to type in, all on one line. Open the dos prompt, go to the directory specified, and type in the command..

To disect the line in question:
Open a DOS prompt in the BIN directory of the Blackberry JDE, then type the following all on one line:

rapc import="c:\Program Files\Research in Motion\Blackberry JDE 3.7\lib\net_rim_api.jar" codename=virca -midlet jad=Virca.jad Virca.jar

rapc is the name of the executable you are running
import= is a neccesary step that tells RAPC what libraries you are including in the JAR/JAD, just use what i gave you.
codename is just a name, give it the name of the application
-midlet is a required argument with no options
jad= the name of the JAD file you are converting
then the last argument is the name of the jar file.

Like I said, you need to be familiar with DOS. Ask someone you know to help you with DOS if you are still confused.

You COULD create a .bat file using that DOS command, edit it in notepad, then click the .bat in explorer after editing it. Try that if you don't want to use the DOS prompt.

And if you don't know how to create a .bat file using notepad.. well good luck, you probably shouldn't be trying this..

[lej]

Much appreciated!

[headtailgrep]

no problem, i don't mean to say you don't know enough about DOS, this is directed at all users who are trying out converting JAD/JAR files..

good luck =)

[headtailgrep]

UPDATE:

Rogers recently upgraded their BWC, and I can now download applications over the air!

For those providers who have still not upgraded, the method above still works, but soon we will all be able to do it the easy way..!

[ramonk]

Hi all,

After reading headtailgrep's excellent documentation of how to do convert Midlets into .COD files and upload them onto your BB, I decided to write a batch file that automates all this. In order to use it, do the following:

1. Install the J2SE SDK and JRE exactly as headtailgrep described in his original post.
2. In your Windows Explorer, go to any directory that is included in your standard PATH (for example c:\windows would do), right-click and do New -> Text File. Call this text file "Mid2Cod.bat" and say "yes" on the question if you are sure to change the extension.
3. Copy and paste the batch file text that I have attached on the bottom of my post.
4. Make sure that the path after "SET JDEPATH=....." is correct for your installation of the JDE.
5. Save and exit from the editor.

How to use this batch file:
1. download your MidLet (.JAD and .JAR files) into some directory. Do Start->Run and type "cmd" (without the "") followed by <ENTER>.
2. In the DOS window, change directory (using "cd") to go to the directory where you stored your MidLet
3. Connect your Blackberry to the USB port, and type "Mid2Cod filename" followed by <ENTER>. Note, that the "" should not be typed, and that the filename must NOT have a .JAR or .JAD extension. So, for the "Virca" Midlet (Virca.jad / Virca.jar), type "Mid2Cod Virca".
4. Follow what's happening on the screen. After a while, it asks you to press a key to continue (if all went well). If you do so, the .COD file will be uploaded to your BB. If you are not ready to upload at that time, press CNTL-C.

Good luck! If you have any questions, feel free to email PM me.

--Ramon


10/14/04 11:48 EDT-- Note: I just edited the script since the top lines seemed to have fallen off...
-------cut here---------------

@echo off
set JDEPATH=C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 3.7
cls
echo Midlet to COD translator
echo this utitily translates MIDP Midlets to COD Blackberry files
echo.
if "%1"== "" goto noargs
if not exist "%1.jad" goto nojad
if not exist "%1.jar" goto nojar
if not exist "%JDEPATH%\apps" md "%JDEPATH%\apps"
goto continue
:noargs
echo Usage: %0 inputfile
echo Note: don't add an extension to the input file name, so no .jad or .jar endings!
goto last
:nojad
echo %1.jad doesn't exist. Both %1.jad and %1.jar are needed for conversion to be successful.
echo Note: don't add an extension to the input file name, so no .jad or .jar endings!
goto last
:nojar
echo %1.jar doesn't exist. Both %1.jad and %1.jar are needed for conversion to be successful
echo Note: don't add an extension to the input file name, so no .jad or .jar endings!
goto last

:continue
copy %1.jar "%JDEPATH%\apps"
copy %1.jad "%JDEPATH%\apps"
cd "%JDEPATH%\apps"
pause
..\bin\rapc import="%JDEPATH%\lib\net_rim_api.jar" codename=%1 -midlet jad=%1.jad %1.jar 
if not errorlevel 1 goto load
echo An error has occurred. Check your files and try again.
goto last
:load
echo.
echo If you see 'No Errors' noted above, most probably the cross-compiling was successful.
echo Now we are going to upload the app to the device. Please make sure your
echo Blackberry is connected to the USB port.
pause
"%JDEPATH%\bin\javaloader" -usb load %1.cod
echo.
:last
echo Thank you for using the Jar2Cod utility.

[pcnetgeek]

I will probably be the first to try your script and post back. I can download anything over the air.

I keep getting an error 406 or 409 (sot supported/too large) using the BB browser

&

Webviewer says that there are restrictions in downloding other midlets using webviewer. Yes its the trial version.

I will post back

[pcnetgeek]

This works excellent. 1 problem and ramonk fixed it up. Everyone having problems doing over the air downloads should give this a try.. thanks ramonk

[aguyindallas]

So, I have the 6230. Lets assume I want to try out some of these programs, either over the air or through desktop downloading. I am using BWC. Which do I need, jad or jar files?

[pcnetgeek]

You will need both.