Sideloaded datafield app doesn't seem to save FIT contributor fields to FIT file?

I sideloaded a datafield app that writes data to FIT contributor fields in a FIT file. However when I try it out, and the look at the saved activity in Garmin Connect, none of the FIT contributor field data is present. Is this expected?

0 FlowState over 2 years ago

That's to be expected, as Garmin Connect requires information in the app manifest (e.g. fitcontributor labels) in order to display data in the app or the website, similar to app settings.

Furthermore, app settings will not work at all even if you sideload an app that's already on the store. Similarly, if you sideload an app that's already in the store, the FIT Contributor label will show up, but the data will appear as 0s. (At least that's what I saw with my recent limited testing on a modified version of someone else's app.) EDIT: I confirmed this to be the case -- I uploaded the same sideloaded app as a beta app, and now FIT contributor data appears, so the lack of FIT data could only be because the app was sideloaded.

Upload your app as a beta app if you need to test FIT contributor or app settings.

0 trudelta over 2 years ago in reply to FlowState

OK I uploaded it as a beta app now but it doesn't show up in the IQ Store mobile app. May be I have to wait a bit? or maybe I have to use Garmin express?

Looks like I have to use Garmin Express to queue the installation, then sync using the Connect IQ app in order to install it.

Also I noted that this description on the Connect IQ Store website at the top of the beta app seems incorrect:

Note: Only you will be able to download and test the app. If you want to publish your app after testing, you will need to upload it again and use another appID in the app’s manifest.xml. You can manage and download your beta app in the "Beta Apps" section of the developer dashboard.

In particular there is no "Beta Apps" section of the developer dashboard.

0 FlowState over 2 years ago in reply to trudelta

It won't show up when you search the store using the Connect IQ app on mobile. Use the website (either on desktop or mobile), sign in, and press Download from there.

0 FlowState over 2 years ago in reply to trudelta

trudelta said:
In particular there is no "Beta Apps" section of the developer dashboard.

Yeah typical Garmin. For the benefit of anyone else reading this, Beta Apps show up along side regular apps on your dev dashboard (not visible to other users), but there's a badge/icon to indicate they're beta.

0 jim_m_58 over 2 years ago in reply to trudelta

With beta apps, you need to download them from the web based app store. You won't see your beta apps in the Connect IQ mobile app. Go to your developer dashboard there.