Garmin CIQ app settings shows empty string fields after reopen

Testing beta watchface app (if it makes any difference).

On the CIQ Simulator I can enter App Settings Editor. Everything works well there:

setting string fields show "prompt" descriptions
setting string fields show previously saved values after each settings reopen

On the Garmin CIQ app on the iPhone, entering app settings does not show both of these.

When I type text in string fields, tap Save, texts are saved to app, but after settings reopenend, these fields are empty - looks like they don't load from storage.

When user reopens app settings on the Garmin CIQ app, previously entered values should be visible.

What am I doing wrong here?

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0 jim_m_58 6 months ago

On device settings and app-setting from a phone or GE are two different things. Sound like you are only trying to use "on device settings"

App-settings are in Apllication.Properties and not in Application.Storage.

0 flocsy🤠 6 months ago

see: https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/i/bug-reports/settings-prompt-not-displayed-in-connect-iq-android

and: https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/i/bug-reports/bug-iq-store-application-settings-not-saving and probably some more, i.e:

https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/i/bug-reports/meta-bug-settings-groups

https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/i/bug-reports/meta-bug-array-settings

and more... if you want to choose the single most buggy "feature" it's anything to do with settings...

0 Dr House 6 months ago in reply to jim_m_58

I have used misleading "storage" word in this context :D That's not what I meant. I'm using both, on-device settings and on-server side settings (Storage and Properties API). Storage for saving user personal settings to a device (this works great). Properties for sharing data from the mobile app level - UX of this system is far from being well implemented.

0 Dr House 6 months ago in reply to flocsy🤠

Thank you, flocsy!

Looks like grouping setting(s) may be a problem, I will test it out and try implement "well-enough" solution, because I don't have energy to fight against windmills anymore.

These server-side Properties are so badly implemented from the UI perspective, they ruin good impression completely.

0 flocsy🤠 6 months ago in reply to Dr House

What I do is I add separators. A separator is a read-only setting, with something like '------ User #1 ------" as the title, and a read-only empty value. There are some drawbacks to this, the 2 most notable are that it looks ugly because there is an empty input field below the title (I think there's also a feature request to add 'label" type to settings) and that you need to add a separate property for each separator (one is not enough, 'cause the compiler doesn't let us reuse it)

Let me know if you find a better workaround

0 Dr House 6 months ago in reply to flocsy🤠

Tested this.

So, looks like grouping really introduces serious bugs like two I mentioned on the begining.

AVOID grouping at all costs :D

Yes, I will try to find solution for making some hacky "header" for group of items. Looks like it may be the only way to separate items.

EDIT:

Can't stand it anymore. Simulator CIQ is 100% reliable and shows all properties properly, but CIQ store app shows properties totally randomly. For example when I added another property to see on the properties sheet in CIQ store, prompts from text fields where missing for good. No revert helped. WTF?

0 flocsy🤠 6 months ago in reply to Dr House

Yes I think there's also a bug on the missing prompt...

0 Dr House 6 months ago in reply to flocsy🤠

this is all I could do with these half-baked properties tools to make look it like it's layout is well designed Prompts where missing, so I added "subheader" with explanation. Uppercased "header" separates items groups.

0 jim_m_58 6 months ago in reply to Dr House

This (groups) has never really worked since it was introduced, as the many posts and bug reports show. Even if you get it to work on iOS, that doesn't mean it will work on Android or in GE.

0 Dr House 6 months ago in reply to jim_m_58

No, it does not work on iOS. I just added fake "header" field to make some visual grouping for future features.