Before publishing new translations, Applanga users should extensively test the translations in the app itself, commonly referred to as on-device testing. Testing can be easily accomplished with the Applanga draft mode. Draft mode allows users to see Applanga dashboard Draft values for a given string in an app without the need to generate a dedicated testing build or any delay from the moment a Draft value is added to the dashboard.
When the app is set to draft mode (or when the app is connected to the debugger), the Applanga SDK also uploads any local missing strings to the dashboard.
Additionally, users can tag local strings during the upload, capture screens and upload them to the dashboard or create Jira tickets to report any functional or linguistic issues.
Table of Contents
- How to Open an App in Draft Mode from your Device
- How to Enable or Disable Draft Mode from the Dashboard
- Draft Mode Features
- How to Close Applanga Draft Mode on your Device
How to Open an App in Draft Mode from your Device
- Open the app integrated with the Applanga SDK and then use a four-finger, long hold gesture for approximately six seconds to open the draft mode pop-up.
- The pop-up will ask for the draft mode key to login into the draft mode. The key can be found on the top right-hand corner of the project dashboard.
- The app will shut down after a successful login.
- Change the language of the phone to the one needed for testing.
- Open the app and begin the review process.
From the iOS Simulator
To open the draft mode from the simulator, press option + shift. After you see two dots on the simulator, tap down for 6 seconds.
From the Android Emulator
To open the draft mode from the emulator, simply tap down on it for 6 seconds.
How to Enable or Disable Draft Mode from the Dashboard
- Navigate to the project dashboard and click Project Settings (found in the upper, left corner)
- Scroll down to Advanced Settings, then mark the checkbox to either enable or disable draft mode
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Update to save any changes made to the project settings
Note: the option to enable or disable the draft mode via Project Settings overrides the same setting from the manifest or plist files. If you disable draft mode via Project settings, you won't be able to open your app in draft mode from your device anymore.
Draft Mode Features
String Upload with Draft Mode
Every time you start an app in draft mode, Applanga syncs your local strings with the connected project and uploads any new, missing strings to Applanga.
Automatic string uploads will not overwrite original content if or when a string is changed at the code-level; this maintains a Source of Truth for all strings on Applanga (including your base language, e.g. English). If a developer needs to overwrite the content in the Applanga dashboard with the local version of the app, the content must be cleared from the dashboard first then strings are reuploaded. All changes to the translations are tracked via the changelog.
Please note Applanga will never autonomously push translations to an app. Translations can only be published by specific Applanga users with specific roles via the dashboard.
To deactivate this feature, you can uncheck the option Collect Missing IDs enabled under the Project Settings page.
Tagging Strings with Draft Mode
While the app is in draft mode, you can tag new local strings that are uploaded to the dashboard. There are two ways to do this:
- by adding the tag to the plist or manifest files
- by opening the draft overlay with a two finger swipe downwards and then pressing Tag Local Keys. This option will allow you to type the tag you would like to link to the strings from the current screen.
Take Screenshots Manually
With your app in draft mode, make a two finger swipe downwards to open the draft overlay and then press Capture Screen. This option will allow you to capture and upload a screenshot that will includes all meta data for the currently visible screen. Each screenshot must be assigned to a screenshot tag, so you will need to select an existing one from the Select existing screen tag dropdown, or type a new one in the textbox below.
Create Jira Tickets to Log Issues
When the app is in draft mode, you can create Jira tickets to report functional or linguistic issues. To do so, the Applanga Jira integration must be previously configured through the dashboard.
While the app is in draft mode, simply make a two finger swipe downwards to activate the draft overlay. To create a new ticket, press Create Issue and then add a title and an issue description. The Jira ticket will be created automatically and will include a screenshot of the affected screen as well as a link that leads back to the Applanga dashboard to show all the strings found on the screen.
Changing branches
When enabling draft mode you can switch project branches at runtime and view the translated strings from a specific branch. This requires an app restart. You can also use the draft overlay to switch your current branch. Every screenshot taken via the draft overlay will be linked to the branch that is currently selected.
How to Close Applanga Draft Mode on your Device
To log out of the Applanga draft mode, repeat the draft mode login process:
- Open the app integrated with the Applanga SDK and then use a four-finger, long hold gesture for approximately six seconds to open the draft mode pop-up
- The pop-up will ask for the draft mode key to log out of the draft mode. The key can be found on the top right-hand corner of the project dashboard.
- The app will shut down after a successful logoff.