Blackberry Development Setup on Windows Machine

Blackberry JDE Installation

Required tools:

1. JDK 1.6+ : from http_://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp.
   (Non-beta version).

32-bit or 64-bit depends on system requirements.

2. Blackberry JDE : from http://us.blackberry.com/developers/javaappdev/javadevenv.jsp.

(Latest non-beta version).

32-bit or 64-bit depends on system requirements.

Simulator comes on JDE Package itself. If get any issues on design and GUI issues. Try to

use different latest simulator.

3. Blackberry Simulator (Optional): From

http://us.blackberry.com/developers/resources/simulators.jsp

Installation steps:

1. Install JDK first.
2. After installing the JDK click on
   i. Control Panel -> System .
   ii. Click on Advanced tab and then click on “Environment variables”.
   iii. A dialog will popup.
   iv. Select the PATH variable and click Edit. Assuming installed JDK in the default path, add
   the line below in the text box that says “Variable value” :
   ;c:\program files\java\C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_10\bin

If installed the JDK somewhere else or installed a different version, then change the path
accordingly. Make sure there is a semi-colon (;)at the beginning of the path you insert.

3. Install Blackberry JDE (double click on the installation file).

It will find the default JDK’s path from the environment variable “PATH”.

4. Click Start -> Research in motion -> JDE to run it.

                                          Known Issues:

When installing the blackberry JDE on 64-bit Windows, expect to run into several problems.  There are two big problems that I encountered when trying to get setup.

Problem 1 – Cannot find javaw
After running through the installation and trying to start the JDE, I received an error message saying ‘cannot find javaw’. That was odd to me because I was sure I had JDK installed. The problem was that the Blackberry JDE is not compatible with the 64-bit version of JDK, which is what I had. However, after downloading the 32-bit version of JDK, I found a second problem.

Problem 2 – Cannot find RIMIDEWin32Util.dll
Now I was confused. I was certain I had everything installed properly, but I was still receiving errors. A few forum posts suggested setting path and javahome to their full locations. Open up the following file:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Research In Motion\BlackBerry JDE 6.0.0\bin\ide.bat
Once opened we are going to add 2 lines to the beginning of the file. Change the file from this:
start javaw -Xmx1024M -DRIM_RUNTIME=..\lib -DRIM_BIN=..\bin -jar IDE.jar
to this:
SET PATH=C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.6.0_22\bin;%PATH%
SET JAVAHOME=C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.6.0_22
start javaw -Xmx1024M -DRIM_RUNTIME=..\lib -DRIM_BIN=..\bin -jar IDE.jar
Save, close and try to start the JDE. This time you should be error free.

Setting Up A Development Environment: Eclipse With Plug-in For BlackBerry

Method 1: Complete package (Eclipse + Blackberry)

I found the easiest way to quickly get set-up is to download the all-in-one ‘BlackBerry Java Plug-in’ (currently at version 1.5.0) (basically Eclipse IDE with a plug-in) from  .http://swdownloads.blackberry.com/Downloads/contactFormPreload.do?code=DC727151E5D55DDE1E950767CF861CA5&dl=E9E5F98CE5169068BE7B19B91F66BF08&check1=A

Windows Only: download the 32-bit version even if you have 64-bit Windows

Method 2: from Eclipse Update site

Required Tools:

1. Eclipse from http_://www.eclipse.org/downloads/ . - Preferred Helios or Classic(Latest version).

Installation(Eclipse Configuration) Steps:

1. Open Eclipse
2. Go Help -> Install New Softwares
3. Add Blackberry URL on work with field
   BlackBerry Update Site - http://www.blackberry.com/go/eclipseUpdate/3.6/java

   4. Add

  5. create New Repository

  6. Select Blackberry Java Plug-in(core) & any one Blackberry SDK

  7. Click Next and Install

  8. JRE Configuration

      Go Window -> Preferences -> Java -> Installed JRE

9. Click Add and Select Blackberry Execution Environment VM & Click next

 

10. Add Definition file. Browse and select Blackberry.ee file from installed path

       <path>/eclipse/Plugins/net.rim.ejde.componentpack.7.0/components/BlackBerry.ee

11. Click Ok and Finish

12. Use it.

Other Helpful (Optional) Tools on Development Environment

1. Mobile File Manager : from http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/85979/?lang=EN

This awesome program allows you to view and manage the file system on the BlackBerry, edit files and even setup an FTP from the BlackBerry to a server. I did not use the FTP feature.

2 . BlackBerry Desktop Manager :

from http://blackberry-desktop-software.en.softonic.com/blackberry. Some variant of this program comes with the BlackBerry when you buy it. But if you don’t have one, you can get it here. You need this to install programs to a physical BlackBerry. I have a variant from Roxio that also allows me to transfer files between the BlackBerry and the PC.



                                                                                         -PAVANKUMAR JOSHI