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OG_OTT
Visitor

Getting Started with RALE Tool

I just came across the RALE tool.  And, I'm really excited about the possibilities!  But, the documentation is pretty light on this -- I can't get it up and running with my channel.  Can someone help?

What's happening is I have the desktop client downloaded and installed.
I try to "sideload" my channel using the RALE tool and I get a message that says "Unable to find Scene in your channel".
I've tried the "directory" upload approach and the ZIP approach, but both yield the same message.
I have added the XML TrackerTask to my Components directory, and I've added the m.tracker entry to my home scene Init() as per the instructions, but I am still unable to get this up and running.
The "templates" that come with RALE are working, so the tool is able to "demo" itself/capabilities on my Roku just fine -- I think I have done something non-standard in my project that this RALE tool doesn't like.  

In addition to the question above, is there any way to download the modified code done by RALE?  AKA can we use this as a tool to write code or is STRICTLY a visual aid for compiled code with no abilities to uncompile the modified RALE session?

Any thoughts?
8 REPLIES 8
lkrocek
Binge Watcher

Re: Getting Started with RALE Tool

I just tried it and yes you can load your own application, but this is more for designing an core apps then programming, has some points for debugging if you need check current not visible attributes, maybe usable for manual testing when you are not able to see a device :).

So as I said think is good for designing, but for more is better any another editor plus telnet connection.
Platforms integration specialist
====================
@ https://suite.st/
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OG_OTT
Visitor

Re: Getting Started with RALE Tool

Thanks Ikrocek.

I totally agree based on trying this out myself, but I was unable to integrate into my own channel - how did you do it?  I tried adding that RALEtask.brs file that comes with the program, but I keep getting an error that says "Unable to find Scene in your channel".

I've also heard rumors that it's possible to extract the RALE-modified XML from this tool, but I haven't found a way to do that yet.  Do you know if it's possible?

Thanks a ton!
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lkrocek
Binge Watcher

Re: Getting Started with RALE Tool

On top of app is a bar on their right side is a "Device: XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX" and next is "Chanel: Side-Load a Channel" so click on a "Side-Load a Channel" link and select a "Import a Zip File" button and if your app is valid that's it.

To validate you can try just upload a package and run by regular way or try npm eslint


Well yea that is funny have no clue how to export, download or save it.

I share an idea about to write apps down as much as possible in BrightScript and avoid XML it's more dynamic and feel it has same performance as in XML.
Platforms integration specialist
====================
@ https://suite.st/
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BVatBBOD
Visitor

Re: Getting Started with RALE Tool

The only 2 things needed, you have already done.


  1. Include the TrackerTask.xml

  2. Add 
    m.tracker=m.top.createChild("TrackerTask")

    to your scene's init()


I got hung up on #2 as I didn't see that the first time.  If you can supply a .zip, I can help take a look.

AFAIK you can't "extract" anything you made with RALE, but it sure helps getting things laid out.  I just make changes to my .brs or .xml files as I change values in RALE to make it look good. It's a great tool (similar to chrome's inspector tool) for Roku development.  Worlds ahead of anything we had even just a few years ago.

Hit me up on slack! (see sig)
Join the Roku Developers Slack Workspace for quicker help and great dev collaboration: http://tiny.cc/nrdf0y
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jacobposner
Visitor

Re: Getting Started with RALE Tool

Where does one find this TrackerTask.xml file?
jmendoza
Visitor

Re: Getting Started with RALE Tool

"jacobposner" wrote:
Where does one find this TrackerTask.xml file?

Hi!, you can download it here: https://devtools.web.roku.com/roku-advanced-layout-editor/ (RALE Component)
I like this tool, but It would be great if we can export the layout... or update the code if you import the project's foler 😞
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jacobposner
Visitor

Re: Getting Started with RALE Tool

"jmendoza" wrote:
"jacobposner" wrote:
Where does one find this TrackerTask.xml file?

Hi!, you can download it here: https://devtools.web.roku.com/roku-advanced-layout-editor/ (RALE Component)
I like this tool, but It would be great if we can export the layout... or update the code if you import the project's foler 😞

Thank you! I overlooked that button all the way on the right!
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postpostpost
Reel Rookie

Re: Getting Started with RALE Tool

I'm not sure if OP still has this problem, but for me I couldn't launch the channel because the root component didn't inherit from Scene. 

Which was bizarre, because it inherits from OverhangPanelSetScene, which according to the docs inherits from Scene. So this doesn't work:

<component name = "OverhangPanelSetSceneExample" extends = "OverhangPanelSetScene" >
But this does work:
<component name = "OverhangPanelSetSceneExample" extends = "Scene" >
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