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Testing my Channel

Hi

I went through the Developer Guide and used Simple video player sample application to test it in my Roku. I am able to upload the application to the Roku device in my house. But I don't know where to see my application. I have checked in the Channel Store but not able to see the app. Also from my Laptop (Windows) I am not able to telnet to see the application in the debug mode.

Please help.

Thanks
Ambrose
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16 REPLIES 16
lhgrubbs
Channel Surfer

Re: Testing my Channel

The side loaded channel is visible on the "TV" when the Roku Box is connected via the HDMI cable. I'm also having problems telnet ing to the roku box. on all ports.
0 Kudos

Re: Testing my Channel

I don't have HDMI cable, I was looking into "Channel Store" to see the newly added channel? Do I have to restart my Roku Box to see my channel?

Please advise.

Thanks
Ambrose
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kc8pql
Visitor

Re: Testing my Channel

I don't know about side loaded channels, but when you add a private channel you have to enter and then exit the channel store to sync the box. Then the channel shows.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
No, I don't work for Roku.
Netflix Player N1000X, XDS 2100X (premature death by lightning)
Roku2 XD 3050X, Roku2 XS 3100R, Roku2 4210R
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RokuMarkn
Visitor

Re: Testing my Channel

A sideloaded dev channel will appear as the last item on the home screen. Just go to the home screen and scroll all the way to the RIGHT.

--Mark
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jkard
Visitor

Re: Testing my Channel

"a_anandraj_2000" wrote:
I don't have HDMI cable, I was looking into "Channel Store" to see the newly added channel? Do I have to restart my Roku Box to see my channel?


Hey Ambrose,

I think you are misunderstanding the publishing process a bit. Let me see if I can help out a bit. Some of it may be redundant to you, but I am posting just to be sure.

Side Loading - This is a process of simply testing your BrightScript project (Roku Channel) onto your local Roku box. Simply put, this is done by zipping your BrightScript project, and then loading it via the "Roku Plugin Instillation" website which is simply, http://<your roku ip address>. This just tests your code on your local Roku, and does not load it anywhere but your local Roku. You don't have to be connected via a HDMI cable, you just have to be connected to your network via Wireless or the SPDIF connections. HDMI is just to connect to your TV.

Publishing - This is the actual process to get your Channel loaded into the Roku store. It is very well detailed in the ChannelPackagingAndPublishing.pdf document which is available in the BrightScript SDK. If you don't have it, you can download the SDK from your Roku login (http://www.roku.com) in the 'Developer Site' section of your login page. You must be logged in to get the SDK, and must be a Roku Developer (which is free for basic account but you have to explicitly sign up).

Keep in mind that you will not see your channel listed in the Roku Store if it is private. You will have to add it via this link https://owner.roku.com/add/ using the code you set up when publishing your channel. After you have added it, the fastest way to see it is then to go into the Channel Store, and back out, forcing a refresh of the Roku Channel Lineup. You can also reboot the Roku by plugging and unplugging it, but that's a last resort.

Telnet - First make sure you have enabled your Roku device to debug on. This is the key combination described in 7.1 of this document http://c1807832.r32.cf0.rackcdn.com/Dev ... de_v29.pdf. Once that is confirmed, make sure you are using the correct port 8085 to telnet to. If you use something like PuTTY, it will default you to port 23, so be sure to explicitly set it. Same goes for a command window. The document explains this really well.

In a nutshell, here is the process to see a channel in the Roku:

1. Write BrightScript Code
2. Encrypt Code
3. Publish Private Channel to Roku via https://owner.roku.com/Developer/Apps/C ... blic=False
4. Add Channel to my personal lineup via https://owner.roku.com/add/
5. Refresh my Roku by going into Channel Store and back out, or by rebooting Roku box

It's all a bit confusing at first, but the resources here are totally willing to help, so keep asking questions until you have it all figured out 😄

Hope this clears things up a bit.

Best
Jay
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Re: Testing my Channel

Thank you for all your replies.

Today when I tried again, I was not able to see the newly added channel. When I tried to connect using telnet I got the below error

An error occured while attempting to complie the application:
-----> Script directory "/source" does not exist in zip archive.

Please help.


Thanks
Ambrose
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renojim
Community Streaming Expert

Re: Testing my Channel

You are not zipping your channel properly. Your zip should have the manifest at the root level, then a source subdirectory that contains all your source files. Take a look at the zips given in the examples for how they should be structured.

-JT
Roku Community Streaming Expert

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Re: Testing my Channel

Thank you so much.

Today When I tried to upload the zip files which comes with the SDK, it seems to be working. However simple video player is not working. To start with I thought of going with simple player. If any of you have working copy of simple vide player please send it to me.

I have also tried the video player and I am not able to see the URLs for the video so that I can replace it with my URLs.
Please help.

Thanks
Ambrose
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Re: Testing my Channel

Hey

Here is the error from the Roku

------ Running ------
Type args = roAssociativeArray
Type args.url = Invalid
showSpringboardScreen
Button pressed: 1 0
Displaying video:
srt = http://salvationtv.in
play failed:
Closing video screen

Need your help. I am trying with Simple Video Player.

Thanks
Ambrose
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