Missing Textbox in BlackBerry Application

Recently in one of my BlackBerry projects my development team faced a peculiar error.

We were targeting the device BlackBerry 8900 Curve for the project.

The device we purchased was having OS version 4.6.1.114 and our application was functioning properly on that.

But when we sent the application to our client suddenly he was complaining that one textbox was missing completely. Only difference was that the client was using a BlackBerry 8900 Curve having the OS version 4.6.1.250.

Following are the view at the two ends.

At our device.

At the customer site.

To find out the issue we had to even upgrade the BlackBerry OS and we found that in the new OS version the HorizontalFieldManager is having its default width wrong. So our textbox was hidden. We corrected it by the following change, making the sub layout always have a width that we prefer.

hfmtxtPassword = new HorizontalFieldManager() {

protected void paint(net.rim.device.api.ui.Graphics graphics) {

graphics.setBackgroundColor(Color.WHITE);

graphics.clear();

super.paint(graphics);

}

protected void sublayout(int maxWidth, int maxHeight) {

super.sublayout(278, maxHeight);

}

};

Updating the OS of Blackberry 8900 Curve

Recently I needed to update the OS of the BlackBerry 8900 Curve device from 4.6.1.114 to 4.6.1.250.

To do this first you need to download the BlackBerry Desktop Manager Latest Version (5.0) and the OS required (4.6.1.250).

You can download the files required at,

Desktop Manager

https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=A8BAA56554F96369AB93E4F3BB068C22

and select the desktop manager software and download it.

OS

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support/downloads/download_sites.jsp

Downloading the correct OS is bit tricky. You need find the correct version for the service provider (Dialog Sri Lanka, T-Mobile, Rogers, etc...). All the available service providers are listed in the above link.

When the download is complete you will get a file similar to 8900jEastAsia_PBr4.6.1_rel378_PL4.2.0.113_A4.6.1.250_Dialog_Sri_Lanka.exe

After completing the download, first install the Desktop Manager and then run the executable (8900jEastAsia_PBr4.6.1_rel378_PL4.2.0.113_A4.6.1.250_Dialog_Sri_Lanka.exe) of the OS. That will add the OS files to a place where desktop manager can use them to update the device.

Browse to the place where the Desktop Manager is installed (C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader), then delete the "Vendor.xml".

Now run the "Loader.exe" to start the application loading process. Make sure your BlackBerry is connected to the computer. In the second screen you need to select the connection which your device is using (for e.g. USB).

Then after few clicks of the next button the wizard will start installing the new OS to the device.

It will take about 25 minutes to complete the updation process. While that is happening make sure that you are not pressing any buttons on the phone and as also make sure you keep the USB connection alive.

After sometime the BlackBerry will get restarted with the new OS. Enjoy.

I you are having any problems please contact me, I may be able to help you.