RTFM - Read The Fantastic Manual
RTFM - User Manual
Features
All the HTC facebook goodness on your doorstep!
Plus:
- Update Now left-soft key
- Launch Facebook App in menu (configure to fav app)
- Launch Facebook Online in menu (configure to fav site)
- Successful Update Time Display
- Adjustable Automatic Update Peroid
- My Updates - Displays your real status (only support text updates - urls etc ignored)
New For v1.6:
- Improved scrolling
- Support for non-ascii character updates
- Anniversary/Birthday Icons moved for expanded views
- Updated package to include fixed lang files
- Correct reg key for Desktop Online
New For v1.5:
- Update your facebook status directly from the tab!
- Sense Settings Page (all settings for the tab now configurable via sense)
- Expand/Collapse View
- Introducing the HTC FbTab, (Stage 1 - The initial step to access the Facebook Api).
- Improved multi-language support (api available for wm apps)
Facebook Tab Settings v1.6
The settings page is split into 5 main sections.
If any settings are adjusted, the user will be able to apply the settings from this page or to discard the changes.
The exception is within the Facebook Api Settings page where the authorisation keys are stored as soon as they are obtained.
Selection between normal and advanced settings (A) are set by the "Enable Advanced Settings" checkbox within the Advanced setting section.
Note: Any changes to any Advanced settings may cause issues with the operation of the tab if done incorrectly, so make sure you understand the purpose of these settings before you change them. They are marked as Advanced settings for a reason!
1 - Data Connections
Normal(1) Advanced(2)
Enable auto update timer[]
- Enable this setting if you wish the tab to automatically update for the specified period (this is independent of the HTC Download data automatically setting below).
Update internal in mins XX
- Period before automatic update occurs. Note: This appears only to run when the tab is selected, timer is reset on entry to the tab. Range is currently limited to 1-99 mins.
Download data when roaming
- I've not tested this much (I keep my data connections disabled). This setting controls if data connections should be allowed when roaming (not sure if that's general mobile connections via GPRS & 3G or when you are not on your foreign cell network). This setting is the setting available in the old HTC setting page.
(A) Download data automatically
- HTC 2 hour automatic update of the facebook data. Included in case you need to disable it (this runs independently from the above update timer).
2 - App & Web Shortcuts
Normal(1) Advanced(2&3)
Select Facebook Application
- Select which application is launched via Menu->Facebook App. Also selects which item to edit/delete in advanced mode.
Select Facebook Webpage:
- Select which webpage is launched via Menu->Facebook Online. Also selects which item to edit/delete in advanced mode.
(A) Delete Selected Application/Webpage
- removes the selected item from the list
(A) Edit Selected Application/Webpage
- Opens up the edit page for the current item (see below)
(A) Add New Application/Webpage
- Opens up the add new item page (see below)
Edit/Add Application(1) Edit/Add Webpage(2)
(A) Add/Edit Application/Webpage
(A) Display Name
- sets the name to use in setting page to refer to the application/webpage
(A) Shortcut
- the url/file path can be edited here directly.
(A) Browse to path (applications only)
- Opens the select file page to allow you to browse to and select the required exe.
Note: When you have selected the exe file by pressing it, "Select" will appear as the bottom right soft-key. You can "Select" the exe or "Cancel" if you wish.
(A) Additional arguments
- Some applications/pages may support additional arguments, which can be added here.
3 - Facebook Api Settings
Normal (Internal Authorisation Method)(1) Normal (External Authorisation Method)(2)
Note: Unlike the other settings pages, changes made the authorisation key are saved directly to the registry.
The authorisation here is only for the new functionality of the tab, in order to populate the friends list and get status updates you will still need to authorise the "HTC Sense" application via the Setting Tab -> Data Services.
If you do not wish to use the new functionality and the "HTC FbTab" application, then check the "Disable prompt for authorisation []" checkbox to avoid being asked to authorise the application.
You will not be able to post updates via the tab without authorising first.
Due to issues with the authorisation methods with facebook, two options are provided to ensure this application will work with as many people as possible.
Option 1:
Use internal authorisation
- This uses an internal browser to display the authorisation page from facebook and allows you to login and authorise the application permissions. This should be the simplest method for most users, press Authorise and follow the prompts to authorise the HTC FbTab used for posting status messages directly from the tab.
Don't forget you will need to be connected to the internet and be able to access the facebook website from your connection.
Option 2:
Use external authorisation (Use default browser & paste code)
- On some devices the internal browser fails to work correctly, hence this method will launch your default browser (i.e. Opera) and navigate directly to facebook to authorise the "HTC FbTab" application.
Don't forget you will need to be connected to the internet and be able to access the facebook website from your connection.
1. You should login and authorise the application permissions.
2. Once you have authorised the application, you then need to Copy the url (either the whole thing or the part including "code=...", as long as you have at least the "code=..." to the end it will work). In Opera you can do this by pressing and holding on the url (if unselected it will default to copying the whole url).
3. Once you have copied the code into the clipboard, return to the settings page and press "Paste & Authorise".
The settings page will then use the code and authorise the application.
Remove Authorisation:
- This will remove the authorisation from the registry.
Note: If you want to fully remove the authorisation you will need to remove it directly from the your facebook account settings, via the Application Settings page.
Advanced (Internal Authorisation Method)(1) Advanced (External Authorisation Method)(2)
(A) Advanced Api settings (applies to both methods):
Note: These settings will default back to the original settings when the settings page is closed. This ensures the best settings are selected each time, unless the user specifically desires otherwise.
(A) Select authorisation page format
- Determines the format of the page facebook provides for authorisation. At times some pages may not be available, also some work better with the internal browser than others. You should only need to change this if you have a problem.
(A) Application Permissions
- Allows you to enable/disable the permissions you allow the "HTC FbTab" application to have. All are set to enable, since you will probably want to give the app permissions, but I want to provide the choice.
(A) Status Update
- Clearly you will need this if you wish to post updates from the tab.
(A) Offline Access
- Without this the permission will only last until you log out of facebook. Unlikely you would want to disable this option.
(A) Read Feeds
- This permission is not currently used by the application, however, it will be in later releases so if left enabled you can keep your current authorisation for later releases.
4 - File Path Settings
Normal(1) Advanced(2&3)
Hide facebook events
- Disables events being shown on the facebook tab.
Note: Events for the current day are still shown.
Event Notice Period (days)
- Specify the number of days before an event is due to occur before it is displayed on the tab.
Facebook Utility:
- In normal mode, this is read-only (Advanced mode you can edit it directly). If the stored path does not match the location of the FacebookUtil.exe, then a button shall be displayed to update it. If this is not set correctly, the tab will not open the settings pages or status update pages correctly, so it is important if you move FacebookUtil.exe, you run it from it's new location and update this item.
(A) Location of facebook profile pictures:
- For info only, this is a fixed location defined by the HTC dll.
(A) Location of facebook albums:
- Defines where the pictures are stored when you view people's facebook albums via the HTC tab's subpage "Updated Album" or "Open Online Album" links.
(A) Browse to path:
- Allows you to browse to a specific path to update the above location. "Select" appears when you are able to select the current folder.
(A) My Status Transfer Method
(A) Use Facebook Utility
- Allows you to define which method is used to copy the registry item which holds your most recent status update. You should only need to change this if you experience problems or slow response on the tab (this is less important on v1.6 since this is not run as often).
(A) Browse to path:
- Allows you to browse to a specific path to update the above location. "Select" appears when you are able to select the current exe.
(A) Additional arguments
- If required for the selected method.
eg.
Using Mortscript
App: \Windows\mortscript.exe
Argument: \Windows\FacebookStatusScript.mscr
Using FacebookStatusUpdate.exe
App: \Windows\FacebookStatusUpdate.exe
Argument: blank
(A) MS Facebook Application
(A) Cache location
- Allows you to change where the MS facebook application caches it's data
(A) Days to clear Cache:
- Number of days before MS facebook application the cache is cleared. (Limit 1-99 days).
5 - Advanced
Enable Advanced Settings
- Allows (A) advanced settings to be seen.
Note: Any changes to any Advanced settings may cause issues with the operation of the tab if done incorrectly, so make sure you understand the purpose of these settings before you change them. They are marked as Advanced settings for a reason!
Language Setting
Note:
The language settings here are independent of your language settings for sense itself.
Use device language
- The settings page will detect the devices language and use the correct language file if present. Otherwise it will default to UK English.
Application language setting:
- You can select a different language for the settings pages here. You will need to ensure you have the correct language file within your windows folder, otherwise the selection will be rejected.
If the file is reported as invalid, then there is probably an error in the xml formatting (you can double check the file by naming it .xml and opening via internet explorer).
About
Pressing on the xdadev meltwater's fbTab graphic will take you to directly this thread, so you can get support or make a donation!
Pressing on the Sense SDK graphic will show you more information about eboelzner's excellent Sense SDK used by this application.
FAQ
When I scroll to the tab, sense freezes and it is un-usable
It seems there are two versions of the facebook engine and the older one (used by 2.5.192x and some other ROMs) the 0DE73B01_manila file is smaller (~41k) than the newer version (~47k).
If you have the older version (small file), then you must use the 192x version of the tab or the tab will be un-usable and crash sense (see the FAQ
It doesn't work for Manila 192X? below).
Tab freezes on 1st update and is unstable
I've found this sometimes occurs if you have restored your contacts after flashing a ROM (so you have lots of links which need updating all at once), although it may only occur on some ROMs [however I've found the people tab has the same problem, so it related to the HTC built in functions].
Ideally:
- Setup the HTC facebook link and perform the 1st update without your contacts restored.
Otherwise:
- Remove the links (via the contact card in the people tab)
- Perform the update (from within the People Updates tab might also help)
- After update has finished, it'll probably list the contact matches it finds again (don't forget to manually link any you linked manually before)
- This way the when the links are re-added info like the contact pictures etc are already downloaded (done during the link process) and the process probably uses less resources.
- From that point on, it is improved.
Menu item X does not work (i.e Settings)
Make sure you run "FacebookUtil.exe" from where-ever you installed it and update the "Facebook Utility Path" as described in the manual install sections.
Launch App/Web does not work (i.e. I get a Certificate error)
Make sure you have the application installed and the link is correct. Use the
advanced (A) settings within the "File Path Settings" section of the settings page.
Updates were working, but have since stopped, how to do I get them working again?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...postcount=1375
(Thanks to Yusuke14 for confirming this solution)
1. Remove the registry keys located in:
HKLM\Software\HTC\HTCAccountManager\Facebook**** keys.
2. Via Settings tab on Sense, within the Data Services option, re-enter your facebook info
I can't see any updates from my friends!- You can create blank contacts with the facebook names as the contact name without a phone number or anything and it should still pick up and prompt for the links automatically.
- You can even link any contact manually to a particular facebook contact via "Edit Contact" -> Facebook Link (Associate with Facebook Account) at the bottom bit of the contact editor.
- Also you will need to sign into facebook via HTC first, before any contacts will be linked, it should prompt you to do this if you haven't already when you refresh (i.e. via People Page, Updates&Events page or your settings tab Data Services).
- Remember though, if the person has privacy settings set high within their facebook account, you may not see updates from them (this is a limit of the HTC code).
- It appears the HTC updates only go back so far in time so really old updates don't appear and it does not support non-text updates either (so url links etc are not shown).
Other User tips:
skyli91: You can link facebook to someone pretty fast if you go to Updates and Events in his/her Details page and here, the phone suggests some FB friends from the contact's name.
Agent Zach: You could link all of your contacts manually if the tab isn't giving you the option to do so.
Contacts Tab > All People > [Pick a Contact] > Edit Contact > Link
And if you want to Update the Status', etc.. the HTC way (outside of the Facebook Tab), in your contacts list, slide over to Updates & Events, click Menu, and click "Update Now".
It doesn't work for Manila 192X & some versions of sense?
There are two versions of the files which drive this tab, the tab is based on the later one. So if the tab does not work after you install it you may have the older version...
- Locate 0de73b01_manila in your windows folder.
IF the filesize is around 41Kb then you have the older 192x files and you require the patch.
IF the filesize is around 47Kb then you have the newer 2010 files and you do NOT require the patch (your problem is somewhere else).
DO NOT INSTALL THE PATCH IF YOUR FILE VERSION IS NOT CORRECT
To install the patch follow instructions in the install post#3 below.
Why is the install so complicated?
The install is complicated since the tab control file contains references to each available tab on your device. Every ROM has a different combination of tabs available and so this file is different for each ROM. If you install a copy of the Tab Control file which includes tabs which aren't on your device,
manila will not work, if you install one which doesn't include all the tabs on your device, those tabs won't be available any more.
Many many people have managed to install the tab, through various ways, so there are plenty of people here who will help you out. Obviously make sure you have plenty of time available, just in case. Please keep backups of your tab control file (26948339_manila) as this will help you if you run into trouble.
Can we cook this in a ROM?
Yes, files will hopefully be provided for that within the thread (and I am happy for it to be included).
If you don't know what to do with EXT files (like me) then don't use them!
See the original poster for latest info:
b16b's [Facebook Tab v1.6 EXT]
File attached to this post too.
birkoffsjunk's Alternative:
birkoffsjunk [FacebookTab1.6.7z]
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[MOD][05Aug10][v1.6][SENSE2.5TAB] Facebook Tab - v1.6 (+192xPatch)
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[MOD][05Aug10][v1.6][SENSE2.5TAB] Facebook Tab - v1.6 (+192xPatch)
if you use the facebook tab and would like my work to continue
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