How to use extensions?
We frequently see users on the community who don’t know how to use extensions.
This is from the App Inventor website
Extension components can be used in building projects, just like other components. The difference is that extension components can be distributed on the Web and loaded into App Inventor dynamically: they do not have to be built into the App Inventor system, and they can be imported into projects as needed. With extensions, the range of App Inventor apps can be virtually unlimited.
One use of extensions, for example, is for educators and educational software developers to provide extension components tailored to specific lessons and activities that students can use in building apps. Examples might be simulations or data analysis tools. Those apps might be unfeasible to create directly with the built-in App Inventor blocks, either because of processing speed or programming complexity. But those same apps might be readily programmable in the App Inventor framework, using extension components that perform the necessary processing.
Anyone can create extension components. This requires gaining familiarity with the App Inventor source code (located on Github) and programming the extension in Java. Extension components are packaged as aix files. Once you create an extension component, anyone can use it in their App Inventor projects. Extension component aix files can be housed anywhere on the Web. The aix files need not be stored at MIT or any other particular place, although MIT hosts a repository where people can make aix files available for sharing and public use.
Note: One limitation of the current extension component implementation is that it creates non-visible components only (i.e., components that do not show on the designer screen). MIT plans to remove this restriction in future versions of the extension component system.
@pavi2410, one the Kodular developers is working on making the visible components possible during the Google Summer of Code 2020.
So how to work with extensions when using Kodular?
If you want to use extensions you have to go to the extension category on the Palette.
After you click on the import extension button you get a dialog with two options.
You can import your extension if you have a url from a website or you can import it if the extension is on your HD.
If you have an url you can paste this in the textbox and press IMPORT FROM URL
If you got the extension on your harddrive you have to press NO FILE CHOSEN and after that IMPORT FROM FILE.
Either way you choose you have to drag and drop the extension on the mockup of the phone to be able to use it. You can see that in the gif above.
When you go to the block editor you can see that your extension is also there and you can use its blocks like you would do with all other components of Kodular.
If you want to remove an extension you have to press the wastebasket to the right of the extension. Then you will have to confirm that you want to delete the extension.
Remember that all blocks related to that extension will be deleted from your app.
When you want to update an extension you can just follow the process as shown above. Kodular will let you know you have updated your extension.
If you want to see which version you have of the extension you can press the
information icon to the right of the extension name.
For a complete list of all extensions that are available for App Inventor and Kodular see this page made by @Taifun App Inventor Extensions | Pura Vida Apps
Let me know if you miss anything in this little guide.