Launch MonoTouch iPhone App with Custom Url/Protocol?

Question

Is it possible to register a custom Url scheme or Protocol, like myapp:123, with MonoTouch? I'd like my MonoTouch app to launch when the user clicks this link in a web page, mail or calendar description, and pick upp the url "parameters", in this case "123".

In short I want the same functionality as for the Spotify app in iPhone with its spotify:track:123123 Can it be done?

Answer 1

Yes it is and here's what you need to do.

Add in Info.Plist the following somewhere within the dict tags:

<key>CFBundleURLTypes</key>
<array>
    <dict>
        <key>CFBundleURLName</key>
        <string>com.companyname.com.receiver</string>
        <key>CFBundleURLSchemes</key>
        <array>
            <string>myapp</string>
        </array>
    </dict>
</array>

Then in AppDelegate.cs override the HandleOpenURL method:

public override bool HandleOpenURL (UIApplication application, NSUrl url)
{
    if (url == null) {
        return false;
    }

    var uri = new Uri(url.ToString()); // I prefer working with the Uri class.

    // Your logic here

    return true;
}

Answer 2

Yes, I've done it in a couple of my MonoTouch applications. It is actually required when you use the Facebook SDK for logging into your app.

In general, follow the same instructions you would for a regular Objective-C app: http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#DOCUMENTATION/iPhone/Conceptual/iPhoneOSProgrammingGuide/AdvancedAppTricks/AdvancedAppTricks.html (look under "Communicating with other apps")

In your AppDelegate there is a HandleOpenURL method to override. Beyond that there are just some settings in your Info.plist to change.