Configuring Push Notifications For Xamarin Forms

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Configuring Push Notifications For Xamarin Forms"

Philomena Fowler
5 years ago
Views:

Configuring Push Notifications For Xamarin Forms Push Notifications are one-way forms of

has happened. To send a push notification to an Apple device, use the Apple Push Services.

Fortunately, if you re sending a push notification to an app on both platforms, Microsoft offers an

1 Configuring Push Notifications For Xamarin Forms Push Notifications are one-way forms of communication offered to mobile users that some operation (like an update, deletion, or addition) has happened. To send a push notification to an Apple device, use the Apple Push Services. For an Android device, use Google s Firebase Cloud Messaging Services. Fortunately, if you re sending a push notification to an app on both platforms, Microsoft offers an easier way through Microsoft Azure Notification Hub. Go to the Azure portal. 1. Click Create a resource, Web + Mobile and select Notification Hub.

2 2. In the new window, enter the notification hub name and create a new namespace. 3. Select a location. We recommend a location closest to the user or closest to you (the developer). 4. Choose an existing resource group or create a new resource group. 5. Select your Microsoft subscription (for billing purposes). 6. Choose a pricing tier based on your usage needs and click Select to close the pricing tab. 7. Click Create to create the new notification hub. It may take few minutes to create and configure. 8. Choose the Google (GCM) from the side menu. This section is used to configure and send Android-based push notifications using Birebase cloud messaging.

Create the Firebase Push Notifcation 1. O p e n a new browser window https://console.firebase.google.com/. and navigate to 2. Login or create a new account.

3 Create the Firebase Push Notifcation 1. O p e n a new browser window and navigate to 2. Login or create a new account. After you have logged in, click + Add Project. 3. Enter the Project Name and Country/region. You can change the Project ID if required. 4. Click CREATE PROJECT. It may take a few minutes to create the project. 5. After the message Your new project is ready, click CONTINUE to

4 navigate to the project page. 6. In the new page, select Add Firebase to your Android app to create an Android-based Firebase app. 7. In the next screen, enter the Android package name and enter an optional app nickname. Select REGISTER APP.

5 8. In the next screen, click Download google-services.json and download the file. 9. Open the downloaded file and copy the project number (a 12-digit code like ) into the project s AppSettings.cs file for FirebaseSenderID. Create push services for ios: 1. S e l e c t A p p l e ( A P N S ) f r o m t h e A z u r e p o r t a l s i d e m e n u.

6 2. Upload a certificate to send push notifications on ios. Log in to 3. N a v i g a t e to Certificates, Identifiers and Profiles. 4. Select the Apple ID associated with the application. 5. Ensure that the ID is configured to use Push Notifications. It should have the status as Configurable. Click Edit to configure push services.

7 6. In the next screen, choose to create either a development or production SSL certificate and click Create Certificate. 7. The next screen requires you to create a certsigningrequest. Create the file and upload it. 1. On the Mac, open the Keychain Access application: press WinKey + Spacebar to open Spotlight. Type keychain access and press enter. 2. Select Keychain Access -> Certificate Assistant -> Request a

Certificate From a Certificate Authority. 8. Enter the user email address, command name, and Certificate Authority (CA) Email address. 9. S e l e c t Saved to disk and click Continue. 10.

8 Certificate From a Certificate Authority. 8. Enter the user address, command name, and Certificate Authority (CA) address. 9. S e l e c t Saved to disk and click Continue. 10. In the popup dialog, save the certsigningrequest. 11. Choose a location. If you re choosing a default location, make sure to note the location for future purposes. 12. Now navigate back to the apple developer website and upload the previously created certsigningrequest and select Continue.

9 13. In the next screen, click Download button to download the.cer file. After downloading the file, select Done and close the browser. 14. Double click to open the.cer file. It will by default open the Keychain Access application. 15. E n t e r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r p a s s w o r d t o i n s t a l l t h e. c e r f i l e.

10 16. Right-click on the certificate and choose Export [Certificate Name]. Enter a name for the.p12 file. Select the location of the file and click Save. Make sure the file format is Personal Information Exchange (.p12) before saving the file.

11 17. Enter a password for the p12 file. Re-enter the password. 18. Enter the administrator password for Keychain Access application to export the key and select Allow.

Now navigate back to the Azure portal. 1. S e l e c t Folder Icon. 2. Find the p12 file and click Open. Enter the same password used to create the file. Save. 3.

12 Now navigate back to the Azure portal. 1. S e l e c t Folder Icon. 2. Find the p12 file and click Open. Enter the same password used to create the file. Save. 3. Open the Backend Mobile app service from the Azure portal and navigate to Push from the sidebar menu. 4. C o n n e c t t o t h e n o t i f i c a t i o n hub we created earlier.

13 5. C h o o s e the previously created notification hub. 6. On the next screen, add the tag UserGroup1 for push notifications to be delivered to the mobile devices. Save.

How to Create a Signed QuickAdd Package

How to Create a Signed QuickAdd Package Items needed to complete this task: Apple Developer account. (https://developer.apple.com) Mac Computer Section 1. Create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) A Certificate Signing Request or CSR is a specially