Getting Started Android

Guide to integrating the Xamarin plugin for the Helpshift SDK.

Download Helpshift Xamarin SDK

Download SDK v3.6.1

The Helpshift SDK .zip contains the following files:

Add Helpshift to your Xamarin project

• Add the HelpshiftApi.dll to the References in platform independent project in your multi-platform Xamarin project. This dll should not be packaged with the final application.
• Add the Android/HelpshiftApi.dll to the References in your Android specific project. When the application is compiled, Android/HelpshiftApi.dll library will automatically replace the HelpshiftApi.dll (since they have the same assembly name and version) referenced in the above step. This serves application development around common API's across different platforms.
• Add the following packages to your app for android :

1. Newtonsoft JSON.Net

2. Android Support Library v4

3. Android Support Library v7

4. Android Support Library v7 Cardview

5. Android Support Library v7 Recyclerview

6. Android Support Design Library

Initializing Helpshift in your app

To use Helpshift's APIs, please import the Helpshift's namespace as given below.

using HelpshiftApi;

Helpshift SDK uniquely identifies your App with the combination of:

To get the API Key, Domain Name and the App ID, navigate to Settings>SDK (for Developers) in your agent dashboard and scroll down to "Initializing Helpshift" section. show me

Select your App from the dropdown and copy the three tokens to be passed when initializing Helpshift.

Initialize Helpshift by calling the method Install(apiKey, domain, appId) API

using HelpshiftApi;
.
.
.
HelpshiftCore.Initialize(HelpshiftApiProviderType.HelpshiftApiProviderTypeSupport);
HelpshiftInstallConfig config = new HelpshiftInstallConfig.Builder().Build();
HelpshiftCore.Install ("<API_KEY>", "<DOMAIN_NAME>", "<APP_ID>", config);

using HelpshiftApi;
.
.
.
HelpshiftCore.Initialize(HelpshiftApiProviderType.HelpshiftApiProviderTypeSupport);
Dictionary<string, object> config = new Dictionary<string, object>();
HelpshiftCore.Install ("<API_KEY>", "<DOMAIN_NAME>", "<APP_ID>", config);

The install call is required only in the onCreate of the Application class of your app.

Start using Helpshift

Helpshift is now integrated in your app. You should now use the support APIs to present FAQ or conversation screens inside your app.

Run your app, and try starting a test conversation using the ShowConversation API call. Then goto your Helpshift agent dashboard and reply to experience the in-app messaging.

Sample usage for FAQs and conversation APIs:

HelpshiftAPIConfig faqApiConfig = new HelpshiftAPIConfig.Builder().Build();
helpBtn.Click += delegate
{
   HelpshiftApi.HelpshiftSupport.ShowFAQs(activity, faqApiConfig);
};

HelpshiftAPIConfig convApiConfig = new HelpshiftAPIConfig.Builder().Build();
contactBtn.Click += delegate
{
    HelpshiftApi.HelpshiftSupport.ShowConversation(activity, convApiConfig);
};

Dictionary<string, object> faqApiConfigDictionary = new Dictionary<string, object>();
helpBtn.Click += delegate
{
   HelpshiftApi.HelpshiftSupport.ShowFAQs(activity, faqApiConfigDictionary);
};

Dictionary<string, object> convApiConfigDictionary = new Dictionary<string, object>();
contactBtn.Click += delegate
{
    HelpshiftApi.HelpshiftSupport.ShowConversation(activity, convApiConfigDictionary);
};

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