---
parser: v2
auto_validation: true
primary_tag: software-product>mobile-development-kit-client
tags: [ tutorial>beginner, operating-system>ios, operating-system>android, topic>mobile, software-product>sap-business-technology-platform, software-product>mobile-development-kit-client, software-product>sap-mobile-services, software-product>sap-build-code, software-product>sap-build, software-product>sap-business-application-studio ]
time: 15
author_name: Jitendra Kansal
author_profile: https://github.com/jitendrakansal
slug: cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app
canonical_url: https://developers.sap.com/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app
---

# Start Your MDK Application in the Editor
<!-- description --> Use the MDK editor to create a cross-platform mobile application.

## Prerequisites
- **Tutorial group:** [Set Up for the Mobile Development Kit](https://developers.sap.com/group.mobile-dev-kit-setup.html)
- **Install SAP Mobile Services Client** on your [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sap.mobileservices.client) device or [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sap-mobile-services-client/id1413653544)
<table><tr><td align="center">![Play Store QR Code](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.1.1.png)<br>Android</td><td align="center">![App Store QR Code](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.1.2.png)<br>iOS</td></tr></table>
(If you are connecting to `AliCloud` accounts, you will need to brand your [custom MDK client](https://developers.sap.com/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-build-client.html) by allowing custom domains.)

## You will learn
  - How to create a mobile project in SAP Build Lobby
  - How to configure the project using Storyboard in SAP Build development Environment
  - How to deploy an MDK project to Mobile Services and run it offline enabled in a mobile client

---

### Create a New Project Using SAP Build

This step includes creating a mobile project in SAP Build Lobby. 

1. In the SAP Build Lobby, click **Create** > **Create** to start the creation process.

    ![SAP Build Lobby Create Button](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.1.png)

2. Click the **Application** tile and choose **Next**.    

    ![Application Tile Selection](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.2.png)

3. Select the **Mobile** category and choose **Next**.

    ![Mobile Category Selection](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.3.png)

4. Select the **Mobile Application** to develop your mobile project in SAP Business Application Studio and choose **Next**. 

    ![Mobile Application Option Selection](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.4.png)

5. Enter the project name `demosampleapp` (used for this tutorial), add a description (optional), and click **Review**.

    ![Project Name And Description Entry](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.5.png)
    
    >SAP Build recommends the dev space it deems most suitable, and it will automatically create a new one for you if you don't already have one. If you have other dev spaces of the Mobile Application type, you can select between them. If you want to create a different dev space, go to the Dev Space Manager. See [Working in the Dev Space Manager](https://help.sap.com/docs/build_code/d0d8f5bfc3d640478854e6f4e7c7584a/ad40d52d0bea4d79baaf9626509caf33.html).

6. Review the inputs under the Summary tab. If everything looks correct, click **Create** to proceed with creating your project.

    ![Project Summary Review Screen](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.5.1.png)

7. Your project is being created in the Project table of the lobby. The creation of the project may take a few moments. After the project has been created successfully, click the project to open it. 

    ![Project Created In Lobby Table](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.6.png)
    
8. The project opens in SAP Business Application Studio.

    ![SAP BAS Workspace Opened](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.7.png)

    >When you open the SAP Business Application Studio for the first time, a consent window may appear asking for permission to track your usage. Please review and provide your consent accordingly before proceeding.
    >![SAP BAS Usage Consent Dialog](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-1.8.png) 

### Configure the Project Using Storyboard

The Storyboard provides a graphical view of the project's runtime resources, external resources, UI of the project, and the connections between them. This allows for a quick understanding of the project's structure and components.

- **Runtime Resources**: In the Runtime Resources section, you can see the mobile services application and mobile destination used in the project, with a dotted-line connected to the External Resources.
- **External Resources**: In the External Resources section, you can see the external services used in the project, with a dotted-line connection to the Runtime Resource or the UI app.
- **UI Application**: In the UI Applications section, you can see the mobile applications.

1. Click on **+** button in the **Runtime Resources** column to add a mobile services app to your project. 

    ![Runtime Resources Add Button](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.1.png) 

    >This screen will only show up when your CF login session has expired. Use either `Credentials` OR  `SSO Passcode` option for authentication. After successful signed in to Cloud Foundry, select your Cloud Foundry Organization and Space where you have set up the initial configuration for your MDK app and click Apply.

    >![CF Login Credentials Dialog](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.2.png) 

2. Choose `myapp.mdk.demo` from the applications list in the **Mobile Application Services** editor.

    ![Mobile Application Services App Selection](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.3.png)  

3. Select `com.sap.edm.sampleservice.v4` from the destinations list and click **Add App to Project**.

    ![Destination Selection Add App To Project](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.4.png)  

    >You can access the mobile services admin UI by clicking on the Mobile Services option on the right hand side.

    In the storyboard window, the app and mobile destination will be added under the Runtime Resources column. The mobile destination will also be added under the External Resources with a dotted-line connection to the Runtime Resource. The External Resource will be used to create the UI application.

    ![Storyboard With Runtime And External Resources](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.5.png)      

4. Click the **+** button in the UI application column header to add mobile UI for your project.

    ![UI Application Column Add Button](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.6.png)     

5. In the **Basic Information** step, select the **MDK Template Type** as **Base**, leave the other options as they are. Since the option to **Enable Auto-Deployment to Mobile Services After Project Creation** is set to **Yes**, the MDK project will automatically be deployed to the Mobile Services after it is generated. Click **Next** to continue.

    ![MDK Base Template Type Selection](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.7.png)  

    >The `Base` template generates the offline or online actions, rules, messages and an empty page (`Main.page`). After using this template, you can focus on creating your pages, other actions, and rules needed for your application. More details on _MDK template_ is available in [help documentation](https://help.sap.com/doc/f53c64b93e5140918d676b927a3cd65b/Cloud/en-US/docs-en/guides/getting-started/mdk/bas.html#creating-a-new-project-cloud-foundry).

6. In the **Data Collections** step, provide the below information and click **Finish**. Data Collections step retrieves the entity sets information for the selected destination.

    | Field | Value |
    |----|----|
    | `Enter a path to service (e.g. /sap/opu/odata/sap/SERVICE_NAME)` | Leave it as it is  |
    | `Select the Service Type` | Leave the default value as `OData` |
    | `Enable Offline` | It's enabled by default |
    | `Select all data collections` | Leave it as it is |
    | `What types of data will your application contain?` | Select `Customers`, `Products`, `SalesOrderHeaders` and `SalesOrderItems` |

    ![Data Collections Step Configuration](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.8.png) 

    Regardless of whether you are creating an online or offline application, this step is needed for app to connect to an OData service. When building an MDK Mobile application, it assumes the OData service created and the destination that points to this service is set up in Mobile Services. 

    >Since you have Enable Offline set to *Yes*, the generated application will be offline enabled in the MDK Mobile client.

7. After clicking **Finish**, the storyboard is updated displaying the UI component. The MDK project is generated in the project explorer and automatically deployed to the Mobile Services based on your selections. You will now see a QR code for onboarding the mobile app. Leave the Onboarding dialog box open for the next step.
 
    ![Storyboard Updated With UI Component](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.9.png) 

    ![QR Code For Mobile App Onboarding](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-2.10.png) 

### Run the Project

[OPTION BEGIN [Android]]

>Ensure that you choose the correct device platform tab above. Once you have scanned and onboarded using the onboarding URL, it will be remembered. If you log out and onboard again, you will be prompted to either continue using the current application or scan a new QR code.

Follow [these steps](https://github.com/SAP-samples/cloud-mdk-tutorial-samples/blob/main/Onboarding-Android-client/Onboarding-Android-client.md) to successfully on-board the MDK client on your Android device.

After accepting the app update, you will see the **Main** page, along with a user menu that includes options such as syncing changes, accessing support, checking for updates, and resetting the app. An Offline store will be initialized. **Since you selected the Base template during the project creation, it generated this empty page without any UI controls. In the next tutorials, you will add some UI controls to this page and create more pages.**

![Android Main Page With Offline Store](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-6.1.png)

[OPTION END]

[OPTION BEGIN [iOS]]

>Ensure that you choose the correct device platform tab above. Once you have scanned and onboarded using the onboarding URL, it will be remembered. If you log out and onboard again, you will be prompted to either continue using the current application or scan a new QR code.

Follow [these steps](https://github.com/SAP-samples/cloud-mdk-tutorial-samples/blob/main/Onboarding-iOS-client/Onboarding-iOS-client.md) to successfully on-board the MDK client on your iOS device.

After accepting the app update, you will see the **Main** page, along with a user menu that includes options such as syncing changes, accessing support, checking for updates, and resetting the app. An Offline store will be initialized. **Since you selected the Base template during the project creation, it generated this empty page without any UI controls. In the next tutorials, you will add some UI controls to this page and create more pages.**

![iOS Main Page With Offline Store](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-6.2.png)

[OPTION END]

### Get familiar with the generated project structure

This is how the project structure looks like within the workspace.

![MDK Project Structure In Workspace](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sap-tutorials/sap-mobile-development-kit/main/tutorials/cp-mobile-dev-kit-offline-app/img-3.1.png)

These are the [metadata definitions](https://help.sap.com/doc/69c2ce3e50454264acf9cafe6c6e442c/Latest/en-US/docs-en/reference/schemadoc/App.schema.html) available in the editor and the format in which these metadata definitions are stored in the editor. Just to brief on some of these:

- **`InitializeOffline.action`**: For Mobile applications, this action binds the application to the Mobile Services Offline OData server and downloads the required data from the backend destination `com.sap.edm.sampleservice.v4` to the offline store on the mobile device. 

- **`DownloadOffline.action`** and **`UploadOffline.action`**: These actions are applicable to Mobile client only. Using Mobile app initialization, data is downloaded to the offline store. If you want to have the application download any updated data from the backend server or upload changed data to the backend destination (`com.sap.edm.sampleservice.v4`), these actions will be needed.

- **`Success & Failure Message action`**: Here are some messages showing up in the app on a successful or failure of data initialization, sync etc.

- **`Main.page`**: This is the first page of your MDK application that is shown. For this application you will use this as a launching page to get to application functionality.

- **`OnWillUpdate.js`**: MDK applications automatically download updates and apply them to the client without the end-user needing to take any action. The `OnWillUpdate` rule empowers the user to run business logic before the new definitions are applied. This allows the app designer to include logic to prompt the user to accept or defer applying the new definitions based on their current activity. For example, if the end-user is currently adding new customer details or in the middle of a transaction, they will be able to defer the update. The app will prompt again the next time it checks for updates.

- **`Application.app`**: this is the main configuration file for your application from within SAP Business Application Studio. Here you define your start page (here in this tutorial, it is main.page), action settings for different stages of the application session lifecycle, push notifications, and more.

---