AI1 to AI2 Converter (Version 1.1)

This tool converts App Inventor Classic (AI1) project source files (.zip files) to App Inventor 2 (AI2) project source files (.ai1 files). Warning: This browser-based tool currently works only in Chrome and Firefox. In particular, it does not work in Safari or Internet Explorer.

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the App Inventor development team, the App Inventor Classic (AI1) development environment will shut down on July 15, 2015. See the AI1 shutdown details here. It will not be possible to access your AI1 projects after that time. If you wish to save these projects, now is the time to (1) download any AI1 projects you care about and (2) convert them to AI2 projects using this tool.

Instructions

1. In the App Inventor Classic (AI1) development environment, load the project you wish to convert, and confirm that you can view it in both the Designer window and Blocks Editor. Ideally, you should also confirm that the program works as expected by testing it on an Android device or an emulator.
2. Save the AI1 project you wish to convert as a .zip file as follows:
   1. Use My Projects to list your projects;
   2. Click the checkbox of the project you wish to save
   3. Select More Options>Download Source. This will download an AI1 project source .zip file to your computer.
   Important: do not attempt to open or uncompress the .zip file in any way. Some computers and browsers (especially Safari) may be configured to automatically open and uncompress the .zip file. In this case, you will need to configure preferences to turn off this feature.
3. Use the Choose File button below to navigate to the .zip file you just downloaded. Selecting the file will automatically convert your AI1 .zip project file to an AI2 .aia project file and and download the .aia file to your computer. If errors are reported in the red-outlined error box, see the Troubleshooting section below.
4. In the AI2 development environment, use Projects>Import project (.aia) from my computer to upload the .aia project file. You can now run and edit your project in AI2!

   If the .aia project cannot be loaded into AI2, or if the uploaded project does not work as you expect, see the Troubleshooting section below.

Any errors or warnings from the conversion process will be displayed in this box.

• If there are red error boxes above, something went wrong in the conversion process, and you should report this error via email to fturbak@wellesley.edu. Please attach your .zip file to your email.
• If there are orange error boxes above, there is a problem with your project that you need to fix before it can be converted.
• If there are yellow warning boxes above, your converted project might be fine, but you should carefully test it.
• The converter assumes your project is from the most recent version of AI1. If you have an old project, the converter might be able to convert it, but if you experience any problems with conversion, you should upgrade your AI1 project to the most recent version of AI1 before converting it to AI2.

  You can upgrade your AI1 project to the most recent version of AI1 simply by loading your project into the current AI1 development environment and viewing it both in the Designer window and Blocks Editor. This process will automatically perform upgrades that might modify your components and blocks. Then it is safe to download your A11 project as a .zip file.

  Important: Certain upgrades may require you to change your project. If you see blocks outlined in red in the Blocks Editor, you need to replace those blocks before you try to convert your project to A2.

• If your project loads without error, but does not behave properly. there might be an error in your original project. Sometimes blocks are accidentally disconnected or deleted, which is a common source of these errors. In general, you should confirm that your project works in AI1 before converting it. If your original project doesn't work in AI1, the converted one won't work in AI2!
• There are some known issues with the current converter that are listed below. You should review these if your converted program doesn't look or behave like you expect.

Known Issues

• This converter only works in Chrome and Firefox. It does not work in other browsers, such as Safari and Internet Explorer.

Version Notes

Version 1.2

• The converter now handles strings with unicode characters.
• The converter will now automatically rename the ImagePicker.ImagePath property in old versions of ImagePicker to ImagePicker.Selection.

Version 1.1

• Bugs in the conversion of the math blocks atan2 and random set seed were fixed.

Version 1.0

• The converter correctly converts the Scrollable property on screen components.
• The converter automatically converts Notifier.ShowChooseDialog and Notifier.ShowTextDialog blocks that do not have a final cancelable argument. The converter will add an extra false argument in this case.
• The converter indicates progress in terms of the number of files converted.
• The converter has a Cancel Conversion button to cancel the conversion process.
• The converter no longer generates an .aia file when it encounters a significant error.
• There is a None color block in AI1, but not in AI2. However, the converter is able to translate it to a make color block that takes a 4-element list [255, 255, 255, 0] (the last list component is the alpha, or opacity, component; opacity 0 means transparent).

Log entries from the conversion process will be displayed below.