Enterprise Home Screen Setup

Enterprise Home Screen 2.3

Overview

These instructions provide a basic understanding of the installation, configuration, usage and essential workings of EHS, and are recommended for anyone unfamiliar with first-time EHS setup. Please note that everything detailed here also can be automated through a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system and with direct manipulation of the EHS config file, which is documented in the Advanced Settings section.

Many of the capabilities of EHS can be accomplished manually on the device, programmatically through EMDK or remotely using StageNow or a third-party mobile device management (MDM) system (if supported by that MDM system). EHS simply puts the capabilities into a single tool.

Note: Installation and setup requires that EHS be present on a PC or Mac that can communicate with the target device and write to all storage areas. If necessary, please download EHS and establish connectivity between the computer and device. Then resume from here.

Supported Devices and APKs

Enterprise Home Screen works with most Zebra Android devices. The EHS download package includes all three files indicated in the table below, plus documentation and release notes. The correct APK file for a particular target device depends on the device, its operating system and some additional considerations explained below.

Device

EHS_020300.apk

EHS_L_020300.apk

EHS_R_020300.apk

ET1 Jelly Bean (Android 4.1)

*

*

 

MC40 Jelly Bean (Android 4.1)

*

*

 

MC40 KitKat (Android 4.4)

*

 

*

TC55 Jelly Bean (Android 4.1)

*

*

 

TC55 KitKat (Android 4.4)

*

 

*

MC67 Jelly Bean (Android 4.1)

*

*

 

MC32 Jelly Bean (Android 4.1)

*

*

 

TC70 KitKat (Android 4.4.2) - BSP version 112414

*

*

 

TC70 KitKat (Android 4.4.3)

*

 

*

TC75 KitKat (Android 4.4)

*

 

*

MC18 KitKat (Android 4.4)

*

 

*

MC92 KitKat (Android 4.4)

*

 

*

TC8000 KitKat (Android 4.4)

*

 

*

Manual Installation

These instructions apply to direct installation (from a computer to a single device) using the installer APK (EHS_020300.apk), which detects the target device model and operating system and installs the appropriate EHS version. If installing a device-specific APK from the table above, be sure to substitute the filename(s) where necessary in the instructions.

Note: The installer payload includes two EHS editions, and occupies about 170 KB more device storage than a target-specific APK alone. Further, the 'EHS Installer' app remains visible in the device's App Drawer following installation and should not be removed; doing so removes the ability to automatically uninstall all EHS components. Read about how to uninstall EHS later in this guide.

To install EHS manually using the automatic target selection (EHS_020300.apk) app:

1. Connect the device via USB to a PC or Mac.

2. Copy the EHS_020300.apk file from the PC to any writable device folder.

3. On the device, launch File Browser from the App Drawer:


4. Locate and launch EHS_020300.apk:


5. Tap Install:


6. After installation, tap Open:

If 'Done' was accidentally selected instead of 'Open,' launch 'Enterprise Home Screen' from the App Drawer and proceed.

7. Tap or press the HOME key. A screen like the image below will appear:


8. Select Enterprise Home Screen and tap 'Just once' for now. This will allow easy switching between EHS and the Android launcher during setup. This choice will be presented every time the HOME key is tapped until selecting 'Always' makes the selection permanent.

9. A restart is required to complete the installation (for first-time EHS installations). Again, a screen like the one above will appear. Select Enterprise Home Screen and tap Just once to continue.

Select Apps for User Mode

EHS is now ready to use. The next steps are for selecting which apps to display (and which to hide) while in User Mode, and for configuring the level of user access to device settings. When first run, EHS always defaults to User Mode, and will display a screen similar to the image below:

EHS User Mode

Note: EHS selects apps for display in User Mode from apps installed on the device. All apps intended for use must be installed on the device before proceeding.

Enter Admin Mode and select which apps will be displayed to users:

10. Tap the menu icon and open the Tools menu:


11. Select Admin Login and tap OK (the default password is blank):


After hitting OK, the admin version of the Tools menu will be displayed.

12. Tap the BACK button to dismiss the Tools menu. The Admin Mode screen similar to the image below will show all apps installed on the device.


Note: If one or more apps intended for use is not displayed, it must be installed before proceeding.

13. Long-press an app icon to alternatively display or hide it from the User Mode screen. Depending on the app's status when long-pressed, one of the following messages will appear:

Repeat this step until desired apps are selected for display. To confirm selections, switch between Admin and User Modes by logging in and out of Admin Mode from the Tools menu.

User Access to Settings

EHS provides extensive control over which device settings (such as networking) and resources (such as cameras and the file system) will be available to users when the device is in User Mode. Administrators can allow complete control of all device settings, limit access to just a few settings, or hide device settings completely.

In User Mode, the following features are disabled by default:

  • Airplane mode
  • USB debugging
  • Access to the file system
  • Keyguard (for unlocking the screen)
  • Keyguard-screen camera and search functions
  • The status-bar Settings icon
  • Full access to the System Settings panel

To select which settings will be available while the device is in User Mode and/or to modify other User Mode preferences:

14. While in Admin Mode, Select Preferences from the menu:


15. Scroll the Preferences panel and select the desired settings:

For scenarios that require even more security, EHS offers Secure and Kiosk modes, which are documented in the Advanced Features section. For a complete usage reference for the enterprisehomescreen.xml configuration file, please refer to the Advanced Settings section.

Automated Installation

These instructions apply to remote installation of EHS, an enterprisehomescreen.xml config file, or both, from an organization's own MDM server to multiple managed devices. Alternatively, remote deployment and management can be accomplished through Zebra's EMDK or StageNow tools using the App Manager service.

This section covers use of the EHS Installer (EHS_020300.apk), which detects the target device model and operating system and installs the appropriate EHS version and the default config file if none is present. If installing a config file or device-specific APK from the 'Supported Devices and APKs' table above, be sure to add or substitute the filename(s) where necessary in the instructions.

Note: The EHS Installer payload includes two EHS editions, and occupies about 170 KB more device storage than a target-specific APK alone. Further, the 'EHS Installer' app remains visible in the device's App Drawer following installation and should not be removed; doing so removes the ability to automatically uninstall all EHS components. Read about how to uninstall EHS later in this guide.

To install EHS using an MDM, instruct the MDM to do the following, in this order:

1. If desired, create an enterprisehomescreen.xml file containing the desired user apps and settings. Otherwise, EHS will be installed with its default settings and apps. Refer to the Advanced Settings section for detailed instructions on the creation and editing of config files.

2. Deploy EHS and the config file (if any) to the device(s). This includes the EHS_020300.apk (or target-specific) file and the XML file created in the previous step.

3. Launch the app using the following package and activity commands:

Deployed file

Package name

Main activity/class name

EHS_020300.apk (EHS Installer)

com.symbol.ehsinstaller

com.symbol.ehsinstaller.EHSinstaller

EHS_L_020300.apk

com.motorolasolutions.enterprisehomescreen

com.motorolasolutions.enterprisehomescreen.HomeScreenActivity

EHS_R_020300.apk

com.symbol.enterprisehomescreen

com.symbol.enterprisehomescreen.HomeScreenActivity


4. Set Enterprise Home Screen as the default home application on the device.

5. Reboot the device to complete the installation. This is a required step.

The capabilities of MDM systems vary. Please refer to the MDM documentation for specific information about how to configure these commands.

Note: App installation, uninstallation, setting the default launcher and other operations can be achieved using the App Manager through Zebra's EMDK or StageNow tools.

Uninstallation

Manual Uninstallation

To remove EHS, simply use the Android App Manager to uninstall the EHS Installer. This automatically removes both the EHS Installer and the Enterprise Home Screen app.

1. From the Admin Mode screen, Select Settings:

2. Tap Apps to bring up the Android App Manager:

3. Locate and Tap EHS Installer:

4. Tap the Uninstall button:

5. Click OK to confirm:

Manual uninstallation of EHS is now complete.

Note: Some device settings configured by EHS might not revert to their original state prior to installation. Please make sure to reconfigure the device as required before removing EHS.

Automated Uninstallation

These instructions apply to remote uninstallation using an organization's own MDM server to remove EHS from multiple managed devices. This task also can be accomplished through Zebra's EMDK or StageNow tools using the App Manager service.

To uninstall EHS using an MDM, instruct the MDM to do the following:

1. Uninstall (remove) the EHS app referencing the package and activity names as indicated in the table below. Uninstalling the EHS Installer will also remove the EHS application that it installed. If a target-specific APK (EHS_L_020300.apk or EHS_R_020300.apk) was deployed, the package/activity name specific to that APK must be referenced when uninstalling it.

Deployed file

Package name

Main activity/class name

EHS_020300.apk (EHS Installer)

com.symbol.ehsinstaller

com.symbol.ehsinstaller.EHSinstaller

EHS_L_020300.apk

com.motorolasolutions.enterprisehomescreen

com.motorolasolutions.enterprisehomescreen.HomeScreenActivity

HS_R_020300.apk

com.symbol.enterprisehomescreen

com.symbol.enterprisehomescreen.HomeScreenActivity


2. It is sometimes necessary to reboot the device to complete the uninstallation.

Note: Some device settings configured by EHS might not revert to their original state prior to installation. Please make sure to reconfigure the device as required before removing EHS.

The capabilities of MDM systems vary. Please refer to the MDM documentation for specific information about how to configure these commands.

Remote uninstallation of EHS is now complete.

Change the Default Launcher

Removing EHS as the default launcher on a device can be done with a simple change in the Settings panel or by uninstalling EHS. Either of these scenarios can be accomplished manually on the device, progrmmatically through EMDK or remotely using StageNow or an MDM (if supported). If EHS is removed from the device, the Android Launcher in most cases will be the only remaining launcher on the device, and therefore will become the default launcher.

To manually change the default launcher on a device without removing EHS:

1. In Admin Mode open the Settings panel and tap Home:

2. Tap on the Android Launcher to select it as the default launcher and Home screen.

Note: The trash can icon seen here offers an alternative means of uninstalling EHS and restoring the Android Launcher.