This post is going to be about how to implement a .iso image for use to simulate an sdcard when developing an Android application.

The following link is what Android developer offers with how to emulate sd card. http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/emulator.html#sdcard

I got lost in it to honest…

I’m working on Windows platform so for now, this write up will be windows based.

First step is locate the mksdcard executable. Its inside of android-sdk – >tools.

Next, get a cmd screen running. go to your Start button menu, select Run or type run into the search bar. When the prompt comes on type ‘cmd’ without apostrophes in, and a black screen will show.

Now, with the mksdcard file, drag and drop it into your cmd prompt. Some text will appear and it’s simply the directory location of the mksdcard file. DO NOT press enter yet. There are some commands that we need to type in first.

From here we need to identify 2 key criteria of the iso: size and directory/name

For example -1024M         means make the iso 1024MB.M = Mb. There is also a K abbreviation, K = Kb

name – sdcard1.iso             you can use whatever filename just have the extension .iso at the end of it

You can also have C:\sdcard.iso       This is an example of specifying where to create the new iso to.  I didn’t know this, and I had no idea where my iso images went to after the cmd went through. Only after a search did I find it.

Below is an image of what it will look like.

Hopefully this has worked for you, and you are now looking at your newly create .iso file.

To push your bits and pieces files into the iso, I use a program called PowerIso. It can open the iso file, and allow you to simply drag-and-drop your necessary files into the iso. Everything is easier with drag n’ drop!

Last step is utilising the iso when the emulator runs. For this, I go through eclipse.

Selecting the project you want access the iso, in Package Explorer, right click, then select Run As and then Run Configurations. See image below.

When the new screen appears, select the Target tab on the right, and at the bottom you will see “Additional Emulator Command Line Options”

The command to use the iso is -sdcard. In the image below, I write “-sdcard C:\sdcard.iso” . Once again without the apostrophes.

Click the ‘Apply” button and Run!

Hopefully things worked out well. I notice that sometimes even after eclipse has installed the application, and run the activity, nothing shows. It may need a kick in the butt, so select the Home button, and rerun the program in the emulator. Sometimes it needed to be done twice. If that doesn’t work, check the console for unusual messages and errors.

Good Luck.