Request for Publication

In order to make your layer published and shown in layar client on the phone, developers need to request for publication and go through the publication review process. In this section, we will explain what developers need to do to get their layers published as soon as possible.

1. Test your layer thoroughly

Although when you develop your layer, you probably already tested your layers many times. However, when it comes to requesting for publication, more things need to be checked besides that your layer is working fine. We have prepared a checklist for developers, please read Layer testing instructions for detailed explanation. We strongly recommend developers to test your layers against these document, as we also use them to review your layer.

2. Check Minimum API version

While editing a layer under "listing & indexing" tab in the publishing site , layer developers are asked to select the minimum API version for their layers. By default, it is version 3.0.

This minimum API version is the earliest API version that supports all the required features in your layer. This ensures your layer will be found and working well on Layar clients that have the same or newer API version. For instance, if your layer relies heavily on POI actions using asynchronous requests with your server, the minimum API version should be v4.0. Your layer will be shown on Layar clients which support API version 4.0 or above. To check which minimum API version you should use, please read GetPOIs-JSON Response page.

If you want your layer to be shown on all or most clients, developers can also choose to return different versions of JSON response based on the API version parameter sent in the GetPOIs-Request. For instance, in the following GetPOIs request, the API version number is 4.0:

"/poi.php?lang=EN&countryCode=NL&lon=4.92999982834&userId=c2bf412023680c82997d7a5eac0aa5eb19583ff8&developerId=4441
&developerHash=34d4708212eb22e883447bc609554f2ec8976240&action=refresh&version=4.0&radius=1500&timestamp=1285959977531
&lat=52.3699989319&layerName=crashtest2&accuracy=1000 "

Of course this means that it requires more coding and it is developer's responsibility to return the right JSON response.

Please NOTE that backward compatibility is best effort: The layar server will remove fields that are not defined/supported from the response, which may lead to unintended behavior on older clients. Therefore, it is very important that developers choose the right minimum API version for their layers.

3. Request for publication

To request for publication, click on the "Request for approval" button for a layer.

Please NOTE that the following requirements should be fulfilled before the request can be submitted successfully.

• add 'detail description' for your layer (Listing & indexing tab).
• add an icon for your layer (Listing & indexing tab).
• add a category for your layer (Listing & indexing tab).
• set the countries for your layer (Coverage tab).
• test your layer in the API test page. (You should receive at least one successful POI response on API test page before requesting publication)

4. After request for publication

After you request for publication, the layer staff will review it and decide whether to approve or reject it. You may be contacted by us if we find any issues with your layer. With every rejection, you will receive an explanation so that you can take steps to resolve the issues.

During the approval process, you cannot edit your layer. But if you found anything serious in your layer while testing it, you can click on "retract approval request" button to quit the publication request. After making the necessary changes and the layer is ready, you can request publication again.

Please NOTE that the layer review process might take up to 5 working days. Therefore, please only submit it when the layer is ready.

Once a layer is approved, the following meta-data is NOT allowed to change anymore:

• "Listing & indexing" tab,
  • layer title
  • category
  • tags

• "Permission" tab,
  • publisher of a layer