Time to create the final game build for iOS distribution and upload it to the Application Loader for review under Apple's board.
- Launch the Corona simulator, navigate to the application project folder, and run it. Go to the Corona simulator menu bar and then to File | Build | iOS. Fill in all your application details. Make sure that your Application Name and Version fields match what is displayed in your iTunes Connect account. Choose Device to build an app bundle. Next, select the target device (iPhone or iPad) your app is created for from the Supported Devices drop-down menu. Under the Code Signing Identity drop-down menu, choose the Distribution Provisioning Profile option you created in the iOS Provisioning Portal. In the Save to folder section, click on Browse and choose where you would like your application to be saved. Click on the Build button when done:
- When the build has been compiled, you will be greeted with a display that your application is ready for distribution. Select the Upload to App Store button.
- When the Welcome to Application Loader window pops up, log in with your iTunes Connect information. You will then be brought to another window with the Deliver Your App or Create New Package option. Choose Deliver Your App. The next window displays a drop-down menu; choose the name of the application you will be submitting and then click on the Next button.
- The available application information found in iTunes Connect is displayed. Verify that it is correct and then click on the Choose button.
- Click on the ellipsis (…) button to replace the current file before submitting it and then select the Send button.
- The Application Loader will begin submitting your application binary file to the App Store.
- You will get a confirmation that your binary was delivered to the App Store if it uploaded successfully. You can check on the status of your application in iTunes Connect when it goes to review, ready for sale, live, and so on. An e-mail will be sent to you upon every status change of your application. That's it! This is how you submit an app to the App Store!
- When your application has been reviewed and approved by the App Store, you can go into iTunes Connect and adjust the availability date if it is approved before your proposed launch date. Your app will be live in the App Store instantly:
It's important that when you build your app under Code Signing Identity, you select your distribution provisioning profile that was created for your distribution build. Upon the compilation of your build, you can launch the Application Loader. Make sure that you have Xcode installed. The Application Loader will launch readily after you select the Upload to App Store button.
While you're in the Application Loader, the name of your app will be displayed in the dropdown once you have completed loading the binary information to iTunes Connect. When you deliver your app, select the zipped-up binary from the location you saved your file at.
As soon as the file is uploaded, a confirmation window will appear and an e-mail will be sent to the Apple ID assigned to your Apple account. Your binary will be shown with a Waiting for Review status in iTunes Connect.
After all these steps, you now know how to submit an iOS application to the App Store. Hooray!
If you developed an application for iPhone only, try implementing it as an iPad version as well so that it can become a universal build. Take the lessons you learned from the previous chapters using your build.settings and config.lua files to resize your application. Also, don't forget about what is required of your app icon as well. It's like hitting two birds with one stone!