Feature Updates 3/6/2020
We're pleased to report the Deep Links (aka Universal Links) update is now live on both Android and Apple devices. Additionally, we've created a link generator located in the Online Giving Control Panel > Mobile App Section of Left Navigation > Deep Links. The feature in the control panel is an easy way to generate links for your website. I've included some example links below to common features in the application.
When a link is clicked/tapped on a mobile device, the native operating system will check to see if any installed applications have registered deep link support to the domain. In the event, deep-link support is found, the associated application is opened. In the event, the deep-link support is not found, then the link is opened in the default web browser on the device. It's important to note that the act of clicking/tapping a link triggers the feature on the mobile device. However, the feature is not triggered by manually typing in a URL into the device's web browser. Meaning, deep-linking only applies to link events and not direct navigation events in the local browser.
Common Examples of Links for Woodside Bible:
- Group Finder: https://woodsidebible.
org/ul/app/mp/groups - Campus Finder: https://woodsidebible.
org/ul/app/mp/campuses - Opportunity Finder: https://woodsidebible.
org/ul/app/mp/opportunities - Watch Sermon App Page: https://woodsidebible.
org/ul/app/page?page=54ff4373- f9b2-2020-a6f9-6570bf40686a - Kids App Page: https://woodsidebible.
org/ul/app/page?page=a138be67- 8db3-52e4-6219-963f6f9544c4
Additional Notes/Thoughts on Website Redirects:
- In all of the deep-links, a common pattern is present for the URL path. The path will always start with "/ul/app/" (no quotes).
- We recommend creating some 302 or 301 redirect rules using your .htaccess file that will catch the inbound request and redirect to the associated webpage.
- There may also be a WordPress redirect plugin that could do the same thing as the .htaccess redirect rules. The choice is up to the church.