# Build a UI SDK App for Android

The UI SDK allows you to add Enhanced In-App Chat into your Android app with a ready-to-go user experience. Open a conversation with the `UIClient` class. You can customize the colors and strings so that the Messaging user interface looks natural in your app. Enhance the experience with push notifications, hidden pre-chat data, user verification, and other features.

This article applies to the following implementations:

| UI SDK | Core SDK |
| :----: | :------: |
|    ✅   |          |

## Step 1. Import the Classes

Most of the SDK classes are from these two packages:

```sfdocs-code {"lang":"kotlin", "title": "Import packages", "src": "" }
import com.salesforce.android.smi.core.* // For the core classes
import com.salesforce.android.smi.ui.*   // For the UI-related classes
```

## Step 2. Configure the UI Session

Create a `UIConfiguration` object using the config file that you previously downloaded from your org, or you can manually add the values from within this config file.

:::tip
This example creates a random UUID for the conversation ID. However, if you want this conversation to persist even after the app is restarted, be sure to use the same conversation ID. Also, if you want to see this same conversation across multiple devices, in addition to using the same conversation ID, turn on user verification, which is described in the *Enhance the Experience* section.
:::

:::note
Don't use user IDs or other IDs as the `ConversationID`. Conversation IDs establish a permanent link with a user and are only available to the user who created it. Using a different existing ID instead of a unique ID can result in access issues or errors while developing or testing your Enhanced Chat integration. To pass existing IDs required for your flow, [use the Pre-chat feature](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.miaw_custom_prechat\_2.htm).
:::

### OPTION 1: Configure Using the Config File

Once you've added the `config.json` file to your project, you can reference it from the code.

```sfdocs-code {"lang":"kotlin", "title": "Use a config file", "src": "" }
// Create a Core configuration object
val coreConfig = CoreConfiguration.fromFile(myContext, "configFile.json")

// Generate a random conversation ID
// (But be sure to use the SAME conversation ID if you want
// to continue this conversation across app restarts or
// across devices!)
val conversationID = UUID.randomUUID()

// Create a UI configuration object
val config = UIConfiguration(coreConfig, conversationID)
```

:::note
To learn how to download the config file from your org, see [Configure an Enhanced In-App Chat Deployment](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.miaw_deployment_mobile.htm) in Salesforce Help. This file contains the Service API URL, the org ID, and the API name for the deployment. For example:

```
{
  "OrganizationId": "00ZZZ0000000Zzz",
  "DeveloperName": "MyMessagingForInAppDeployment",
  "Url": "https://zzzz.my.api.url.salesforce-scrt.com"
}
```
:::

### OPTION 2: Configure Manually with Config Info

If you don't want to use the `config.json` file in your project, you can configure the SDK manually using the Service API URL, the org ID, and the API name for the deployment.

```sfdocs-code {"lang":"kotlin", "title": "Manually configure", "src": "" }
// Get a URL for the service API path
val url = URL("URL_TO_MY_SERVICE_API")

// Create a Core configuration object
val coreConfig = CoreConfiguration(url, "ORG_ID", "API_NAME_OF_DEPLOYMENT")

// Generate a random conversation ID
// (But be sure to use the SAME conversation ID if you want
// to continue this conversation across app restarts or
// across devices!)
val conversationID = UUID.randomUUID()

// Create a UI configuration object
val config = UIConfiguration(coreConfig, conversationID)
```

## Step 3. Add the View to Your App

Create a `UIClient` object. Open a conversation to show the UI.

```sfdocs-code {"lang":"kotlin", "title": "Create a conversation in an activity"}
val uiClient = UIClient.Factory.create(config)
uiClient.openConversationActivity(myContext)
```

:::note
Without any additional code, the UI SDK automatically provides your customers with Messaging features such as pre-chat forms, bot support, file attachments, and estimated wait time. To learn how to configure these features in your org, visit our [Enhanced Chat learning map](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.miaw_intro_landing.htm).
:::

## Step 4. Customize the UI

:::note
This step is optional.
:::

The UI SDK automatically brands the app with a default color scheme, provides icons for all UI elements, and uses default text for all UI labels. However, you can customize these elements with the UI SDK.

- To customize the color scheme in your app, create a color resource file in your app using the SDK's token names. To learn more, see [Customize Colors for Android](/docs/service/messaging-in-app/guide/android-colors.md).
- To customize any UI text, create a `strings.xml` resource file in your app using the SDK's resource names. To learn more, see [Customize Strings for Android](/docs/service/messaging-in-app/guide/android-strings.md).
- To customize the icons and images used throughout the SDK, add a drawable asset to your project using the associated keyword. To learn more, see [Customize Icons for Android](/docs/service/messaging-in-app/guide/android-icons.md).

## Step 5. Enhance the Experience

:::note
This step is optional.
:::

You can enhance your users' experience by adding push notifications, passing information to Salesforce about a verified user, sending hidden pre-chat fields, adjusting chat button visibility based on business hours, and more.

For enhanced features, see [Enhance the Experience for Android](/docs/service/messaging-in-app/guide/android-enhance.md).

## Sample App

For an example app, see the [UI SDK example in GitHub](https://github.com/Salesforce-Async-Messaging/messaging-in-app-android/tree/main/sample-app).