Readme file for using JabpLite4 with Google Pay
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JabpLite4 can import Google Pay (GP) transactions automatically. If you've used GP on your phone, you'll know that it's a very convenient way to pay using contactless technology. You may also have seen that GP pops up a notification to confirm the payee, the amount and the debit or credit card used. The idea is to use this information to create a pending transaction in JabpLite4 which the user can import (after editing if needed).

To use GP with JabpLite4, we firstly need to allow JabpLite4 to listen for GP notifications. In JabpLite4 go to Preferences > Google Pay and click to set permissions for 'GPHelper'. You can also get JabpLite4 to display a message when the app starts if the GPHelper service is *not* running (recommended).

Now go to the main Home / Accounts view screen and select the account which you are using with GP. Click on Edit and then add the last 4 digits of your debit or credit card anywhere in the Account Description field. If you are using multiple cards with GP, then add the last 4 digits to the Account Description field for each individual account.

Now the GPHelper service is running, every time GP is invoked a pending transaction will automatically be created. When you next open JabpLite4, any pending transactions will be displayed immediately. If a pending transaction was matched in the account you'll see the matched category shown, otherwise category "None". You can change the category if you wish. You can also edit the description or the reference as necessary. Click Done to import the pending transaction(s).

Note on foreign currency transactions: by default, JabpLite4 expects GP transactions to be in your home currency. If you are using GP abroad, your transactions may be in a different currency. In this case, GP will report the amount with a different currency symbol. For example, your home currency might be £ but your foreign currency might be €. To ensure these GP pending transactions are processed in the correct currency, set up the foreign currency symbol in JabpLite4's Currency View. The foreign currency symbol should appear either as the currency code, or anywhere in the currency description.

Using Google Pay on another device via Dropbox
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You may want to import GP transactions from another device. A typical use case is where you share an account with someone else (eg. joint credit card with spouse, partner). Install the app GPHelperDB.apk on your second device from the distribution zip (you'll need to temporarily allow installs from unknown sources). Note that this app *must* reside on a different device from the one which runs JabpLite4.

Open the GPHelperDB app and you will be directed to authorise use of Dropbox for JabpSync; use the same Dropbox credentials as on your primary device. Once done, click on Notification Settings and give permission for GPHelperDB to read notifications. Once done, you can exit the app.  Every time GP is used on this device, a pending transaction will be created in the Dropbox directory. These pending transaction(s) can then be imported in JabpLite4 on your primary device or in Jabp4 on a desktop computer. Make sure you set the relevant option in Preferences in either or both programs. Then the option 'Pending GPay' will perform the import or say 'No pending transactions to process'.

Using Google Pay with Wear OS
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If you have a Wear OS device, you may also be able to use GP. In this case, with your phone and watch connected go to the Play Store on your watch and look for the 'Apps on your phone' section. You should see JabpLite4 appearing. Tapping this entry will install the Wear OS app 'GPHelperWear' (it will be installed from your phone using Bluetooth). On your Wear OS device, go to Settings > Accessibility and enable GPHelperWear (you will need to go through a couple of additional dialogs). These settings allow GPHelperWear to use the Google Pay notification to create a pending transaction and send it to your phone.

Launch GPHelperWear on your Wear OS device. It should show a message that the listener is running. If not, then please check your Accessibility settings again.  You can then swipe the app screen away.

Operation
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The GPHelperWear services should run automatically on both your mobile and Wear OS devices. Whenever you use your Wear OS device to make a payment via GP, you should see a Google Pay notification on your watch. GPHelperWear will automatically send the details to your phone to be stored as a pending transaction in exectly the same way as if you had made the payment using your mobile phone.

Note: you may find that if you use GP on your phone, you will also get a GP notification on your watch. If you have turned on GPHelper in JabpLite4 then you will already have created a pending transaction. In this case you can just swipe the notification away. 

I hope you find this application helpful. In case of problems I can be contacted at the email below.


Malcolm Bryant & Freepoc
September 2017
Last updated 1 December 2019