Quickstart

Overview

AppBuilder is a data field that you add to a built-in sports app on your Garmin device, such as running or cycling. It adds information to your sports app, it doesn't replace it. Unlike most apps in the store, AppBuilder doesn't do anything on its own (except display Cadence divided by 2, if that's the kind of thing you're into.) AppBuilder basically allows you to display anything you want, provided you know the formula (and it's not too complicated.)

"cadence / 2" is a basic example, and the reason this app exists. Another example would be "8-second power average": timeavg(power, 8)

Or elevation change (based on the difference between total ascent and total descent):

totalascent - totaldescent

If you look at some of the examples they probably almost look like the math we're all familiar with from high school, but with a twist: much like Excel, AppBuilder has its own special functions for averaging data, adding it up, or taking the minimum or maximum values, for example. AppBuilder also has its own variables, which represent Garmin activity data such as Speed, Power or Cadence.

Once you learn how to use the functions and variables (by looking at the examples and reading the rest of the documentation, you can create almost anything you want.) The only limitation is that the formulas can't be too long or complex, unfortunately, due to platform limitations. Despite AppBuilder's name, you're not gonna implement the next Strava Routes, dwMap or Dozen Run inside of AppBuilder, unfortunately (I wish!).

Getting Started

• Download AppBuilder from the store
• Decide what formula you want to use. For example - 5 second average speed: timeavg(speed, 5)
• Set up AppBuilder:
  • Open the Garmin Connect app on your phone
  • Tap the picture of your device near the top of the screen
  • Tap Activities and App Management
  • Tap Data Fields
  • Select AppBuilder
  • Make sure AppBuilder is actually installed. (Sometimes when you download a Connect IQ app from the store, it doesn't install fully until you tap Install in the Garmin Connect app.)
  • Select Settings
  • Under Profile 1:
    • Set the label you want to see (e.g. Speed5)
    • Paste the formula you want to use. e.g. timeavg(speed, 5)
    • If you want to record the data to the FIT file, so you can look at it in Garmin Connect later, go ahead and check that box
    • Save your changes
• On your watch, add the AppBuilder data field to your running, cycling or other built-in sport:
  • Open the sport (e.g. Running)
  • Hold UP for Settings
  • Select Run Settings
  • Select Data Screens
  • Select a data screen with an unused field
  • Select the field you want to use
  • Select ConnectIQ Fields
  • Select AppBuilder

Now AppBuilder will display the results of the formula you typed in.