What is an AIA file?

An AIA file is a project file created by the MIT Inventor App that teaches beginners to create Android and iOS applications. It is saved as compressed ZIP file and can contain many folders and files. These include source files such as BKY, SCM and YAIL that are part of the app project. MIT App Inventor provides an Android emulator that works the same way as an Android but appears on the screen. This helps in testing the apps on emulators.

Programs that can open AIA files include MIT App Inventor.

AIA File Format - More Information

AIA files are saved to disc in compressed ZIP format. In order to view the contents of this ZIP archive, simply rename the file extension to .zip and you will be able to view the contents of this archive.

MIT App Tutorial

App Inventor provides several tutorials for beginners to develop Android and iOS apps. It allows to drag and drop UI elements such as buttons, images, lists, text boxes, and others for creating a mobile application and program its functionality. The App Inventor .aia project is saved online but can also be downloaded for use on computer.

How to Create an AIA File in MIT App Inventor

To create an AIA file in MIT App Inventor, you need to either export a project from the App Inventor web interface or create the project structure manually (for advanced users). The AIA file is a compressed file containing all the source code and assets for an App Inventor project. Here’s how to create one:

Method 1: Export from MIT App Inventor

This is the most common and straightforward method.

Steps:

  1. Open MIT App Inventor:

  2. Sign in using your Google account.

  3. Create or open a project.

  4. Once your project is open, go to the “Projects” menu (top-left).

  5. Click “Export selected project (.aia) to my computer”.

  6. Your browser will download the .aia file, which you can later import back or share with others.

Method 2: Manually Create an AIA File (Advanced)

If you’re generating an .aia from code/assets manually:

  1. Create a folder named after your project.

  2. Inside that folder, create the following:

    • project.properties
    • youngandroidproject/project.properties
    • src/ – for your blocks and code (in .bky and .scm files).
    • assets/ – for images, sounds, etc.

  3. Once the structure is set up, zip the folder and rename the .zip file extension to .aia.

MIT App Inventor is strict about project structure, so this manual method is only recommended if you’re experienced.

AIA File Structure Example:

MyApp/
├── assets/
│   └── image.png
├── src/
│   └── com/
│       └── myapp/
│           ├── Screen1.bky
│           ├── Screen1.scm
├── youngandroidproject/
│   └── project.properties
└── project.properties

How to Open an AIA File?

An .aia file is a project file used by MIT App Inventor. It contains all the code blocks, screen layouts, and assets of your app. You cannot open it directly like a regular document - instead, you must import it into App Inventor.

Steps to Open an AIA File in MIT App Inventor:

  1. Go to MIT App Inventor:

  2. Sign in with your Google account.

  3. Click on the “Projects” menu in the top-left corner.

  4. Choose “Import project (.aia) from my computer”.

  5. Select the .aia file from your computer and click Open.

  6. The project will now appear in your My Projects list, ready to be edited.

Alternatives if You Don’t Want to Use MIT App Inventor:

  • Kodular, Thunkable, and other App Inventor-based platforms also support importing .aia files.
  • You can also extract the .aia file (it’s a .zip archive) to inspect the contents, but editing it this way is not recommended unless you understand the file structure.

How to Import an AIA File in MIT App Inventor

Importing an .aia file in MIT App Inventor allows you to open and edit an existing project. Here’s how to do it:

Steps to Import an AIA File:

  1. Go to MIT App Inventor:

  2. Sign in using your Google account.

  3. In the top-left menu, click “Projects”.

  4. Select “Import project (.aia) from my computer”.

  5. Browse and select the .aia file from your computer.

  6. Click “OK” or “Open” (depending on your browser).

  7. The project will now be loaded into your account and available in the My Projects list.

Notes:

  • Make sure the .aia file follows the correct structure. If it’s corrupted or improperly formatted, App Inventor may throw an error.
  • You can rename the project after importing it by clicking the “Project” → “Save As…” option.

References