If you want Staffbase to publish your app, you need to create a Google service account. The Google service account gives Staffbase’s automated publishing services access to the publishing interface of Google Play and keeps your app up to date in the Play Store.

To prepare automated publishing for your app in the Google Play Store follow these steps:

1. Create the Google service account.
2. Create a private key for the Google service account.
3. Enable the Google Play Android Developer API for a New Google Cloud Service Account.
4. Invite the Google service account you created to your Google Play Console.

Creating the Google Service Account

Prerequisites

• You have all information regarding your service account
• Service account name
• Email
• Service account description

1. In the Google Cloud Platform, navigate to Service Accounts.
   The Service account page opens.
2. Click Create Service Account.
   The Create service account page opens.
3. Fill in the details that your received from Staffbase Support for service account name, email, and service account description.
4. Click Create and Continue.
5. Under Grant this service account access to the project, click the dropdown menu to select the role.
   The dropdown menu opens.
   
   
6. In the menu, select Service Accounts > Service Account User and click Continue.
   
   
7. Click Done.
   The dialog closes and you are redirected to the overview of service accounts.

The Google service account for Staffbase is nearly set up. The service account now needs a private key.

Creating a Private Key for the Service Account

1. In the Google Cloud Platform, navigate to the overview of the service accounts
2. In the column Actions, open the 3-dot menu and select Create key.
   A dialog to configure the key opens.
   
3. Select JSON as the key type and click Create.
   The JSON file is automatically downloaded to your computer. The file browser opens to select the storage location.
4. In the file browser, click Save.
   A confirmation message confirming that the private key was saved opens.
5. Click Close on the confirmation message.
6. Send the JSON key file to Staffbase in a secure way, for example, as a zip file with strong password protection.

The Google service account is now set up with a private key. To finalize the set up, add the key to your Google Play Console to grant Staffbase access to your app. 

Enabling the Google Play Android Developer API for a New Google Cloud Service Account

1. Sign in to your Google Cloud Console.
2. Click the dropdown menu next to Google Cloud.
3. Click New Project.
   
   
   
   
   If you have an existing project that you want to use, skip to step 5.
4. Provide the details and click Create.
5. From the dropdown menu next to Google Cloud, select the project you created.
6. From the Navigation menu, navigate to APIs & Services > Enabled APIs & services.
   
   
7. Search for Google Play Android Developer API.
8. Click Enable.

Inviting the Google Service Account to Your Google Play Console 

Prerequisites

1. You already have the app profile in the Play Store. If you have not yet created an app profile for your new app, set it up first or reach out to support@staffbase.com. Creating an app profile does not mean your app needs to be published and the details in the app profile can always be updated later.
2. Return to the Google Play Console after setting up the Google Service Account in the Google Cloud Platform. 
3. Navigate to Settings > API access.  
   The newly added Google service account is listed under the section Service accounts.
4. Click Grant access for the Google service account.
5. Select the tab App permissions. 
6. Open the dropdown menu Add app and select your app.
7. Click Apply.
   The Permissions for your app open in a new dialog. 
8. Configure the App permissions if necessary and click Apply.
   The permissions dialog closes and you return to the app permissions overview where your app is now listed. 
9. Select the tab Account permissions.
   The permissions are displayed on the tab.
10. Enable the following app and account permissions:
    

    Releases	Create, edit, and delete draft apps Release to production, exclude devices, and use app signing by Google Play Release apps to testing tracks Manage testing tracks and edit tester lists
    Store presence	Manage store presence

11. Click Invite user.
    A confirmation dialog opens to send the invitation for the Google Service Account.
12. Click Send Invitation.
    An email is sent to finalize the setup of the Google service account.

The Google Service account now has the required permissions, and your app will be published with Staffbase’s automated publishing services.