Customizing the UI and Widgets

[johntalbott]

While the UI is functional the default look reminds me too much of MS Access.

1. How might one change the UI to look more modern?

2. Are there any tutorials for customizing the UI?

3. Is it possible to have unbound widgets? Example ... I want a search box above a grid that is used to search fields in the grid.

4. If desired ... is it easily possible to use other widget libraries such as JQueryUI or Kendo UI?

Thanks,
JT

[Gaby_h]

Hi John:
1) Presumably you can create a new theme using the Graphic Theme Editor (in Tools). I tried it a few times and ended up with awkward results, I am not much of an artist.

2) See Guide p.400
It would be great if Inde could add 1 or 2 more attractive themes. Most of us are poor graphic designers, also one has to spend a lot of time on it.

3) Custom Search. That's easy. In most of my grids I use a Search part (see pic). I created an IMDB table with 1 field of each type (Character, Integer, Currency, Date,...) and placed the needed fields above the grid where the user enters criteria with a Find button and Show All button.Works great much more flexible and customizable than the other platform.

4) ??

[johntalbott]

Thanks for the info Gaby. When you say Search Part you created ... a reusable widget?

The IMDB table is just required to create the input, correct? Meaning you really don't need a table for the purpose of the Search.


Can anyone from Progamma comment on my other questions?

[Gaby_h]

Not entirely reusable:
1) Create an IMDb table with some flds say (Char, Date). The IMDB table flds are needed to serve as input fields for the user to enter search criteria.
2) In the panel/grid, split the top part, drop the IMDB tbl just as if you dropped a regular table
3) Create the Find button with codes similar to:
panelX.enterQBEMode()
panelX.fldtosearch.QBEFilter = inputfld from IMDB tbl
panelX.findData()

4) Create a ShowAll Button
delete from IMDB tbl (to clear flds in the IMDB table)
panelX.enterQBEMode()
panelX.undoChanges()
panelX.findData()

Repeat 2,3,4 for each panel where you want a search part.

[johntalbott]

Thank you for the additional info.

[josevelez]

I would be interested to know about this too.

The secondary reason (the limits on tables/classes being the first) why I am not considering Instant Developer is because the UI is quite frankly very unimpressive.

As John mentioned, it reminds one of using MS Access. Who wants to build a web application that feels like we are back in the 90's?

Yes, I'm still lingering around several product forums to decide which one to use for my oil and gas application. :)

Still patiently waiting....

Jose

[Gaby_h]

My first Inde App went live last Monday, converted from Alpha5. So the following comments are based on facts not speculations.

1)Limits on tables/classes.
When I started with Inde I had the same concern. After using and getting to know Inde for a while, this is much less a concern today. Based on the real case mentioned above, although the Inde version has more features, more options, more searches, more reports:
- In Alpha the app has 69 components, in Inde 29 forms
- I am using 4 less tables (29 vs 33)
- I am using 4 less views (28 vs 32)
For expl if I want a parent grid with 3 child grids, in Alpha I need 4 components, in Inde 1 Form.

The numbers could have been lower. I didn't know until late in the game (still newbie) that
- the same form can be reused and customized and opened multiple times.
- you can create your views inside Inde at no cost instead of importing a view from the backend which costs.
I am sure there are other tricks that can help keep the numbers down that I don't know of.

2) Yes, I agree that new modern themes will be of great help. Replacing the old Seattle theme with, for expl a refreshing Burano theme would be great.

A part from the cosmetic factor, the difference in speed, performance, features between the two versions is huge, truly. They are both hosted on the same VPS (yes same machine, each using a different IP, sharing the same resources), 2 different animals, I tell you.

If I remember you have been lingering for a while.

[lucabaldini]

Hi Gaby_h, I've a question for you. You are referring to a Burano theme... can you post here an image of that theme? Even a link or something that can help identify how is done this theme.
I've tryied to look for it on the web but with no success.

We're are thinking at a new web theme for the future and if you could help me it would be great! :-)

[Gaby_h]

Hi Luca:
It is not a theme per say. Some time ago I saw a documentary on TV about a city in Northern Italy where houses were painted in vibrant, lively colors and each house had a different color, I loved it. So when I referred to Burano theme, I just meant something lively, vibrant like the city of Burano as opposed to Seattle theme :) :)

[lucabaldini]

Ah ah ah.... I see...

Infact when I saw your thread I started looking for the Burano theme on Google I was getting a lot of results of the Burano isle close to Venice... So I started filtering data adding "-isola -venezia -murano" to my search in order to skip all images that related to the isle in the hope to see some "webbish theme".

Thanks a lot anyway... I'll tihink about and talk with the guys that will take care of the new theme.

Take care! :-)