Controlbar vs TabbedUI

[njguy]

The tabbed UI is somewhat outdated in terms of webapp design. Before I go down the path of trying to use the controlbar has anyone used in successfully in a Webapp.?

[CharlesParker]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

You can build a UX component with very much the same if not MORE capabilities than the tabbedUI. It is easy to setup a tabbedUI but in all honesty, like I said you can do ALOT with a UX. Building it as more of a stage to hold your other components embedded.
I use the same approach to a PGB app. The App is essentially a persistent login component with one embedded UX, and that UX actually holds all teh other embedded components. WHats interesting is if you update an embedded component you dont necessarily have to update or rebuild the app - the user just see’s the changes in the embedded stuff - of course there are some limitations but it does make minor changes instant.
I haven’t really used teh control bar much, I got frustrated with it and used panelheaders to achieve what i was using it for anyway so I cant be much help in that area. Hope that helps in some small way.
This approach seems to make managing the whole application easier too since you know the shell doesn’t really change.

[ecalan]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Charles, I have seen several discussions on UX vs TabbedUI and they all seem to focus on the build differences and "old style" of the tabbedUI. I am in a business where the workflow requires employees to have several clients open at the same time. Client list >> TabbedUI and employees can bounce back and forth among clients/tabs with their work. I have not seen a way to do this with a UX even with the control bar. It seems to me that with a UX you are limited to linear workflow and you have to go back and reopen each client (and close the one you are working on) every time there is something to add or change. I suppose you could have them in separate panels but, hidden or shown, without the tab navigation, it seems to me it would look a mess. Am I missing something about how a UX can be used to accomplish the many clients open simultaneously emvironment?

[CharlesParker]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Ultimately, you have to do what works for you. How many clients would you want one on average?

[njguy]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Charles....thanks for your input.....do you have a screenshot to share?

Thanks

[peteconway]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Just jump in Tom - keep in-mind the UX is a super component (can host as a parent) and can also be a client of the host as can reports, grids and other components.

Also learn about ViewBox and the List control, these can replace your grids.

Here's one of my applications for the web using the contolbar.

Good luck - Pete

2018-03-21_1213.png

[CharlesParker]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

I can do much more than a screenshot. You can log into my application via a free account I setup for anyone to play around with.
Login: [email protected] PW: qazwsx
That is a tabbedUI with many different types of components and a custom alpha-provided style I tuned to my liking.
After you're logged in you can go here: https://www.nwcopro.com/ipad.a5w
that is a UX with embedded components, similar to the tabbedui theres a navigation bar onn the left.
its a proto-type for my PGB iOS app I am building for the web application.

Theres an actual android PGB app that is very similar.

[CharlesParker]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Love the badges Pete!

[peteconway]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Thanks - Well dob on your site mate, good job.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

It seems to me that with a UX you are limited to linear workflow and you have to go back and reopen each client (and close the one you are working on) every time there is something to add or change.

Actually there are a number of ways in which you can have multiple panels or UX's open using tabs, divs or whatever. You're not limited to just one at a time. That is the default behavior of a panel navigator, of course.

Not sure about the controlbar. It's kind of a pain IMO. I've only used it once or twice in a very limited way. But if you want to align stuff right or center, it works.

[Malcolm]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Managers users of my app sit in offices with desktops, the workers use tablets. I'd like to move the whole project onto a UX structure - and away from grids - mainly for streamlining my own work.

Managers are still on the trusty TabbedUI and I've moved the workers onto a UX split view with hierarchical menu, but I'm running into problems: security is clumsy, column sorts only apply to the records in view, no of records not shown... So I've started building a UX to perform login and menu functions - along the lines Charles suggests above, but not sure how much more time to invest on it, as it might be that the resourcing required to build it might not be worth it in the end.

My summary of the pro's and con's (clumsily set out) at this stage is:

TabbedUI vs UX
TabbedUI/UX split view with hierarchical menu/Build-your-own
off the shelf/ Y/ N/ N/
responsive screens/ N/ Y/ Y/
security groups managed/ Y/ N/ Y/
multiple tabs open at once/ Y/ N/ N(too many for tabs)/
hierarchical menu/ Y/ Y/ Y/
full column sorting/ Y/ N/ /N
shows no. of records/ Y/ N/ can do/

Wouldn't it be great if Alpha came up with a fully responsive screen version of the TabbedUI?

[iRadiate]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

If you missed it, Dion builds a TabbedUI-like dashboard in this Demo Q&A using the Control Bar and Panels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQH2...mwSqgF&index=9

[Malcolm]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Oh yes! Thanks for that Stephen. I nearly got there - but without the Control Bar. This is a great opportunity to get to grips with that control. Malcolm

[glenschild]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

I am intrigued to delve more into controlbars as a replacement for tabbed ui's but I have several clients using the tabbed ui interface because of the real need to have multiple records open and easy to switch between rather than a linear approach. I do however use panel cards/layouts etc within the ux components called by the tabbed ui and this gives a responsive element that means I don't have to worry as much about monitor/screen sizes in the desktop environment. I guess I need to allow time to figure out if a controlbar solution can give me the flexibility of the tabbed ui.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Controlbar vs TabbedUI

Maybe I need to watch the video "again". I blasted through it late last night in 5 min. I guess I don't understand how a CB would replace a tabbed_ui. But OTOH the new UX menu is useful.

Hey Glen. I've started going down the road of using dynamic panels. Use a tabbedband Navigator and Action JS to open new tabs. I have some ideas on how to make it (or the UX in general) be more responsive. Just don't have time to explore it.