I have owned just about every version of Alpha Five(and a Alpha Four) through version 11. Although I have created some applications many years ago I consider myself more of a hobbyist. The cost of upgrading has become to costly for me anyway. I recently began working for a Non profit organization that supplies clothes and food for many shelters, food banks etc. I work in a warehouse that uses a clip board system to track(just as Dan Bricklin spoke about in his pod cast) just about everything. They then transfer that information to Word documents stored in Drop box. That information is finally transferred to an Excel spreadsheet. A web application won't work in this environment and the organization has a really limited budget. I thought I could build a native application using phone gap and install it on Android tablets because of the much lower cost per unit. I am not exactly a novice but haven't had much experience building web applications. The phone-gap demos seem somewhat confusing and I'm not sure I can afford the cost of upgrading to ver 12 since I'm paying for this myself. Just wondering about experiences of others who have used phone gap to create native Android applications. I have seen only two other applications (that are not cloud based and non coding ) for creating Android applications. Their cost per unit is over my budget too. Too bad Alpha doesn't have and option like File maker Pro which includes a free File maker Go application for the I pad. My last option is to use Hand-base which I used to for my Palm many years ago. I can install Drop box on the tablet or sync files using their Desktop software. I think it will work for my needs by I still perfer a Alpha solution.
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Re: Phone Gap Build
Perhaps there is the option for non profit organisations to receive discount send a mail to Richard Rabins. -
Re: Phone Gap Build
Frank,
Here's what you need to know. The phone Gap part is easy, really. At least once you understand it. Not to mention, Bob Moore has done an outstanding job of documenting it. Building the mobile app is challenging in that you have to learn a lot of new stuff. You also need to understand basic concepts such as the web being a disconnected model. Sounds like you do. There are a couple of caveats to the mobile thing. One is that you aren't building a true "native app". In order for it to work, you need connectivity when you first launch the app. The other is, if you need to do any Ajax callbacks, by definition, you need connectivity. Then again, mobile apps are grounded in the idea of being connected to the web, so...Comment
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Re: Phone Gap Build
personally,
I would insist a web application can work in this environment - no butts about it. Even on a limited budget, it can be done.
What is interesting is that in the end they utilize the web. The real crux is cost. I would suggest a fund raiser to get a website together with an app to run the organization and to accept donations - this can be a platform to sell advertising on. Make it happen if you can! Good luck!NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"Comment
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Re: Phone Gap Build
The idea that it is possible as Charles mentioned is correct. Also to use Alpha for that like Peter says they did good work with the Phone Cap build but if there is no cash then that is a fact. So if you can't effort that even with fundraising the alternative is that you use free code by opensource. If you have knowledge of programming by experience as a hobbyist and need a website + offline apps LightSwitch Community from Microsoft is a alternative. It is easy to learn works like a RAD tool as Alpha BUT do not compare it will have the same functionalities as A5V12 that is not realistic. For a middle average of users it will do the [simple]job. Not tested on Android and for PhoneCap that is less less easier then with A5V12. Fundraising is the answer so it seems Offline apps are hot and expensive even A5V12 is the best and available tool with a low price. Best of luck with your project.Comment
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Re: Phone Gap Build
On the other hand you could build front end with Intel xdk (totally free) and backend with Alpha version 11.Comment
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Re: Phone Gap Build
Thanks for the suggestions . I never really thought about fund raising. I have only been working with the organization a few weeks. Like most, database junkies , I see work in process and automatically think " Hey this could be much more efficient if only they .....!" I even thought about creating the to application run on a desktop with a touchscreen like a POS system. It would work in this situation but a tablet would be optimum. I could probably put that together in a few weeks even with my limited knowledge. I guess I should download the demo and see just what exactly what skills will be needed. I got involved with Alpha many, many years ago. I created a (by today's standards ) a simple application that saved the company that I worked for a quarter million dollars. I did this with no experience. I didn't even know what a database was. I was able to use the hands on knowledge of my business to build something better and in less time than the IT dept.My goal is to create a application that could maybe yield similar results. Simple to install, easy to use and monitor.Last edited by Pureeman; 03-30-2015, 07:01 AM.Comment
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Re: Phone Gap Build
If someone is interested using PhoneGap with Alpha version 11 here is quit new introduction video form Intel (PhoneGap Day US 2014) using Intel XDK.
In Intel XDK there is build in support (frontend) for Intel's own App Framework, Bootstap 3, JQueryMobile and Adobe's Topcoat.
You can use Intel XDK also to build normal web pages to use with Alpha ver 11.Comment
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