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Styling Alpha using Alpha

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    #16
    Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

    Richard

    Yes and Kudos to Alpha standard Html and CSS works so you can search the web and adapt the code.

    Comment


      #17
      Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

      Charles, I agree 100%.

      We are trying to do exactly what you suggest, so our form templates would have common themes and "blocks" so you could build, rather than deconstruct, what suits you.

      The question boils down to
      to take the styles a bit further
      which styles?
      What things do people need adding or tidying?

      Comment


        #18
        Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

        Does anyone know how to create a hyperlink within the button without the look of hyperlink styling, and also so it still works as a button? Haven't been able to override the blue/underline style with inline style option, and don't want to change local css. Also it stopped working as a button, meaning you need to click the text itself to make it link. I would like to push anywhere within the button to make it work.

        hyperlink example.PNG
        Last edited by asap rich; 03-06-2018, 10:23 PM. Reason: edit to add pic

        Comment


          #19
          Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

          You could try something like this.

          buttonLink.a5wcmp

          Comment


            #20
            Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

            Why wouldn't you just create your normal button... and then call window.open() in the click event?

            I wouldn't want to have to create 2 controls per one button... seems a bit much.

            Why do you need to create a hyperlink within a button?

            Comment


              #21
              Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

              Thanks again Michael, I think that'll work!

              David I'm trying to make a button that will skip down to a certain area of the page. I have a long form, and just want the menu to go to the beginning of a container with specific info to fill out or edit. Would window.open() be able to control where it would scroll to? The html method works atm.

              Comment


                #22
                Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                Ok... thanks... now that we have some details... your button click event code would be...

                Code:
                location.href = "#bottom";
                Where "#bottom" is the id of your anchor tag.

                And... not that you need it... but removing the underline from a hyperlink is done by setting it's Style to text-decoraction:none;

                Comment


                  #23
                  Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                  That is an improvement over hyperlinks. Thanks!

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                    Michael, I certainly know you do great work. But to me, I think what should be done is programmatic.

                    The way to make this more like other development environments is to allow applying any css file and having those classes show up when clicking the little "class" icon for a control. I know there are reasons they haven't gone down this road, but the gap between Alpha and other tools is closing in many ways and this is a stumbling block in my opinion.

                    Alpha controls should default to certain tags in a css file, just like basic html tags do (p, h1, etc.). For example, a PanelCard Header and Footer, should default to some class name that could be in any css file, such as class="PanelCardHeader". When an external front end developer hands over a design it's easy to integrate it because many items already match up. Those that don't you could then use the little button to pick the correct class.

                    I'm working with that scenario right now where a client already has a user interface design made up (graphics, css, navigation)....and it's a pain in the arse.

                    Having the additional stylesheets available is awesome, and Michael is the guy to do it. But I just think in the long run we need a better way to handle it.

                    If there is a way to do what I'm asking already, someone please let me know. Converting this stuff is NOT what I want to be doing.

                    Comment


                      #25
                      Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                      Hi Sean

                      One of the major problems is CSS itself. There are some steps being taken to help but we are still a long way from having CSS that is up to date.
                      You could look at BEM to make your CSS more readable. It is currently not practical to scope CSS.
                      We are trying to use CSS Variables to play with style in the browser. Once we have something close we export (Manual process) the variables to Sass.
                      http://datadrivensystems.co.uk/demo/...m-dynamic2.a5w
                      Here is a look at forms using a number of Sub Themes. If you play with the pickers you can change the look of the forms, press Save and you can see the variables. Export gets them into a text file.

                      The moodboard is step 2
                      https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_WB...ew?usp=sharing
                      Once you have played with the CSS Variables and set Sass you can see predefined Alpha components styled.

                      The final step is to build a UX
                      This is a little contrived but I guess you get the idea
                      http://smg.datadrivensystems.co.uk/l...ra/example.a5w
                      Change the size of the window to see the media query break points.

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                        Hi there Michael,

                        I get what you are doing, and it's good. However, I just think Alpha needs to go more in the direction of other platforms as it relates to styling. Do you know why they haven't yet done that?

                        I will be taking a very close look at what you are doing in the next few weeks as I have a new mobile app which needs styling (for a new client, not one of my own).

                        Also, are you guys going to conference this year? It would be great to see you guys again and catch up.

                        Comment


                          #27
                          Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                          Originally posted by WebDesignShop View Post
                          Hi there Michael,

                          I get what you are doing, and it's good. However, I just think Alpha needs to go more in the direction of other platforms as it relates to styling. Do you know why they haven't yet done that?
                          Retweet. I agree and I also echo your statement in a previous thread about this being Alpha's biggest stumbling block. RAD needs to be RAD in all aspects for a top notch tool. You can't promote RAD simply because you offer low code development if you haven't solved the styling issue.

                          I wish I had the time to devote to solve this myself, but I don't so that I was I use RAD tools in hopes of automating some of the easily repeatable stuff that is not business logic specific. That's where the tool should get me and then I pick up from there.

                          Comment


                            #28
                            Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                            Hi Jeremy,

                            Just for clarification, I think Alpha is fine for promoting it as a RAD tool even with the styling issues. It still beats many of the other tools on the market for developing multi version apps (desktop, web, mobile). So, the styling thing is an issue YES, but is Alpha Anywhere a great RAD TOOL anyway....YES. The competition is growing but Alpha is still ahead of the pack....in my mind. Plus, I'm hoping Michael solves the issue soon. :)

                            Comment


                              #29
                              Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                              I don't disagree that it is a RAD tool, I do however feel that in order to stand the test of time and hold up against competitors in this space the styling issue is going to have to be addressed. Overall I'm very happy with the product, enhancing the styling of finished products would for my purposes make it an extremely hard tool to replace. Can that be done now, certainly but with far too much effort and time.

                              As I've stated in the past, to be one of the "industry leaders" in this space there are improvements that can be made to the product that will propel it far beyond where it is today. Many of those have been made and Alpha is very aggressive with updating the product to stay relevant. The growth and enhancements in the product in the short time I've been using it have been extremely impressive and one of the primary reasons I have all the faith in the world that Alpha will solve the styling issue in an upcoming major release.

                              Comment


                                #30
                                Re: Styling Alpha using Alpha

                                If you think about the design you want and make your templates with the inline CSS modifications required you can do it now.
                                Here are some examples - works great with Browser or Mobile.
                                2018-04-20_1127.png2018-04-20_1127_001.png2018-04-20_1128.png2018-04-20_1130.png
                                Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                                Albert Einstein, (attributed)
                                US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

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