Vanguard Software

This version allows the user to control the maximum number of rows that are fetched by a database query. Previously the limit was fixed at 100, which was way too small.

The limit must be between 1000 and 100,000, and the default value is 5000. This value will be conservative on most devices, but slightly too high on the slowest ones, based on an acceptable response time of one second. The slider has a logarithmic scale, so the mid-point is 10,000, which will be a comfortable limit for many devices.

Users with less than 5000 products and less than 5000 customers will not have to bother with this limit at all, but those with larger lists may want to adjust the limit to suit their particular devices.

CSV uploading now allows up to 10 errors in the input file, and gives a detailed error report.

Advanced Mode on the Order Lines screen has been replaced by accessory buttons. tapping an accessory button displays the Order Line screen. Tapping anywhere else adds the product to the order, or increases the quantity. As there will be no barcode scanning in the initial release, The Advanced Mode setting has been removed from the Business settings.

It is a bit disconcerting to discover that I had missed a major design feature so close to the initial release.

This is a comparison between the Android and iPhone versions of the Sales Manager. The iPhone version is due to be released shortly.

Features only available on the iPhone version

• product images download
  A zip file containing product images can be downloaded from an address specified in the company profile. This is the only way to install product images on an iPhone.
• index on customer list
  The  customer list resembles the one in the built-in Contacts app. This uses a number of iPhone-specific features to achieve the same look and feel.
• thumbnails on product list
  This is basically a case of plagiarism. The there is a lot of sample code for the iPhone that uses thumbnails, so I just copied the code.
• chevrons on table views
  This is another iOS concept. Items that display detail views when they are tapped are displayed with chevrons (> symbols).

Features only available on the Android version

• ZXing
  The iPhone version is an unofficial and unmaintained port, and it only supports 2D barcodes anyway.
• registration/enterprise mode
  This has been removed from the iPhone version to simplify the App Store approval process. It may be reinstated in a later release.
• Edit Lines screen
  This was designed to make use of the navigation button on Android devices. On an iPhone, it is almost unusable.
• product images on SD card
  There is no way to download images via iTunes.

Features not implemented on the iPhone version

• iPad optimisation
  The application will run on an iPad, but it has not been optimised to make use of the larger screen, or use any iPad-specific features.
• Bluetooth barcode scanning
  This requires either the SPP or the HID profile. Only the iPhone model 3GS and above support the HID profile, and none of them support the SPP profile.
• Airprint
  This is basically an Apple wrapper around HP ePrinting. It is only available on the iPhone model 3GS and above.

It turns out that the iPhone port of ZXing only supports 2D barcodes. This effectively rules out using the camera on the iPhone, which leaves Bluetooth as the only option. If I can pick up a cheap scanner on eBay, I may give it a go. It would be annoying to have to launch with no scanning capability at all.

It also transpires that Airprint is only available on the model 3GS and above. It is not available on the 3G, because it requires multitasking. This means that using Airprint would rule out both the 2G and the 3G. I just hope that my application does not get rejected for not using it.

This will be an upgrade to the Android version which incorporates a number of minor cosmetic improvements from the iPhone version. It will be released before the initial iPhone release, and both releases will probably have the same version number.

The iPhone port of the Sales Manager is almost ready for release. There are a couple of features that require an iPhone 3G for integration and testing, rather than the 2G that I have at the moment, but hopefully I will be getting one of those tomorrow.

Then I have to sign up with Apple, and submit the application to the App Store. If all goes will, the application will be submitted by the end of the month. I expect it will take several iterations though, before it is finally approved.

1. The app now checks for product images that are too big to be displayed.
2. The app no longer allows discontinued products to be scanned.

In case anyone is wondering what I have been doing for the last few weeks, here is a clue. It should be ready by the new year.

Fix to check that image folder exists.