My iOS development environment is exactly as I left it, but the code is not in good condition. I had converted the Dropbox screen to use iCloud as an alternative data source, but had not tested it. Unfortunately I no longer have a copy of the code that worked with v1 of the API.
I will leave this on hold, while I get on with the more important task of updating the PHP code on the web server. There are also a few minor changes to be made to the Android client.
This post summaries recent changes made to the Android client. These are currently in the beta channel, but are due to go live in April.
Emails can now be sent using a Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo account. They can also be sent manually, instead of by JavaMail. This avoids authentication issues, but only works with the Outlook app. Other email apps do not support HTML.
This is necessary, as external storage is deprecated. Dropbox stores its files in a different area, and is not compatible with older Files screen. Support for Google Drive may also be added, though this is problematic.
The blue plus buttons have been moved slightly to the left, to avoid clashing with the scroll bar. A proposal for a more radical change was rejected.
Online help will now be delivered in HTML format. This is work in progress.
The app icon has been updated.
All GPS and mapping features have been withdrawn.
Scanning barcodes using the built in camera on a phone has been withdrawn.
The Lines screen (shown above) is used to add products to an order. Tapping the plus buttons increment the quantity ordered. Tapping anywhere else displays the details for an item, which allows the user to edit the quantity.
But the buttons are difficult to tap, and the details screen can be a distraction. The target area extends either side of the buttons, but they are too close to the scrollbar for that to help.
The proposed solution is to use a long press or ‘touch & hold’ gesture, to access the details screen. This is in line with Android design principles, and it frees up the tap gesture as a way to increment the quantity.
Minus buttons could be added to decrement the quantity. These would be in a different colour to the existing ones, and moved slightly to the left.
I will be conducting a survey of user preferences, and any solution will be pushed out to the beta channel, in the first instance.
I took the time to get the CSS for the help screens just right, and it does make a difference.
The About screen had the copyright as ending in 2019, which was embarrassing. I also added the model name, and the OS version.
A large number of changes have been bundled together in a new beta release of the Sales Manager. The new features include Dropbox support and new options for sending emails. All GPS and mapping features have been withdrawn. The channel will continue for a while, as new features are added.
The new Files screen is shown above. The help text has gone, and instead there are Settings and Help buttons in the app bar.
The help is in html format:
The settings are specific:
The Google Drive API is proving to be a worthy opponent. I did not even understand the first diagram.
This gives an idea of what the new Files module will look like. Only the Google Drive code remains.
I have finished removing the redundant features from the Android app, and eliminated the use of external storage. But it needs Google Drive to be viable, so it will be included in version 7.0.0.
I will be adding Drive support to the SD Card module, and changing the name to Files. The menu will be as follows:
The functions in italics are new.
