Code On Time: Offline

Blog

Offline

Wednesday, January 24, 2018Print Subscribe

Cloud On Time app runs cloud applications created with Code On Time products directly on your device with an optional offline mode. Integrated access to device camera and sensors contributes to enhanced user experience.

The entire front-end of the cloud application is downloaded and installed on the device for a smooth and responsive user experience.

Installed cloud application front-end is automatically updated whenever the cloud is changed. You can maintain multiple accounts for each installed app with automatic secure sign-in.

If you are installing a cloud application with Offline Sync enabled, then the relevant data is also downloaded on your device. You will work with the local data in offline mode whether your device is online or disconnected. Synchronize data with the cloud when online connection becomes available.

Connect to a compatible application in the Cloud On Time app by specifying the name or URL. If the cloud application can be connected, then its name, icon, and description are displayed in the prompt to install.

Cloud On Time app will redirect to the application in the cloud and prompt to sign in to authorize access on the device. Enter username and password to confirm your identity.

If your identity has been confirmed by the application in the cloud, then Cloud On Time app will download a manifest of files required to run the application front-end. Files listed in the manifest are downloaded to the device.

Optionally, the data that you can access in the cloud is download to the device during the last step of installation. This requires the cloud application to be configured for offline mode.

A list of cloud applications installed on the device is displayed on the home screen of Cloud On Time app.

Tap the application name or select “Launch” in the “more” menu to start the app. Choose “Delete” option to remove the app from the device.

Cloud On Time app will compare the local manifest of files with the one available in the cloud when the installed application is launched from the home screen. Any missing or changed files are downloaded before the front-end of the selected Cloud is displayed.

If the launched app is working with the local data in offline mode, then the manifest verification is skipped. The manifest will be processed when you initiate data synchronization and successfully commit local changes to the cloud.

If the Cloud On Time app is closed and started again, then the last used front-end is started automatically.

Use “Exit” option in the application front-end to get back to the home screen of Cloud On Time app.

The cloud app launched from the home screen will operate under the same identity that was confirmed by the cloud application during installation. If you need to use multiple identities on the same device, then launch the installed application front-end and add an account. Cloud On Time app will redirect you to the cloud to confirm the new identity.

Unique files of the front-end specific to the confirmed identity are downloaded and the application is launched on the device. Use the account manager of the installed front-end to switch between identities. Cloud On Time app will use the last selected identity when the application is launched from the home screen.

Log out of all identities of the installed front-end to uninstall the application. It will remain to be listed on the home screen of Cloud On Time app until explicitly deleted. User identity will need to be confirmed to run the front-end of the uninstalled cloud application.

Use Cloud On Time app for instant access to applications deployed in the cloud on your native device. Work with your data offline, online, and on-premises.

Cloud On Time app is perfect for enterprise environment. An administrator can compose a simple text file listing names or URLs of custom enterprise business apps in the cloud. The entire collection of the apps is installed when Cloud On Time app is connected to the text file. Cloud On Time app will automatically check for the revisions of the file and update the contents of its home screen. Administrator can optionally disable ability of users to connect to apps manually or delete from the home screen.

Labels: ASP.NET, Features, Mobile, Native Apps, Offline, Tutorials, Universal Windows Platform, User Interface, Web App Generator, Web Application Generator

Friday, January 19, 2018Print Subscribe

Dark Theme and Client/Server Configuration

Code On Time release 8.6.12.0 introduces the new Theme Engine with support for custom themes. The new engine comes with new “Dark” theme. Now developers can choose from 70 color combinations provided by 2 themes and 35 accents.

We have also renamed Settings/ Web Server Configuration section Settings / Client & Server.

We have extended the client framework with the foundation for “inline editing” in grids/cards/list. Keep reading to find more.

Dark Theme

An example of Dark theme with Construction accent.

This is an app with Dark theme in Vantage accent.

Here is a bootstrap-based page in an app with Dark theme and Aquarium accent. We have implemented new “software breakpoints” for bootstrap content to enable correct rendering of bootstrap content in modal pages and the upcoming split screens. The menu is not displayed on the toolbar if every page with icon is referenced in the Tab Bar at the bottom of the screen.

Client & Server

Project configuration section in Settings previously called Web Server Configuration is now called Client & Server.

Client & Server section allows selecting the front end for your app. The default option is the Web Browser. This option is already familiar to developer using Code On Time. The app generator will start the default web browser of the operating system.

Two additional options Generic App and Custom App will start a native app either based on Chromium Embedded Framework (all versions of Windows with API compatible with Windows 7) or Universal Windows Platform (Windows 10 and above).

The native custom or generic app will install JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Fonts, and Images of your application on the device by downloading them from the server. IIS Express is the server that developers work with to test their applications.

Entire application framework is installed on the device in the native mode. Native app loads local pages in a platform-specific web view. Local pages will request data from the remote server (IIS Express in development mode). The main advantage of native apps is faster load time and ability to interact with the device.

We are launching a new product called Offline Sync Add-On that will enable native app to work in a completely disconnected or “offline” mode. It will perform preemptive downloading of data on the device. No changes to the server-side application will be requires. Any app created with Code On Time and deployed to a server will work in a completely offline mode with the help of the add-on.

The rollout of native apps will begin with Generic App for Windows 7 and Universal Windows Platform.

Custom apps for the same platform will become available in February of 2018. Offline Sync Add-On is expected to become available in the same time frame.

Generic and Custom apps for iOS will become available in March 2018, which will be followed by Android and MacOS.

Release Summary

The following features and enhancements are included in the release:

Theme engine has been extended to support multiple themes with accents. The new theme called Dark is introduced. It can be combined with any of the 35 accents.
Data fields with HyperlinkFormatString are displays as links in forms. TouchUI
SQL business rules use the connection string name specified in the data controller if any.
Bootstrap responsiveness is now based on "software" breakpoints calculated for each page in Touch UI.
Bootstrap responsiveness is fixed app-min-lg in Classic UI.
Method dataView.tagged() does not assign tag cache if there are no tags defined
Any view tagged as history-search-none will not retain values in filter, quick find, advanced search and will also forget selected view if different from the default.
The following configuration of ~touch-settings.json will disable the search history globally in the lookups.
```
{
  "history": {
    "lookup": {
      "search": false
    }
  }
}
```
Section on the project settings Web Server Configuration has been renamed to Client & Server. It allows configuring the front-end on the development that will be used to preview the app. Supported options “Browser”, “Generic”, and “Custom” apps.
Running an app created with Unlimited Edition in debug mode of Visual Studio will automatically link “debugging” versions of the JavaScript libraries.
Client library now includes uniqcode.js to allow better parsing of text with non-Latin characters.
Removed the code related to the legacy transaction management in the server-side framework. It will be replaced with the new code to support ODP (Offline Data Processor).
Menu strip is not displayed in the toolbar if all menu items have icons and the Tab Bar is visible. Touch UI
Menu strip is not displayed in the toolbar if all menu items have icons and the all icons are visible at the bottom of the sidebar. TouchUI
Touch devices with small form factor do not reduce density of summary views anymore.
Added "beforeusercontextshow.app" event to add user context menu items in sidebar, menu bar, user dropdown. Touch UI
Fixed issue with Web App Factory projects not finding "Template.xslt" file.
Password character is now rendered as "black circle" character. Touch UI
Tooltip for Boolean values in grids displays values as Yes and No. Touch UI
Added CSS minification to theme stylesheet generator. Touch UI
Removed the limits on the width of app name in the toolbar when sidebar is minimized. Touch UI
View Selector on action bar has the same color as actions and groups. Touch UI
Switching between Charts and [ViewStyle+Aggregates] correctly resets the page height. Touch UI
Method $app.touch.resetPageHeight will reset the height of the current page. Touch UI
Fixed security issue with anonymous access to controller XML in apps with HTML implementation.

Inline Editing

The most frequently requested feature that we hear about from customers is the ability to edit data inline. The direct insertion of inputs in grid/list/cards view styles is complicated by the fact that these styles are displaying data inside of “A” tag. Our internal discussions have led to a conclusion that inline input will be integrated in the future rewrite of these view styles, further delaying availability.

Luckily our independent effort on Universal Input and Surveys allowed us to architect the method of inline editing in Touch UI apps compatible both with touch devices and device with keyboard/mouse input. The foundational components are already in place and will work with the current “link-based” implementation of grid/list/cards.

The complete integration of Inline Editing in the Touch UI in expected in a couple of weeks!!!

Labels: Application Builder, Offline, Release Notes, Tips and Tricks, User Interface, Web 2.0, Web Form Builder

Wednesday, November 8, 2017Print Subscribe

Announcing Custom Native Apps and Offline Sync Add-on

Code On Time release 8.8.0.0 is expected to be available December 22, 2017. See our current roadmap at https://codeontime.com/roadmap.

With this release, will make it possible to download custom Windows 7 native client for your app based on embedded Chromium browser. The second option is a custom Universal Windows App for distribution via Microsoft Store. Both options will be available directly in the Publish screen of the app generator. We are also introducing a new product to enable “always offline” mode in those apps!

In a world where apps are everywhere, it makes sense to package your application in a native shell on all platforms, be it Windows, iOS, or Android. Such shell must not merely provide a custom online browser. The shell must host a local set of client-side application files while using the server components of the app to read and write data. This will not only increase speed of page loading (all required files are already on the device), but will also enable access to the device equipment and make it possible to work in a disconnected mode.

Custom Native Apps

Presently, the app generator offers a number of Publish options for deployment to a web server. After an application is published for the first time, an “App Store” option is displayed. The option is not implemented in the current release.

Generator will display “App Store” option on the Publish screen as soon as you publish your application to any of the supported targets (Azure, File System, FTP, etc). Deployed application is available on internet and native apps can access services provided by the server components of the app.

The Publish / App Store option will be expanded to allow getting access to the native implementation of the app for each supported mobile platform. The initial implementation will offer two options:

Mobile App for Windows - this is a customized version of the Universal Mobile App based on embedded Chromium browser (CMA-W7). Developers will be able to download the installation package for the app directly. Unlimited Edition users will have an option to download the source code as well
Universal Windows App - this is a customized version of the Universal Mobile App for Windows 10 and 10S (CMA-10). Developers will be able to download the installation package for Windows App Store. Unlimited Edition users will be able to download the source code as well.

Follow up releases will make available similar options for Apple iOS, Google Android, and Apple MacOS. We are hoping to complete support of the other mobile platforms by the end of March 2018. See the roadmap for details.

Offline Sync Add-on

Offline Sync Add-on makes its appearance in this release. The add-on will be available for purchase at https://codeontime.com/buy. The purchase will be delivered to you as a zip file with the name “addon.OfflineSync.YOURCOMPANY.zip”. Copy the zip file to ~/Documents/Code OnTime/Addons folder. The application generator will automatically expand the contents of the file when the app is generated.

Installed addon will enable “always offline” mode in your application. Any pages marked for offline will magically become fully autonomous. The relevant data will be downloaded when application is installed on the native device. Any data modifications will be executed locally while requests to change data are logged and saved. User interface will expose Sync option in the menu. If synchronization is requested, then the log of changes will be submitted to the application server and requests will be executed as a single transaction. If there were no errors, then the transaction is committed. Otherwise, the user will have the option to reconcile issues for each individual error and attempt to resubmit the entire change log.

Here is a screenshot on app with Offline Sync Add-On installed. The tablet-sized screen will display synchronization status icon as a cloud in different states. In this case, all data is downloaded and there are no pending changes.

User can access “Sync” option in the context menu of their app shown next. This option is always present in the app enhanced with Offline Sync Add-On. It provides additional settings such as automatic synchronization.

See the roadmap for more details about offline features.

Labels: Application Builder, Features, Mobile, News, Offline, User Interface