We are currently developing a straightforward inventory management application for a client who intends to use an iPad for updating inventory within their warehouse. Our application is designed with a categorization system for parts and their respective items. The user interface is sleek, featuring a collection list displaying the quantity on hand and the minimum required quantity for each item. Additionally, we’ve integrated two action buttons for easily adding or subtracting parts.
However, during testing on an iPad, we encountered an issue where the two action buttons, which are supposed to be visible for each item in the collection list, mysteriously transform into three dots. This can be quite inconvenient, especially when a user needs to add multiple units of a particular item, as they must repeatedly click the three dots and then press “add” for each individual unit. Yes you can navigate to the detail screen and perform the button clicks but that is an extra click and slows down the process when updating multiple parts on a shelf. We are looking for speed and simplicity.
Interestingly, during our testing, we made a noteworthy discovery. If you connect a wireless mouse or keyboard to the iPad, those three dots transform into clickable buttons, as if the app is shifting into a desktop mode. This allows users to hover over the buttons and efficiently click them to add or subtract the quantity of inventory items. Yes we know, that we could have them get a case for the iPad with a wireless keyboard.
Now, the question that arises is whether there’s a way to compel the app to behave as if a keyboard or mouse is connected at all times. In other words, is there an option to trigger a desktop-like mode or employ a CSS trick to achieve this behavior? Maybe Glide can create a styping option under the apperance settings to force desktop mode?