Better Sharing – feature request

[M H]

First, thank you for this great program. I love all of the many features and almost feel bad asking for anything else.

One feature that would make the app more usable would be to implement the built-in “share” button for getting records off of the device. The iOS “share” feature is so powerful, it is a shame not to use it.

I have installed extra options onto my “share” menu on my phone and I have other apps (such as the built-in “Numbers” app) that can send their files to any of these options via the “share” button. The current “export folder” paradigm is kind of clunky compared to the rest of the excellent Tap Forms app. Easily exporting data from the app in one step would be a game changer.

Thank you for your time,
-Mike

[Brendan]

Hi Mike,

No worries. I’m happy to take feature requests of any kind. I know there’s lots that I need to do to Tap Forms. I’m never satisfied with it myself. I always want it to be better, stronger, faster, able to leap tall buildings, etc… :-)

I do use the Share feature on the record details screen on the iOS version to share the form template. Or you can export your records and then use the Open command to open the file with other apps.

I do realize it could be better though.

Thanks,

Brendan

[M H]

Thanks for the reply.

I noticed that you could share the form template, like you mentioned. I actually expected this action to export the record details for the current record, the first time I used it. I found it confusing that on a menu where the print function prints the record details, the other functions deal with the form template, instead.

Thanks for the info about using the Open command on exported records; I didn’t know it would bring up that menu. I can use that to “open” the exported file into this other app that can then send it to a WebDAV server where I can easily access it from a PC.

I should have been more clear when referring to the dialoge in Numbers that I thought would be great if implemented in Tap Forms for exporting record details. It is “send a copy” and it lets you send it out as a text, upload to iCloud, or directly to a WebDAV server, among others. It seems like quite a powerful export function for a mobile app (especially along with their multiple file type choices), and I didn’t know if that same function could be plugged in to any app or not.

Thanks again for the great app and customer service.

[Brendan]

Hi Mike,

The issue I currently have with being able to more properly take advantage of the Share menu is that the record details view generates an HTML page with image attachments. So it’s not really a single file that can be shared. The form template is, so that’s why the Share function sends the template. What I need to do is generate a PDF file of the record details and then let you share that. It’s on my BIG to-do list somewhere :-)

Thanks!

Brendan

[M H]

Hi Brendan,

I understand the difficulty with implementing that kind of share option when the data isn’t in a format that can be easily shared. I appreciate that you have it on your big to-do list. There are only so many hours in the day, right?

For my uses, sharing a PDF of the data wouldn’t be very helpful. I’m trying to use the app as an easy way to enter customer data when they call. Ideally, I’d be able to export the data straight to a spreadsheet or csv file so that I can use it elsewhere for creating invoices and store it for future reference/search ability.

That’s why I’d also love to see the formatting layouts from the Mac version be usable/printable from the iOS app; after completing work for a customer, their info would already be in the app and I’d just add to that to complete their invoice and print a copy on site.

With that setup, all the data would be in my hands instead of having to rely on some proprietary, subscription-based cloud invoicing software.

There are probably a ton of higher priority features that would be easier to implement and more useful to the majority Tap Forms users, but I thought I’d throw my two cents in. Can’t a guy dream? :)

Thanks again for all you do!

[Brendan]

Hi Mike,

I’m very appreciative of all the feature requests I receive and I’m also very grateful for how much patience and understanding all my customers have with me as I build and improve Tap Forms as time goes on.

Thanks!

Brendan

[Author]

Posts