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Since I posted by previous post, for my more complex I have started to use html5 / web / cloud-based database applications. And have a new suggestion.
For “graphical interface engine” and for the “customize IOS forms layouts” — I recommend that you look into using HTML5 using apple’s WKWebview for iOS 8 and later.
It would be easier than you having to create a complex custom gui generator. Embedding web into native apps is a frequent approach to quickly add content into a mobile app. It can be for a contact form but also for more complex content to quickly add a missing native feature.
Html5 can also handle different size screens and layouts automatically.I would also recommend that you build in twitters free “bootstrap 5” support: see https://www.w3schools.com/bootstrap5/ — Why bootstrap? To see some examples of the forms that you can generate with bootstrap visit https://bootsnipp.com/search?q=form
Adding WKWebview is a learning curve for you, but once implemented it would allow the end-user great flexibility and customization.
This is by no means a “simple” task, but I think it would be the most-bang-for-the-buck, especially considering the features it would instantly add. You could start by supporting just basic feature of field replacement, and add support for more advanced features {such as multiple database forms) in future releases.
I envision a multi step process.
a) user would use your app to “generate” a default html5 template for a database. This would generate a simple <ol><li>field_title:{{databasename.fieldname}}</li><ol> list of ALL fields that the database contains. App would add these “placeholders” for each and every field in the database. App would create a “default” .html5 and “default” css file and “default” .js file.
You would have to create “conventions” for field placeholders. You can look at angularjs, as it uses similar placeholders. I do not think that you should fully implement angularjs — as there is a steep learning curve. But the link https://docs.angularjs.org/tutorial/step_02 may be helpful to give you ideas if you decide to implement html5 forms.
b) if end user wants to customize form, they “download” a your “default” html5 template and corresponding .css and .js file and simply modify / customize the files. There are many FREE html5/bootstrap gui builders that end users could use. Once such example is https://www.layoutit.com/ . If they want something really fancy, they can hire an html5/bootstrap programmer to do it for them.
c) add a “upload” feature to save templates back into your app.
d) your app can then use these files to generate form using WKWebview. Not sure, but you may have to add a preprocessor to load the form. That is, your app would take the end-user’s .html5 template, search for “fieldnames”, and replace them with necessary code, save result as a temporary .html5 file, and then render the temporary .html5 file.
A similar process could also work for creating custom “reports”.
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