iPad Form Layout

[alan]

I realise that there is a lot of common code in the iPhone & iPad versions.
However, there is a lot of wasted screen real estate on the iPad.

Is there any way to layout fields like:

Field1 Field2 Field3
Field4 Field5 etc…….

rather than:

Field1
Field2
Field3
etc ..

Thanx.

[Brendan]

Hello Alan,

I plan on adding this feature to a future release. But I haven’t started yet. I am currently just about to start on field filtering and search saving. I’ve completed it on the Mac version and am just starting it on the iOS versions.

Thanks,

Brendan

[FTBoomer]

This is my #1 request as well. Any update on this since the original post was 6 months ago?

[Brendan]

I haven’t started on this feature yet. Sorry.

[alan]

Bump ….

And also the ability tonadd free form text to screen not associated with a field eg. for directions about the form etc.

[Brendan]

Hi Alan,

You could use a Section Heading field type for that in the current version.

Thanks,

Brendan

[alan]

… bump ….

[Brendan]

Hi Alan,

I added a form layout designer to Tap Forms for Mac version 2.0 which I just released to Apple. With the back-end infrastructure in place now, it should be possible for me to add the ability to display layouts created with the Mac version on the iPad. However, I have not begun that process yet. It’s on my to-do list, but I still have a bunch of other things to do before I can start on that.

Thanks!

Brendan

[FTBoomer]

Any update on this? I have 20+ analysts that will buy this app upon my direction if you can get the iPad version to layout similar to Forms Connect

[Brendan]

Hi,

I’m sorry but I have not begun working on layouts on the iPad version. I’m currently working on updates to the Mac version. Adding label printing support and making sure I’m compatible with Yosemite and iOS 8.

Thanks,

Brendan

[FTBoomer]

Well that sucks! You have a great product but it’s a real PITA to use when I’m walking around collecting large amounts of data.

Is your audience really bigger on the Mac than it is on iOS?

[Brendan]

In terms of revenue, the Mac version earns 3x – 6x the amount of the iPad version. In terms of unit sales, they are about equivalent with the iPad version selling either the same or a few more copies per day than the Mac version. Occasionally the Mac version sells more units than the iPad version. The iPad version sells more than the iPhone version.

[Catarina Pina]

Hi
Good to know on the pipeline of potential updates. Will it be possible to have a layout designer supported by web or ipad? For those that do not use Mac.

Registering my interest here. Thanks.

[Brendan]

Hi Catarina,

I have no plans on building a web version of Tap Forms. At some point I would like to have the ability to edit custom layouts on the iPad version, but initially (when I get around to doing it), the layouts will be designed on the Mac and then synced to the iPad (or stored in a form template that you can email to others or share on the Tap Forms Exchange forum).

Thanks,

Brendan

[FTBoomer]

Well that sucks since I have no Mac nor do I ever plan on buying a Mac. You are really missing out on helping a huge audience of iPad users. I have to walk around and log in hundreds of data points and without being able to put fields 3 or 4 wide on a line really makes data entry a tedious chore. I’m using collapsing categories but that is still a real pain in the ass. I can’t believe that the guys over at Forms Connect are smarter than you. You have a superior product but without a layout engine, it’s almost useless when entering dozens or as in my case hundreds of data points.

Hell, I’d even be willing to help raise money to expedite the process (as long as I could do it on the iPad and not be required to have a Mac).

[Brendan]

Hi FTBoomer,

Perhaps I’m not as smart as the people/person at FormsConnect, but I think it’s more that they have a single product and I have 3. There’s no iPhone or Mac version of FormsConnect, so they have all their time to spend on just the iPad version.

Sure, if I had a team of developers (or even one more guy), I could get them to work on that and we could get more done simultaneously. But although Tap Forms earns enough for me to live and to support my family, it doesn’t earn enough for me to hire another developer at this time.

I’m doing my best as quickly as I can with what I have.

Thanks!

Brendan

[FTBoomer]

Sorry, that was a cheap shot. I’m sure you are, it’s just so damn frustrating not being able to change the layout on the iPad.

[Brendan]

I understand your frustration. I’d like nothing more than to be able to add that feature to the iPad version, but I have so many things that I’m working on now that I can’t commit the time right away to do it. Apple is soon releasing iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite and I have to get the apps ready for the changes Apple is making to those operating systems. There are some issues that I am working on that I have to get working before they’re released otherwise lots of people will be upset when things don’t work as expected. Plus there are a whole list of features that customers are asking for, including iPad layouts. So it’s all a matter of juggling my time.

Thanks!

Brendan

[Jeremy]

Hi Brendan,
Just to add my voice to the bunch, I’ve been using tapforms for several years and would really love the ability to create custom layouts for ipad, even if it was on the mac.
My specific issue is the need to make the printed letters larger (this can be done on the app but doesn’t translate to the printed product). I’m printing on a 4″ wide by 6″ high label and it shrinks too much to be able to easily read. Is there a reason Tapforms doesn’t support 3rd party printing… I could use my Printer Pro to magnify the output… instead of having to stick with airprint
Thanks,
Jeremy

[Brendan]

You can control the printing functions much better on the Mac version by creating custom layouts. You have full control over the fonts there.

[FTBoomer]

Yep, Been waiting for 3 years now. Don’t own or want a Mac, Just wish I could do this on the iPad itself. I have been able to get our entire analytic team (30 people) to embrace, pay for and download Tap Forms away from Forms Connect and this is the #1 complaint people still have.

[Jeremy]

If i create the form with larger fonts on a mac than use it on an ipad, will the fonts print larger via airprint from the ipad?

[Brendan]

FT,

I’m very sorry that I don’t have custom layouts in the iPad version. I realize that FormConnect has it, but they built there app that way right from the start. I have been working hard on improving Tap Forms, but these things take time. If I was a bigger company I could just assign someone to do it for me, but it’s just me and I have a thousand things to do, including providing the best customer support that is physically possible. So I can’t guarantee anything about what features get added to Tap Forms or when they get added. It may seem like I’m not listening, but I really am. Probably 99% of the features I add to Tap Forms are from customer requests. 1% are things that I would like to add myself. Also some features are much bigger than others and it’s much more difficult to build the big features. Custom layout designing is a huge feature on iPad, so it’s easier to add a dozen smaller features than one really big one.

Jeremy, font sizes when printing from the iPad are hard coded right now at 11pt. So it won’t make a difference what size fonts you use on the Mac. And the fact that the iPad can’t print custom layouts generated on the Mac version. Only the Mac version can print custom layouts.

I’m very sorry if this isn’t what you wanted to hear.

Thanks,

Brendan

[Fredrick Black]

Hey Brendan,

I totally feel your plight on being a one man operation. All I ask as a new purchaser of this awesome product, is that when you’re able to include iPad layout functionality, that it’s not accompanied by additional cost. I left Bento for Tap Forms, and am really enjoying it.

Thanks for your hard work.

Fredrick

[Brendan]

Hi Frederick,

I’ve never charged for extra features before. Customers who have purchased Tap Forms 8 years ago are still receiving free upgrades. I can’t say that’ll last forever, but so far that’s been the case. I generally just raise the price of the app for new customers rather than nickel and diming for new features. However, if there’s a cost to me for something, I may pass it on to the customer at some point.

Thanks,

Brendan

[Author]

Posts