Form definitions for mobile applications

Support for grid-based and stack-based layout

Before Genero version 3.00 (i.e., with Genero Mobile version 1.1), the GMI front-end could only support a stack-based layout and it was required to create different forms for iOS apps and other front-ends supporting grid-based layout. In fact, to get a stack-based layout, grid-based .per forms were automatically transformed on the fly when displayed on the GMI front-end.

Starting with Genero 3.00, all mobile front-ends support now grid-based layout and stack-based layout, and a new STACK layout container was introduced to define stack-based layout forms explicitly. Therefore, you can now use the same form definition for all mobile front-ends, by implementing the layout type of your choice. It is even possible to mix grid-based or stack-based forms in the same app.

Loading different forms based on front-end type

If you want to use a grid-based or stack-based form for the front-end, you can load the form with OPEN FORM (or OPEN WINDOW) and implement the layout type based on the front-end name returned by the ui.Interface.getFrontEndName() method:

MAIN
    ...
    OPEN FORM f1 FROM IIF( ui.Interface.getFrontEndName()=="GMI",
                           "myform_stack", "myform_grid" )
    DISPLAY FORM f1
    ...
END MAIN