Models adapted for Mobile users

Sometimes our colleagues need to access their processes when they do not have access to a computer. It can be outside at the customer's place, on the factory floor or at the home of a care recipient.

Anyone can open published models from 2c8 in mobile devices regardless of need, but they are not always described in a way that makes it easy to accommodate the information based on the screen size.

One of the principles regarding mobile adaptation of websites or mobile apps is that there should be large buttons but also a flow that enables a quick way to find its information and function.

It is usually a specific professional category that needs to access their information mobile and this means that we need to put ourselves in their situation.

Does the user group need all models?

To make accessibility as good as possible, we need to remove all information if it is not necessary in the situation, "on the go".

Identify which activities are performed by the target group. This can most easily be done with an array, custom relationships in lists, or just looking through the models. We don't go into which path to take in this article, but we need to find exactly the information that is valuable to the target group. Why not ask the target audience?

What makes an activity useful in the field?

An activity that has no description or document link is less valuable based on what we intend to do. After all, we want to make available the information that can change from time to time and that is not professional knowledge. This can be access to, for example, call lists, document links, checklists, reminders, links to reporting.

We assume that the target group knows the process itself, but the details are sometimes where it can get stuck.

Mobile adapted start

Now that we have a bunch of activities with valuable information. How do we make it look good?

Since the publication works in mobile, we can create a new model. For example, a general model. We call it "Installation Technician - Mobile" in this case.

We can now copy all activities into the model surface based on a logical order. Feel free to get help from someone who will use it for results.

We are now faced with the next problem which is not obvious at first glance. All mobiles and tablets have different resolutions, which means that the surface we have to work with is smaller than on a computer and the information panel is at the bottom, which can potentially obscure objects.

Margins and design

To facilitate where the objects can be placed, we can do in a few different ways. Either use the built-in margin feature or use models or images that are a good size as a template.

Using margins

In the Modeling tool there are ready-made margins as support. These margins are pre-created based on paper sizes, such as A4 etc, as well as computer screen sizes.

It is also possible to change and add your own in the Admin tool. In the yellow box below is an example of a margin and its settings that can be added.

We have therefore produced a small routine reference below that may help:

The result of using the margin configuration will be as shown. Notice how the bottom margin with a dashed yellow line shows approximately where the information panel will appear when it is unfolded.

Use images or model templates

Using images or model templates can be seen as a complement to using margins.

There are some attached images at the bottom which in their original format will fit on mobiles. Download the desired one and post on a text object.

Another way is to download the individual models from which the images are created. These as models in the Model Archive to download. They are located under Examples of start pages. These models have the appearance of each object changed to white and its label hidden.

These two models and images depict a grid pattern of 6 x 6 activities while the other has process as a framework and the activities that are important to keep track of.