How to use the Designer

For the purposes of this documentation, we’re going to quickly create a call feature, which will include a new button, menu, label field, and call module. Because the process is identical for almost all features, this will give you a great understanding of the designer.

However, before we create the new button you can optionally view the “draft” changes as you make them. To do this, we need to put your app into “Draft Mode”. This way, as you make changes, you can view them without publishing those changes to all users.

To put your app into draft mode:

1. First open your app.
2. Then go to About/Preferences, and select data update.
3. Then you’ll note a version number listed at the bottom of the screen.
4. Tap the version number 7 times and draft mode will be initiated and prompt you for a password.
5. As you tap the button it will slowly change colour.
6. Enter your password.
7. And voila, you’re viewing the draft settings of your app.
8. Note that not all apps have draft mode, if you do not have draft mode, it will be added to your app in the next update cycle.
9. As well, this is not necessary to make changes to your app – you can publish the changes at any time, you just will not be able to preview them in draft mode.

Now let’s create that call function:

1. Click the “main menu” at the top of the skeleton.
2. Then select the drop down list on the left hand side of the Tool bar.
3. You’ll see that you can add a number of fields. We want a new button for our call function, so let’s do that.
4. A new button has appeared with blank fields. Let’s fill them in appropriately.
5. For definitions of these terms please view the Designer Terms Glossary.
6. Click “Save Properties” at the bottom of the page. You must press save properties every time. Or the fields will be erased.

Our button is ready. Now we have a choice. I can add the call function now, as I can add any feature to a button in the same way I created the button – by using the drop down list on the Tool bar.

However, I don’t want to just create the button; since this is for a student service on campus, I want to give this call function a description.

To give this call function a description, let’s start by making a menu:

1. The menu only requires a name so that was easy enough. Note that the menu name will be visible to the user.
2. Save the properties again.
3. Next, let’s add a label. A Label is just a field of text. Let’s put in our text now. Save properties
4. Great! The user now knows about the service.
5. Since we’ve done a lot, let’s not only save properties, but also “Save Draft”. If you’re in draft mode, you can now see the change, if not you cannot. Either way though it’s a good habit to get into!

Let’s add that call button now:

1. Click on the menu and then click the drop down list again and add a button.
2. After we’ve filled out the fields for the button, let’s add the call function.
3. With the button selected, go back up to the Tool bar, click the drop down list and add the call feature. Again, this is how you add just about any feature.
4. Fill in the fields. The dashboard will prompt you if you’ve filled in any fields incorrectly. Once you’re done here, save properties again.
5. With all this done, let’s now “Save Draft”. Assuming we’re happy with everything then we can now Publish the draft.
6. And voila! You just changed the content of your app in real time.

If you ever have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us at support@apparmor.com