Top 7 Components in the TMS IntraWeb iPhone Controls PackThe TMS IntraWeb iPhone Controls Pack provides a focused set of components that make building mobile-friendly web applications with IntraWeb (for Delphi/C++Builder) faster, more consistent, and more visually native to iOS. Below I describe the top seven components in the pack, their main features, common use cases, and tips for getting the best results when building responsive IntraWeb applications targeted at iPhone users.
1. TIWMobileForm (or equivalent mobile container)
Key features:
- Acts as a mobile-oriented container that mimics an iOS view controller layout for IntraWeb pages.
- Optimized for touch input, safe-area layout (notch/home indicator), and orientation changes.
- Often includes built-in navigation bar regions and footer/tool areas.
Why it’s useful:
- Provides a structured starting point for mobile pages so controls align and behave like native iPhone interfaces.
- Simplifies handling of resize/orientation events and safe-area padding.
Tips:
- Use TIWMobileForm as the root container for mobile pages and place tab bars, navigation bars, and content panels inside it.
- Test on devices/emulators with different notch and safe-area sizes to ensure no UI elements are obscured.
2. TIWMobileNavBar (Navigation bar)
Key features:
- A configurable top navigation bar with title, back button, and action buttons.
- Supports left/right button placement, icons, and custom styles consistent with iOS.
- Handles common navigation patterns with events for button presses.
Why it’s useful:
- Recreates the familiar iOS navigation experience, improving usability and discoverability for users.
- Centralizes header actions and page titles so screens remain consistent across the app.
Tips:
- Use descriptive short titles and place context-specific actions on the right.
- Implement a standard back behavior in the back button event to keep navigation consistent.
3. TIWMobileTabBar (Tab bar / bottom navigation)
Key features:
- Bottom tab bar with multiple tab items, icons, labels, and selection handling.
- Supports badge counts and active/inactive styling.
- Integrates with mobile page switching or dynamic content loading.
Why it’s useful:
- Enables primary app navigation that’s easy for thumb reach on iPhones.
- Encourages clear separation of major app sections.
Tips:
- Limit primary tabs to 4–5 items for clarity; use an overflow or More screen if you need more.
- Use simple, recognizable icons and concise labels.
4. TIWMobileListView (Touch-optimized list)
Key features:
- Touch-friendly list with support for item templates, icons, accessory buttons, and swipe actions.
- Virtualized rendering for performance with large datasets.
- Built-in selection, grouping, and pull-to-refresh behavior.
Why it’s useful:
- Lists are central to many mobile apps (feeds, directories, settings). This component provides polished, responsive behavior expected on iOS.
- Swipe actions (delete, archive) give native-feeling interactivity without custom JavaScript.
Tips:
- Use virtualization for long lists to reduce memory and load time.
- Design item templates small and concise—consider progressive disclosure for complex items.
5. TIWMobileControls (Buttons, switches, segmented controls)
Key features:
- A set of mobile-first input controls: buttons, toggles/switches, segmented controls, sliders.
- Styling and touch target sizing consistent with iOS Human Interface Guidelines.
- Events wired for touch and keyboard interaction where relevant.
Why it’s useful:
- Ensures consistent look-and-feel and interaction across your mobile UI.
- Avoids desktop-styled controls that are small or poorly spaced for touch.
Tips:
- Keep touch targets at least 44×44 points for accessibility.
- Use segmented controls for mutually exclusive choices and switches for binary settings.
6. TIWMobileDialog / Modal (Alerts, action sheets, modals)
Key features:
- Modal dialog support for alerts, confirmations, prompts, and action sheets.
- Configurable buttons, styles, and callback handlers for user responses.
- Presents correctly on mobile with appropriate overlay and touch-dismiss behavior.
Why it’s useful:
- Provides the standard patterns for transient interactions—errors, confirmations, and selection lists—without building custom modals.
- Action sheets present multiple actions in a mobile-friendly way that feels native to iPhone users.
Tips:
- Avoid blocking the user with unnecessary modals; prefer inline feedback when possible.
- Use action sheets for contextual actions related to the current item.
7. TIWMobileFormNavigation / Page Manager (Page transitions and navigation stack)
Key features:
- Manages a navigation stack, push/pop transitions, and animated page switching similar to UINavigationController.
- Handles history, back gestures, and state restoration for mobile pages.
- Integrates with TIWMobileNavBar and TIWMobileTabBar for a cohesive navigation model.
Why it’s useful:
- Makes it straightforward to implement multi-screen workflows with correct back behavior and animated transitions that users expect on iPhone apps.
- Simplifies preserving and restoring page state during navigation or when the user returns to the app.
Tips:
- Use push/pop for hierarchical flows and modal presentation for temporary tasks.
- Keep navigation deepness reasonable to avoid confusing back paths.
Putting the components together — sample workflow
- Create a TIWMobileForm as your main mobile page container.
- Add a TIWMobileNavBar at the top and TIWMobileTabBar at the bottom (if your app needs persistent primary navigation).
- Use TIWMobileFormNavigation to push content pages (each page can contain a TIWMobileListView, maps, or forms).
- Use TIWMobileControls inside pages for inputs and actions, and bring up TIWMobileDialog for confirmations or action sheets.
- Test on different device sizes, orientations, and with touch gestures (swipe back, pull-to-refresh).
Performance and accessibility tips
- Enable virtualization on large lists and defer loading of heavy images; use lazy loading.
- Keep DOM size modest—use components’ built-in templating rather than creating many nested controls.
- Ensure controls meet touch target sizes and label controls for screen readers where possible.
- Use contrast-conscious color schemes and verify on both light and dark device appearances.
Conclusion
The TMS IntraWeb iPhone Controls Pack delivers focused, mobile-first components that help Delphi/IntraWeb developers produce iPhone-style web apps with familiar navigation, touch interactions, and native-looking UI elements. The seven components above—mobile form, nav bar, tab bar, list view, mobile controls, dialogs, and navigation manager—are central to building usable, performant mobile apps.
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