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If MS would maker a XAML Designer on a par with the WinForms designer, the Storyboard would be superfluous. I don't use it. I muddle through with the UI tools provided for Xamarin XAML.
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To clarify, the VS in Windows handles the building on the Mac remotely, so you don't have to build on the Mac yourself. VS even builds it on the Mac, and runs it in an emulator on the Windows machine. All your development, building, and deployment takes place through VS on Windows.
It is only because of Apple's highly proprietary licensing that the Mac is required.
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There are cloud options where you can push your code to build ios for you. For example, we use Ionic and VS but push to a local Mac pc to build. Some folks even use VM's to do that which is fine, only issue we had was when you try to debug on a local device, VM didn't play well with USB.
Was a while ago though.
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You don’t “need” a Mac. You can use a hackintosh running under VMware. If your dev machine has enough memory, you can run the hackintosh on same machine as VS.
Jlo
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As long as it does not have 'basic' in the name it's ok, that explains why Python is such an overwhelming success 
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There'll be a time when people get nauseous when something is prefixed with Py 
Customer: "So we're looking for a vNext Basic developer."
Programmer: "Please no."
Customer: "Alright, we could really use someone who knows PyLibrary though."
Programmer: "Not a chance."
Customer: "Perhaps CFamily is your kind of language?"
Programmer: "Keep this up and you'll get some foul language from me."
Customer: "You'd fit right into our Java* team."
Programmer: "My fist would fit right into your face."
Customer: "We have this Language On Rails."
Programmer: *Hits customer in the eye.*
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Maybe the clue is in the title... "Offline web apps"... why not have a look into creating a HTML web app that works offline using local storage? Unless you have an issue with JavaScript, then it might not be such fun.
Then it should work the same on all device types.
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BecauseSander Rossel wrote: I've also read about actual offline web pages, but doing something like clearing your browser history or cookies will mess them up good.
I've also heard not every browser handles it well and not all web pages can be cached.
Of course, if it's the best option I'll use it.
But not before looking into some other alternatives.
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I guess I got bored of reading by that point, my bad. Personally I would probably only go for offline web app if it was a simple one page application. If you make it too good, you risk the danger of being asked to make it do everything the existing app does.
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musefan wrote: you risk the danger of being asked to make it do everything the existing app does
Risk the danger of months worth of work and getting paid accordingly?
Where do I sign!?
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Flutter might be worth a look. I'm sure there should be ways to store data locally and sync back later.
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I've heard about that one.
It's worth considering it, thanks 
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If they can use their phone, the internet is available. Make it a web app and walk away.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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I'd prefer a happy customer who'll come to me for advice and software in the future as well 
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What I'm saying is that if they can use their phone, they can use the internet. If they can't use the internet, make a phone app that can be used offline, and that allows the salesman to manually sync up to the web site when his phone can get a signal.
Problem with a phone/tablet app - you need to put it in the appropriate play store for users to download it. That makes it available to everyone on the planet.
The whole thing is a mess, and it sucks to have to deal with this kind of stuff.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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#realJSOP wrote: The whole thing is a mess, and it sucks to have to deal with this kind of stuff.
I completely agree with you there 
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#realJSOP wrote: If they can use their phone, the internet is available
Have you worked with farmers in rural areas? Until 5G becomes pervasive, there are lots of fields and farmhouses out in the country where the Internet is not available (even on corporate farms), and no service or unstable service for the wireless network. Working offline is a real use case for the scenario presented.
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Once again (and for the 3rd time), if the internet is not available, write a desktop app that will sync up when you're able to. It doesn't have to be a phone/tablet app, and probably even shouldn't be. A windows destop app is appropriate. When you're gonna go out (literally) in the field, synch up pricing onto the laptop before you begin travel (just in case uinternet isn't available), and use the laptop to do the sales stuff (using your phone/tablet as a WAP).
It ain't rocket science, and I can't believe I have to f*ckin spell this out.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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You are missing the point. In the field, a tablet or smartphone is easier to manage than carrying along a Windows laptop. Your idea works OK if the person is carrying a Surface tablet that can run a desktop app. But if you want to give the field staff the versatility to use a tablet or smartphone, or even a laptop, then a Xamarin Forms app is the best approach. Xamarin Forms apps are, in essence, a desktop app that runs on iOS, Android, or Windows.
No need to get your panties in a wad and be snarky because you do not get the problem domain.
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They may be "easier to manage", but getting an app onto those devices requires going through the appropriate play store. Getting software onto a laptop requires no such restriction, PLUS most laptops rn Windows, so you only have one latform to support.
But whatever...
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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#realJSOP wrote: but getting an app onto those devices requires going through the appropriate play store
Not true. They can be deployed privately.
Further, supporting multiple platforms with Xamarin Forms is easy, since there is really just one virtualized platform.
If the use case is an app for use only within your organization, where you have 100% control over what is used in the field, then your approach makes the most sense - a thin client WinForms or WPF or UWP. Take your pick.
However, if the use case is for users outside your organization (company-to-company, for example; or for a marketable app to other organizations), then the Xamarin Forms route makes the most sense.
Even in an organization, field staff may have their equipment determined by the field office, especially if it is a franchise.
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surprised no one mentioned excel
columns to put product (even lookup product on another worksheet), qty, comments
protected cells so they don't mess up the lookups etc
well it's a step above notepad/written notes
- they should get the right info in the right place most of the time
- and easier to check when fed back into server at the office.
basically like notepad but forcing some common format/structure (even if manually keyed in later)
and at the end of the day how much more can a portable app do that excel cant?
(in fact apps tend to be too smart rigid, not much fun for folks out in the polder)
Message Signature
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I'm actually looking to replace an Excel sheet at another customer.
Lots of manual copy/pasting from another application, lots of business rules hidden in lots of complicated formulas, and the occasional error in data...
Only one person knows how it works and it's only necessary to get anything shipped on time.
When he's on vacation he works ahead, during his vacation some tasks are just not done at all, and when he gets back everyone has two weeks of work to catch up to 
Yeah, let's not go there.
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