Coding for both orientations

[richardmac]

I've got an iPad app designed for one orientation (landscape) and when you turn the iPad to portrait, 30% of my graphics get cut off and the bottom of my graphic ends and shows a big empty white space. Rather than try to lock it down, I'm wondering which of the following two approaches is the best idea:

1. Use scripting to change the location of the graphisc and fields and buttons when the orientation is changed, or

2. Just extend the graphic out and sort of live with it not looking as good in portrait orientation.

Anyone looked at the best way to handle this yet?

[Janschenkel]

I would go for option 1: script react to orientation changes, and move everything over to the best new location/size.
Unless the user interface just doesn't fit in the other orientation, you shouldn't lock the user into it.
Always design for the medium at hand...

Jan Schenkel.

[RickD]

Hi richardmac,

A third option is to put all your logic into a separate substack and create two cards (one for portrait and one for landscape).
Then use the orientationChanged message to switch between cards.

I use it and it works quite well.

[richardmac]

That's a great idea. Could you maybe use this idea to have different screens for different hardware? On startup of the stack, you could check to see what the environment was, then switch to the appropriate card.

[hliljegren]

That's a great idea. Could you maybe use this idea to have different screens for different hardware? On startup of the stack, you could check to see what the environment was, then switch to the appropriate card.

Yes you can! I've tried this and it works great. I made a sub-stack for iPhone, one for iPhone Retina, one for iPad, but haven't yet made different cards for different orientations, but I would definitely go for a two card approach.

[andyh1234]

Just to add, if you do set up two cards, make sure the orientationChanged message is at the card level, and not stack level.

Ive just spent 'a while' with my layout whirling round as the stack was getting so many orientationChanged messages, but when I moved them onto the appropriate cards all is now ok!