As we’re converting dialogs, we’re also looking for opportunities to improve them. One feature that uses a lot of dialogs (ahem… maybe too many) is building interactions.
Currently, the Interaction Case Properties dialog has two modes: basic and advanced. The basic editor is nice because you can see all the available actions right away and can add actions with one click. The advanced editor is nice because you can add as many of a type of action as you like and order them as needed.
The goal is to combine the benefits of the basic and advanced modes into one AND reduce the number of nested dialogs.
Here is a video of a prototype (created in Axure RP) of a proposed new design for the Interaction Case Properties dialog.
Figuring out how to build MAxure was definitely a challenge given our two main criteria:
1. MAxure has to share a majority of its code with Axure RP for Windows 2. MAxure has to be able to deliver a Mac experience
The first is important to reduce development time, but also to keep future development efficient. Having to maintain separate code for each new feature or fix going forward would not be good. And the second is… well… you know why the second is important.
Axure RP is built mostly in C# on the Microsoft .Net 2.0 Framework. Thanks to the wonderful folks at the Mono project, we were able to run the non-UI related code from Axure RP on Mac with minimal effort.
As for the UI, that was a whole other ballgame. Getting a UI element as complex as the wireframe pane to work on both platforms from a single code base was not an easy task. We first removed all Windows-specific controls and replaced them with custom “Windowless” controls. Then a (magic) drawing layer was developed so that the same C# code could render and function on both Windows and Mac. This layer also handles themes so a control can look and behave different on each platform. Very cool stuff and amazing to see it come to life.
The added flexibility from creating custom controls is also giving us an opportunity to make enhancements while we convert, which will work on both Windows and Mac. How great is that?
We’re going to make sure that MAxure is built well and is architected so that Axure RP on both Windows and Mac can and will continue to improve together.
- Victor, PM
P.S. A quick thanks to Aaron at Big Nerd Ranch for providing great Mac OS training.
Thanks for the great response to the screenshot in our last post. We’re excited that you’re excited! One question coming up a lot is how licensing will work once MAxure is released. Some companies charge more for the Mac version of their software. Others charge the same but ask you to buy a different license for each OS. We’ve decided to keep it simple. Here’s how our licensing works today:
“Each license can be used by the same person on two PCs (or Mac through virtualization).”
Once the Mac version is released, here’s how the licensing will work:
“Each license can be used by the same person on two PCs, two Macs, or one PC and one Mac.”
We’re basically going to continue with the same licensing but let you choose to install on PCs, Macs, or one of each.
Because licenses come with 12 months of free updates, many of you will be able to use your current Axure RP license for the Mac version for no additional cost. If your license has expired for updates, you can renew your license for $149.
For new customers, a single user license is $589 (and $539 each for 5+ licenses) and comes with 12 months of updates.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to send us an email to contactus@axure.com or send a tweet to @axurerp.
…Until next time!
P.S. We’re hoping to have something to show customers before the end of the year.
A Mac version of Axure RP has been the single most popular request from our customers. We got the point and are happy to say that MAxure (Mac-sure) is in development.
We plan to post here once or twice a month to keep you updated and share some info like how we use Axure on our Macs today through VMWare Fusion.
So, here it is: the first public screenshot of MAxure showing the Wireframe pane with a loaded page and working Sitemap and Masters panes. There is much to be done, but we’re past some tech hurdles and making solid progress.
We haven’t published a release date or licensing details yet, but we’ll post that here as soon as we can.
In the meantime, follow us on Twitter or sign up to be notified when Axure for Mac is released.
