In-Line / Smaller record selector option
S
Steven Harbold
In AT when you are in line working the record selector is very compact and small. It would be nice to have this as an option and then click to expand to the larger record selector. It takes more clicks and time to maneuver to select records than in does in AT. Ultimately the full size record selector is superior to see more information but not always needed.
Jon Darbyshire
Hiya Steven Harbold, thanks for this post! I have a few more questions for you:
- What specific tasks are you performing when you find the current record selector size inconvenient?
- How often do you need to switch between the compact and full-size record selector during your workflow?
- Are there specific types of information you need to see more clearly in the compact view?
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Steven Harbold
Jon Darbyshire
Hi Jon,
- It usually quick data entry. For Example, when we are making selections for our catalog for clients, entering accounting information where we are quickly linking to vendors, purchase orders. In Job Costing where we are choosing from a list of items. Because we often use conditional logic to make these, the list is usually paired down and focused.
It just simply takes a hitch longer in my testing to have to move mouse, select, and close the record selector. Doesn't seem like much but our users feel the difference.
The other element we've discovered is the overlay visibility. Sometimes in accounting they're looking at line item content while selecting a PO or linking and the current full selector covers the ability to see that.
Again, while I appreciate the added features of the full record selector it would be nice to have a streamlined version of this. Also, I'd encourage y'all to explore hotkey implementations that could help as well. For instance
Searching/Selecting Record: Type content + ENTER/RETURN chooses record and closes window. Currently you have to tab to the option and when you hit enter it selects and then brings the selector back up.
General UX: Could we hit the ESC key to close record selector, records and modal overlays in general?
- Per field, I don't know that we'd need to change between compact and full. It could be a field setting. I think however a little expand it icon in the upper right (similar to full screen in record view) could pop open the full version if desired.
- This varies per application but generally speaking it's text, numbers, percentages. You'll notice in my Airtable example above there is a percent field output as progress bar. You could take a similar approach as the record selector in Dashboards with limiting to maybe 3-4 fields to help things look nice in more compact space. Again just mini version pop down of the current selector with some of these improvements would be great!