AppSuite:ISV Mockups Wireframes

Revision as of 08:18, 6 February 2014 by Cutmasta (talk | contribs) (What´s needed to build beautiful AppSuite mockups ?)
Create Open-Xchange AppSuite Mockups / Wireframes



Why build mockups?

Many people don´t understand why they should use a mockup tool.

Here is a list of some reasons, why YOU should think about using the power of mockups:

  • It reproduces the experience of sketching on a whiteboard, but using a computer.
  • It dramatically helps to visually any kind of ideas, features of a web application. Mockups are very useful, for example in contracts, proposals, user stories or software change request forms.
  • Enhance the visibiliy of your upcoming features inside a product.
  • Iterare easily over ideas + get feedback from potential users and customers until they are ready to get implemented via the development department.


This page contains needed informations, to easily build wireframes/mockups for the Open-Xchange AppSuite application.


IMPORTANT NOTE: To build/use the mockups, which get described in this article, you need to install a 3rd party software (Balsamiq) on your local PC/Laptop. Balsamiq can be used in a trial period. Once you decide to constantly use it, you must purchase a license from their [1] website.

What´s needed to build beautiful AppSuite mockups ?

Following Steps are required, to get started to build nice mockups for AppSuite.

  • You need to install the desktop application called "Balsamiq Desktop App". You can download it from: http://balsamiq.com
  • Download the Open-Xchange Balsamiq Assets/Library/Samples from @FP: Describe steps for GIT download <GIT_URL>_OR_DOWNLOAD_OF_ZIP_FILE>.
  • Import the downloaded AppSuite assets/library into the Balsamiq application and use the included examples:


On MAC OS X / Linux / Windows

  1. Checkout from GIT or download ZIP file.
  2. Unzip & navigate to the created directory "visuals/assets" . Remember/Copy complete local path to this directory. Example: "/Users/<myuser>/Downloads/visuals/assets"
  3. Open Balsamiq Application and > open menu "Balsamiq Mockups" > Click "About Balsamiq Application"
  4. "About Dialog" opens with a link to "Open Local Store Folder". Click on that link, which opens your explorer/finder application.
  5. Now create the required file called "BalsamiqMockups.cfg" inside that directory ("Local Store" folder) with following content. IMPORTANT Please change the assets path attribute to YOUR path structure on YOUR local system.
 <config>
   <fontFace>Helvetica Neue</fontFace>
   <rememberWindowSize>true</rememberWindowSize>
   <useCookies>true</useCookies>
   <assetsPath>/Users/<myuser>/Downloads/visuals/assets</assetsPath>
 </config>
  1. Now use your explorer/finder/shell and copy all ".bmml" files from within the "visuals/assets" directory to your work/dev directory.
  2. Close the Balsamiq application and reopen it. You now should see a new tab called "Account Assets" in the UI components library. All OX related components are prefixed with "ox-" for easy find as you type usage.
  3. Go to your work/dev directory which contains the copied ".bmml" files. Click on one of the .bmml files. You are DONE!
  • Let the fun begin! Mockup as your like and save the newly created file to your work/dev directory!

General basics of Balsamiq

Mockups Gallery for Open-Xchange AppSuite

Add screenshots of cool mockups <HERE>

Ox-tasks-mocukup.png


Ox-calendar.png
Ox-core.png