It actually comes built-in, within the Export prototype options. Because of the interactions it allows, Axure goes over the device-simulations. It made it easier to print the pages and nicer for presentations. With Omnigraffle, I used to have templates featuring the device for desktop or mobile applications. Forget about device simulation: it comes built-in It can be frustrating, but you sometimes have to choose comments over interactions.ħ. To a certain point, you could: using variables, displaying error messages according to completed forms… But there is one point where the interest of interactions, speaking of UX, stops, and when it becomes pure programming. Using Masters allows you to simply improve elements with interactions, like menus.Īxure inteactions are so extensive and fun to program that it is tempting to spend hours developing the application. I first place the elements (at least as a zoning), then detail them, and finally program the interactions. It is tempting, but not relevant, to loose time over a slider when the rest of the page is not very clear. Just as you start a page with a zoning and then complete it with more details (at least that’s my method), start an Axure wireframe with no interactions. No need for an element to be extensively repeated: as soon as it is repeated, even once, it is better to declare it as a Master. It is very simple to use, and avoids repeated changes. I didn’t go that far in proportions and dimensions before, but it is a good work support, and simple to use as well.Īs soon as one element gets repeated, should it be a menu, present on several pages, or even just one element duplicated in the same page (as a list for example), use the Masters tool. I personnally find the 16-columns grid offers more freedom, but both are commonly used. It actually takes me less time to create a new menu from scratch than go and look for one in my stencils.Īxure allows you to create a custom background grid, or use pre-existing 12-columns or 16-columns ones. Drop-down lists already exist, with their options, as well as search fields, etc. For example, a simple square easily becomes an ellipse or a down arrow. The basic library is very simple, but offers great possibilites. Though I used to work a lot with stencils, I found out extensive libraries were not so useful on Axure. This way you can get started very fast with the software, and keep on learning. Depending on the topic, you have access to a demo video, guidelines and tutorials with RP files. You can find challenging and useful data whatever your level is. Train and exercise on Axure self-training platformĪxure team developed very good tutorials on their website: /training. That’s one of the keys, in my opinion, for using Axure well: know where to stop, speaking about interactions and design, before loosing too much time in details. The danger is to go too far and loose too much time designing elements. This way every element is really thought for its application. It turns out it is faster to create a square and then modify it to different forms, or program the interactions of a custom menu than re-user an existing one. At first, I was skeptic, as having a rich library of stencils made my work easier and faster with Omnigraffle. Whereas Visio and Omnigraffle rely a lot on stencils, Axure only has very few basic elements. Every element is formatted in order to have a selected and unselected state. If it sometimes creates bugs, it does give a lot of possibilities for interactions such as sliders, accordion tabs or menus. Within a few weeks, and with a little self-training, you can use variables and condition interactions. Whereas Visio and Omnigraffle only give a few opportunities, Axure allows you to do pretty much anything. What changes is the level of possible interactions it allows. Axure is just the same, and there is no new process to learn. But Axure has made my prototyping funnier and a lot more interactive.Īll prototyping softwares basically work the same: empty pages on which you can place stencils (pre-existing elements). Please don’t get me wrong: I still like Omnigraffle a lot. After a few months working with Axure, I figured I would give a few advice, based on my recent discovery of the software, to beginners who were afraid to make the move, just as I was. Visio and Omnigraffle, or even Balsamiq, are definitely simpler to apprehend and start wireframing with. It is a complex software, and the licence price makes it a tough decision to invest money and time for the teams for self-training. For budget or time reasons, most medium-sized agencies (the ones I have worked for at least) prefer not to invest in Axure. But that was before: since then, I have discovered Axure. I used to say on my blog that I was a big Omnigraffle fan.
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