The iPad Version

With the introduction by Apple of SwiftUI, it became possible to have the same codebase serve multiple platforms, and automatically adapt to the interface style. The iPad version of ParX was initially intended as a companion to Mac version, but can definitely stand on its own. The organization of the user interface closely follows that of the Mac version. Here we will only elaborate on the main differences between the two.

Again, the screen is split in tree panes: the data pane, the model pane, and the graphing pane. Here the data pane is on the left and can be hidden, leaving both the model and the graph visible (in landscape orientation) when optimizing the model.

For convenience, it is recommended to store the model and data files on a file sharing service like iCloud Drive. The model- and data-interface settings that are saved to .prxs and .prxd files are sandboxed, and can only be opened by the same installation of ParX. They cannot be shared between the iPad and Mac versions.

All file exports are accessible through share menus located in their respective toolbars. The Export Chart to PDF… action is split in two separate actions: take a screenshot of the chart by pressing the camera icon, and then share the chart by selecting the Share icon and choose Share Chart. This is also the route to printing the chart by selecting the printer in the Share Menu.

The Editor window is opened in split-view on the iPad. Depending on the remaining space, the main window may be collapsed to only the model pane. It is possible two open multiple instances of the main application window, but since they share the same data store, the windows will always mirror each other.

All keyboard shortcuts will also work on the iPad when a keyboard is connected. The cursor in the graphics pane only works for newer iPad models that support the “hover function.”

In the model editor, one should pay special attention to the “smart” keyboard behavior. Especially the “smart quotes” can lead to real head scratchers, because in some fonts they are hardly distinguishable from the normal ones.