Disable Splash Screen In Build Mode

[JeffreyThompson2]

My enhancement request, ENH-000173387, was officially denied, so I am taking it to the people. It's a little thing that I find very annoying.

I have a page with a Splash screen and every time I open the Build Mode of Experience Builder, it takes a series of clicks to dismiss the Splash screen, so I can work on my actually application. The Splash screen is usually just a block of text that rarely, if ever gets updated. The default behavior of Experience Builder should be to not show the Splash screen in the Build Mode, or they should at least provide an option to disable it in the Build Mode.

Programmatically, it's a simple update only requiring an if statement checking against props.isBuilder in the function that launches the Window.

[Laura]

Yes, a huge frustration for me too!! I make edits even after publishing and it is annoying to deal with the screen, especially for a minor edit session. I usually go to live view and click ok to turn it off and back to edit mode. 

[AlixVezina]

Hi @JeffreyThompson2 !

Please would you be able to elaborate on "I have a page with a Splash screen and every time I open the Build Mode of Experience Builder, it takes a series of clicks to dismiss the Splash screen, so I can work on my actually application."

What are you seeing and what are the steps you need to go through?

[JeffreyThompson2]

I open Experience Builder and the Splash screen is the only thing I can access at first.

There's a couple seconds of confusion where I don't know why I can't edit my application. Followed by a brief moment of rage when I realize I have to make the Splash screen go away again and a few more seconds for me to remember how to do it. I have to click the Page Icon in the Sidepanel, then Page in at the top of the popout Panel and usually Plus Icon to get back to what I actually want to do.

It's not very important, but it is very annoying.

[AlixVezina]

@JeffreyThompson2 For me the builder always loads the app on the Page panel first, and there I can then go to the Page tab.

I agree that someone may not know what to do the first time they encounter this.

I think the thought for having the splash screen open when the builder loads is that it reflects how your app will display on load when you launch it. Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what could be done here that may help users know what to do?

[JeffreyThompson2]

@AlixVezina Ok, I gave it some more thought and I think I have a solution that I like even better. Anytime there is a Window open in the Build Mode, a big, blue Close Window Button appears at the top of the Left Side Panel. The Button could also be duplicated at the top of the Right Hand Window Settings Panel, but I do think it needs to be on the Left Side Panel.

[DickieRigdon]

Hi @AlixVezina @JeffreyThompson2 @Laura, This is already built-in. Notice when you hover over Splash Page on the Fixed Widows Panel, a little cartoon speaking icon that reads "Hi" appears. When your Splash Page is active, the icon will jump side to side. When you click on the "Hi" icon, it will gray out and not jump side to side. Just save and re-publish. Your Splash Page won't show up anymore in Edit Mode or Display Mode until you re-select the "Hi" bubble. -Dickie

[JeffreyThompson2]

@DickieRigdon This turns off the Splash functionality altogether. I still want it to Splash for the end-users. I just want to turn it off while I am working in the Build Mode. I guess I could turn it off while I'm working and turn it back on before deploying, but that is just more steps to remember and more chances to mess something up.

[DickieRigdon]

1) Build your splash page then toggle it off so you don't see it every time you edit.

2) When your app is completed and ready to publish to the public, toggle the splash page back on.

3) Easy Peasy.

[JeffreyThompson2]

My complaint is that this problem adds three unnecessary clicks to my workflow and your solution adds six unnecessary clicks. More importantly, if I forget to turn the Splash screen back on, I am at risk for:

1. Upset co-workers
2. Legal liability
3. And worst of all, even more clicks.

Yes, it is technically possible to turn the Splash screen off while editing, but it's not a good solution to this minor annoyance. 

[Nick_Creedon]

I have a few applications with the splash screen on, when I open them up to make edits I have to go into live view close it, then get out of live view every single time. It can be frustrating.

I think there should be some cases where "Live View" is enabled on a few items in editing mode, the Splash Screen being one of them.  Click the box and close it. If you want to edit it, you would click outside the boxes to edit its properties.

A good example is Dashboards, in editing mode you can still interact with tables and maps to sample functionality on the fly, I dont need to save then open it in "View".

EDIT: I forgot to mention, in Dashboards, you can turn a Splash on an it doesnt open when you go to configure the dashboard again.

@AlixVezina @JeffreyThompson2 

Making Experience Builder Splash screen act like Dashboards Splash Screen in edit mode would be a pretty good alternative.