View this page in the latest version of Appian. Responsive Design Share Share via LinkedIn Reddit Email Copy Link Print On This Page 4 Developer Tips for Responsive Design in Appian This video from the Appian Community YouTube channel covers four essential tips for optimizing Appian interfaces: stacking columns, limiting horizontal scrolling, ensuring touch-friendliness, and designing for small screens first. Overview Responsive interfaces automatically adjust their layout and components to provide an optimal viewing experience across different screen sizes, from small phones to large desktop monitors. In Appian, you create responsive interfaces using two primary methods: the a!isPageWidth() function and the stackWhen parameter. The a!isPageWidth() function is your main tool for responsive design. It checks the page width (not window width) and allows you to conditionally change any component behavior or display different adaptive layouts based on that width. The stackWhen parameter is available in columns and side-by-side layouts. It allows you to control the vertical stacking behavior of these layouts based on the width of the user's page. Both methods use the same set of predefined page widths, such as "PHONE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT", "TABLET_LANDSCAPE". When should I use this? By default, columns stack at phone width and side by side items never stack. If you're designing simple interfaces that are intended to be used on a single page width, these default behaviors should be sufficient. However, if your interface will be viewed at various page widths, you should implement responsive design using a!isPageWidth() and showWhen parameters. Use a!isPageWidth() to conditionally change component sizes, spacing, or other properties based on screen width. Use the stackWhen parameter to manage when column layouts and side by side items should stack vertically instead of displaying side-by-side. Note: Do not use a!isNativeMobile() for responsive design, this function only detects whether a user is in the Appian Mobile app or a browser. It cannot determine screen size. Since mobile devices vary greatly in screen size, a!isNativeMobile() is not suitable for responsive layout decisions. Reserve a!isNativeMobile() for app-specific functionality, such as prompting browser users to download the mobile app. Using a!isPageWidth and stackWhen To use a!isPageWidth, write if statements to define the page widths at which you want the component behavior to change. To use the stackWhen parameter: In design mode, choose one of the value options like "Tablet Portrait or Narrower" to not only stack at the page width specified, but at all narrower page widths. In expression mode, list all the widths at which you want to stack the side by side or columns layouts. Width breakpoints The pageWidths and stackWhen parameter values use the following pixel ranges to determine their responsive behavior. For example, if the stackWhen parameter for a columns layout is set to "PHONE" and the screen width is less than 480 pixels, the columns will stack. Value Width Range "PHONE" 480 pixels or less "TABLET_PORTRAIT" 481 to 768 pixels "TABLET_LANDSCAPE" 769 to 1024 pixels "DESKTOP_NARROW" 1025 to 1280 pixels "DESKTOP" 1281 to 1680 pixels "DESKTOP_WIDE" 1681 pixels or more Responsive landing page example Let's walk through an example to show how to use a!isPageWidth() and stackWhen together. The example already uses the stackWhen parameter, but we will add it in a few more places and add the a!isPageWidth() function to create a more responsive experience. Click Expression mode to copy and paste the following expression into your new interface. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 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"Hi, " & user(loggedinuser(), "firstName") & "." }, size: "MEDIUM_PLUS" ), char(10), a!richTextItem( text: { "What do you need help with today?" }, size: "LARGE", style: { "STRONG" } ), char(10), char(10) } ) } ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!imageField( label: "Welcome Image", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", images: { a!documentImage( document: a!EXAMPLE_RECEPTIONIST_IMAGE() ) }, size: "FIT", isThumbnail: false, style: "STANDARD" ) }, width: "MEDIUM" ) }, alignVertical: "MIDDLE" ) }, width: "WIDE_PLUS" ), a!columnLayout() }, alignVertical: "MIDDLE", stackWhen: { "PHONE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT" } ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "#cc0000", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) }, contents: { a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout(), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!imageField( label: "Category Image", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", images: { a!documentImage( document: a!EXAMPLE_INSURANCE_IMAGE() ) }, size: "FIT", isThumbnail: false, style: "STANDARD", align: "CENTER" ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "#434343", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) }, width: "NARROW" ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!richTextDisplayField( label: "Rich Text", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: { a!richTextItem( text: { "Insurance" }, color: "ACCENT", size: "LARGE" ) } ), a!richTextDisplayField( labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: { a!richTextItem( text: { "Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental coverage" }, color: "STANDARD", size: "MEDIUM" ) } ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "NONE", padding: "STANDARD", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) } ) }, spacing: "NONE", stackWhen: { "PHONE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT", "TABLET_LANDSCAPE" } ) }, link: a!dynamicLink(), height: "AUTO", style: "NONE", padding: "NONE", marginBelow: "STANDARD" ), a!cardLayout( contents: { a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!imageField( label: "Category Image", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", images: { a!documentImage( document: a!EXAMPLE_IT_SUPPORT_IMAGE() ) }, size: "FIT", isThumbnail: false, style: "STANDARD", align: "CENTER" ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "#434343", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) }, width: "NARROW" ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!richTextDisplayField( label: "Rich Text", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: { a!richTextItem( text: { "IT Support" }, color: "ACCENT", size: "LARGE" ) } ), a!richTextDisplayField( labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: { a!richTextItem( text: { "Computer equipment, software, telecom issues" }, color: "STANDARD", size: "MEDIUM" ) } ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "NONE", padding: "STANDARD", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) } ) }, spacing: "NONE", stackWhen: { "PHONE", "TABLET_LANDSCAPE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT" } ) }, link: a!dynamicLink(), height: "AUTO", style: "NONE", padding: "NONE", marginBelow: "STANDARD" ) } ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!imageField( label: "Category Image", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", images: { a!documentImage( document: a!EXAMPLE_FINANCE_IMAGE() ) }, size: "FIT", isThumbnail: false, style: "STANDARD", align: "CENTER" ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "#434343", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) }, width: "NARROW" ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!richTextDisplayField( label: "Rich Text", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: { a!richTextItem( text: { "Finance" }, color: "ACCENT", size: "LARGE" ) } ), a!richTextDisplayField( labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: { a!richTextItem( text: { "Expense reimbursement, pay stubs, retirement accounts" }, color: "STANDARD", size: "MEDIUM" ) } ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "NONE", padding: "STANDARD", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) } ) }, spacing: "NONE", stackWhen: { "PHONE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT", "TABLET_LANDSCAPE" } ) }, link: a!dynamicLink(), height: "AUTO", style: "NONE", padding: "NONE", marginBelow: "STANDARD" ), a!cardLayout( contents: { a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!imageField( label: "Category Image", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", images: { a!documentImage( document: a!EXAMPLE_FACILITIES_IMAGE() ) }, size: "FIT", isThumbnail: false, style: "STANDARD", align: "CENTER" ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "#434343", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) }, width: "NARROW" ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!cardLayout( contents: { a!richTextDisplayField( label: "Rich Text", labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: { a!richTextItem( text: { "Facilities" }, color: "ACCENT", size: "LARGE" ) } ), a!richTextDisplayField( labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: { a!richTextItem( text: { "Office supplies, HVAC, refreshments" }, color: "STANDARD", size: "MEDIUM" ) } ) }, height: "AUTO", style: "NONE", padding: "STANDARD", marginBelow: "NONE", showBorder: false ) } ) }, spacing: "NONE", stackWhen: { "PHONE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT", "TABLET_LANDSCAPE" } ) }, link: a!dynamicLink(), height: "AUTO", style: "NONE", padding: "NONE", marginBelow: "STANDARD" ) } ) } ) }, width: "WIDE_PLUS" ), a!columnLayout() } ) }, backgroundColor: "TRANSPARENT" ) We will start by looking at the interface at different screen sizes to determine if there are points where its contents overlap or don't have enough room to display. A good way to do this is by using the Fit form factor preview option in the interface and dragging the panes to update the live view. You can also check each form factor preview by selecting its toggle in the upper right-hand corner of the live preview. For example, to preview an interface on a portrait-orientation tablet, select the tablet icon then click the rotate button. Notice that when we shrink the interface using the fit form factor, the header text becomes unreadable and the card text begins to wrap. This happens when the screen is approximately the size of a portrait-oriented tablet. We can solve these problems by adding the stackWhen parameter to the header and the a!isPageWidth() function to the size parameter of the text and image fields in the header and cards. To make the header more responsive: In the header, click the Columns Layout containing the rich text display and image components. In the Component Configuration pane, go to the Behavior tab. For Stack When, select Portrait Tablet or narrower. In the header, click the rich text display component. In the Component Configuration pane, under Display Value, click the second Text Item option. Go to the Styling tab. Hover over Size, and click Edit as Expression. Copy and paste the following expression: if(a!isPageWidth("TABLET_PORTRAIT"),"MEDIUM_PLUS","LARGE"). This expression creates a condition that will change the size of the text to "MEDIUM_PLUS" if the page width is "TABLET_PORTRAIT". If not, the text size will be "LARGE". Click OK. In the header, click the image component. In the Component Configuration pane, go to the Styling tab. Hover over Size, and click Edit as Expression. Copy and paste the following expression: if(a!isPageWidth({"PHONE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT", "TABLET_LANDSCAPE"}), "MEDIUM", "FIT"). Click OK. With the header configured, we can move on to adding a!isPageWidth() to the size parameters of the rich text display and image components within the "Insurance", "IT Support", "Finance", and "Facilities" options. To make the option cards more responsive: In the "Insurance" option, click the image component. In the Component Configuration pane, go to the Styling tab. Hover over Size, and click Edit as Expression. Copy and paste the following expression: if(a!isPageWidth({"PHONE", "TABLET_LANDSCAPE"}), "MEDIUM","FIT"). Click OK. In the "Insurance" card, click the rich text item that says "Insurance". In the Component Configuration pane, under Display Value, click Configure items. Click Text Item. Go to the Styling tab. Hover over Size, and click Edit as Expression. Copy and paste the following expression: if(a!isPageWidth("TABLET_PORTRAIT"),"MEDIUM_PLUS","LARGE"). Click OK. Repeat these steps for the image and rich text items in the "IT Support", "Finance", and "Facilities" options. Let's test the interface again to check the responsive behavior. At this point, the images are a smaller size, the text doesn't wrap, and every component on the interface has room to display properly. Responsive grid example Now we'll look at an example of the stackWhen parameter that shows how to stack columns at a certain width and unstack them after. Click Expression mode and copy and paste an example into the Interface Definition to see it displayed. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 { a!localVariables( local!employees: { a!map(id: 1, name: "Elizabeth Ward", dept: "Engineering", role: "Senior Engineer", team: "Front-End Components", pto: 15, startDate: today()-500), a!map(id: 2, name: "Michael Johnson", dept: "Finance", role: "Payroll Manager", team: "Accounts Payable", pto: 2, startDate: today()-100), a!map(id: 3, name: "John Smith", dept: "Engineering", role: "Quality Engineer", team: "User Acceptance Testing", pto: 5, startDate: today()-1000), a!map(id: 4, name: "Diana Hellstrom", dept: "Engineering", role: "UX Designer", team: "User Experience", pto: 49, startDate: today()-1200), a!map(id: 5, name: "Francois Morin", dept: "Sales", role: "Account Executive", team: "Commercial North America", pto: 15, startDate: today()-700), a!map(id: 6, name: "Maya Kapoor", dept: "Sales", role: "Regional Director", team: "Front-End Components", pto: 15, startDate: today()-1400), a!map(id: 7, name: "Anthony Wu", dept: "Human Resources", role: "Benefits Coordinator", team: "Accounts Payable", pto: 2, startDate: today()-300) }, local!selectedEmployee: local!employees[4], { a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout( contents: { a!sectionLayout( label: "Employees", contents: { a!gridField( data: todatasubset( local!employees, fv!pagingInfo ), columns: { a!gridColumn( label: "Name", value: fv!row.name ), a!gridColumn( label: "Department", value: fv!row.dept ) }, pageSize: 7, selectable: true, selectionStyle: "ROW_HIGHLIGHT", selectionValue: index(local!selectedEmployee, "id", {}), selectionSaveInto: { /* This save replaces the value of the previously selected item with that of the newly selected item, ensuring only one item can be selected at once.*/ a!save( local!selectedEmployee, if( length(fv!selectedRows) > 0, fv!selectedRows[length(fv!selectedRows)], null ) ) }, shadeAlternateRows: false, rowHeader: 1 ) } ) } ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!sectionLayout( label: "Employee Details", contents: { a!richTextDisplayField( value: a!richTextItem( text: "No employee selected.", color: "SECONDARY", size: "MEDIUM", style: "EMPHASIS" ), showWhen: isnull(local!selectedEmployee) ), a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout( contents: { a!textField( label: "Name", value: local!selectedEmployee.name, readOnly: true ), a!textField( label: "Department", value: local!selectedEmployee.dept, readOnly: true ) } ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!textField( label: "Role", value: local!selectedEmployee.role, readOnly: true ), a!textField( label: "Start Date", value: text(local!selectedEmployee.startDate, "MMM dd, yyyy"), readOnly: true ) } ), a!columnLayout( contents: { a!textField( label: "Team", value: local!selectedEmployee.team, readOnly: true ), a!textField( label: "Available PTO", value: local!selectedEmployee.pto & " days", readOnly: true ) } ) }, showWhen: not(isnull(local!selectedEmployee)), stackWhen: { "PHONE", "TABLET_LANDSCAPE" } ) } ) } ) }, stackWhen: { "PHONE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT" } ) } ) } When we shrink the page using the fit form factor option, notice the behavior of the Employee Details column. At desktop and desktop narrow page widths, the three Employee Details columns are shown next to each other. At the landscape tablet width, we stack the three Employee Details columns to ensure the details have enough room. With these columns stacked, there is enough space for the Employees grid and Employee Details to show next to each other. This changes once we choose the portrait tablet width. Since there is less horizontal space, we stack the Employees grid and Employee Details on top of each other. This gives the Employee Details more space, so we unstack these columns. Finally, at phone width, we stack everything to give it room to display. Conditionally display components Lastly, we'll use the Stamp Steps (Icon) pattern as an a!isPageWidth() example. Take a look at how it adapts to conditionally display different components and layouts depending on width. Click Expression mode to copy and paste an example into the Interface Definition to see it displayed. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 { a!localVariables( local!iconStampSteps: { a!map(icon: "calendar", name: "Enter Dates"), a!map(icon: "search", name: "Search Deals"), a!map(icon: "shopping-cart", name: "Check Out") }, a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout(), a!columnLayout( contents: { if( /* Display steps vertically for phone and tablet portrait page width */ a!isPageWidth({"PHONE", "TABLET_PORTRAIT"}), a!forEach( items: local!iconStampSteps, expression: { a!stampField( icon: fv!item.icon, backgroundColor: "TRANSPARENT", contentColor: "ACCENT", size: "MEDIUM", align: "CENTER" ), a!richTextDisplayField( labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: a!richTextItem( text: { a!richTextItem( text: fv!index & ". " ), fv!item.name }, size: "MEDIUM" ), align: "CENTER" ), a!richTextDisplayField() } ), /* Display steps horizontally for other page widths */ { /* Display stamp and dots in sideBySideLayout */ a!sideBySideLayout( items: { a!sideBySideItem(), /* Extra spacing before first stamp */ a!sideBySideItem( item: a!richTextDisplayField( value: a!richTextItem( text: " " ) ), width: "MINIMIZE" ), a!forEach( items: local!iconStampSteps.icon, expression: { a!sideBySideItem( item: a!stampField( icon: fv!item, backgroundColor: "TRANSPARENT", contentColor: "ACCENT", align: "CENTER" ), width: "MINIMIZE" ), a!sideBySideItem( item: a!richTextDisplayField( value: a!richTextItem( text: repeat(13, " " & char(9679)), color: "SECONDARY", size: "SMALL" ) ), width: "MINIMIZE", showWhen: not(fv!isLast) ) } ), a!sideBySideItem( width: "MINIMIZE" ), a!sideBySideItem() }, alignVertical: "MIDDLE" ), /* Display step names in columnsLayout */ a!columnsLayout( columns: { a!columnLayout( width: "EXTRA_NARROW" ), a!forEach( items: local!iconStampSteps.name, expression: { a!columnLayout( contents: { a!richTextDisplayField( labelPosition: "COLLAPSED", value: a!richTextItem( text: { a!richTextItem( text: fv!index & ". " ), fv!item }, size: "MEDIUM" ), align: "CENTER" ) }, width: "NARROW" ), /* Display column for extra space between step names */ a!columnLayout( showWhen: not(fv!isLast) ) } ), a!columnLayout( width: "EXTRA_NARROW" ) }, spacing: "NONE" ) } ) }, width: "WIDE" ), a!columnLayout() } ) ) } Check out this pattern at different widths and notice how the rich text dots in between each step don't appear on portrait tablet widths or narrower. This adaptive pattern uses the if(), a!isPageWidth(), and a!forEach() functions to define two separate rich text display components depending on page width. These separate displays allow for many components to have different sizes, widths, and showWhen values so that the interface can look great at any page width. Preview on the fit form factor: Preview on the phone form factor: Feedback Was this page helpful? SHARE FEEDBACK Loading...