Axure RP Pro Version 5.5 (available
here) adds the ability to create custom widget libraries for the Widgets pane, new interaction capabilities for high fidelity prototyping, easier Dynamic Panel management, and enhancements to widgets and diagram editing.
This 3 part series presents these new features:
Part 1: Widgets Pane and Custom Widget Libraries covers enhancements to the Widgets pane (including Search) and creating and using custom widget libraries.
[These articles assume a working knowledge of the basic features in Axure RP. If you are new to Axure, the video demos in our
Online Training are a good place to start.]
Part 1: Widgets Pane and Custom Widget Libraries
Widgets Pane
The widgets pane now has a dropdown menu to manage the available widget libraries. A search tool has also been added to quickly find widgets.
Clicking the arrow next to "Wireframe" displays options to view All Libraries or select a specific library including Wireframe and Flow and any loaded custom libraries. The menu also provides options to load, create, edit and refresh the library.
Clicking the Search icon displays a text field, and typing will begin searching across the current library.
If "All Libraries" is selected, the search is performed through all the libraries.
The Wireframe and Flow libraries will be available by default when Axure RP starts. Also, custom widget libraries (.rplib) will be automatically loaded if they exist in the My Axure RP Libraries folder in your My Documents folder. Other .rplib files can be loaded by selection "Load library" from the dropdown menu.
Custom Widget Libraries
You can now create your own custom widget libraries for the Widgets pane. To create a new widget library, select "Create library" in the dropdown in the Widgets pane, and create a .rplib file for your library. If you would like the library to automatically be available in the dropdown menu when you start Axure RP, save the .rplib file in your My Documents/My Axure RP Libraries folder.
After creating the file, another instance of Axure RP Pro will start and open the new library file. Because this is a library file, the Sitemap is replaced with a Widget Library pane where you can add, delete, and organize the widgets just as you manage pages in the Sitemap.
Custom widgets are created using existing widgets and images just like a page. Tip: If you would like the custom widget to be a grouped element when it is used on a page, you can group the widgets in the custom widget (Select All and Ctrl+G).
Here is a screenshot of a sample widget library including an Email Submission Field widget made up of a text panel and a text field.
By default, the icon that will appear in the Widgets pane for your custom widget is a preview based on the design. To import your own icon, right-click the widget in the Widgets Library pane and select "Widget Properties". You can also add a tooltip with information such as description, instructions, and a credit. The tooltip will be available in the Widgets pane by clicking an Information icon next to the selected widget.
To preview the widget in the Widgets pane, first save your library file (File -> Save or Ctrl+S). Then, click on the dropdown in the Widgets pane toolbar, select (or load) the library file, and (if needed) Refresh the library. The widgets you have created are displayed in the widgets pane and you can drag them to a wireframe like other widgets.
Check out Parts 2 and 3 of this series:
We hope you get a chance to try these new features and the others included in this release.
Please send any feedback or issues to support@axure.com or in the forums.
