Convert web based database management application into mobile app to make it work offline

Question

We have no knowledge of mobile applications. We need to convert a basic web-based database management application in Laravel into a mobile application. Is there a way to do it without having mobile application developers. The application has the following views 1. Form 2. Edit form 2. All forms 3. Users 4. Edit Users There are two user type - Admin and data entry operator

Answer 1

Yes, you can do it using webview. Start a project in android studio, create a class extending from Activity, a xml layout file in res/layout, and take a look on your AndroidManifest file in the manifests folder.

It will look more or less like this:

The image also shows you the basic structure of the activity, though you don't really need the onCreateOptionsMenu part. Now to make the webview put this in the xml:

<WebView
    android:id="@+id/webview"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
/>

And call it on your onCreate method like the one shown in the image:

WebView myWebView = (WebView) findViewById(R.id.webview);
myWebView.loadUrl("http://www.example.com"); //change the link to your 

In your manifest add permission for the application to use internet:

<manifest ... >
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
    ...
</manifest>

If you want to make your webview work offline you could use webview cache.

But since it is a database managing application, you probably will need to make a full app, and for that you will need an mobile developer. But you could use other approaches, like using xamarin, ionic or other transpilers, though that will still require learning, it is easier for programmers of other areas to adapt, then maybe you could avoid hiring a mobile programmer.