Misuse of SegmentedControl?

[B-Mac]

In my current app, a transaction-recording app, I am trying to have all input fields visible at once on the entry view. For one input, which is a simple list of mutually-exclusive options, the normal UIPickerView is simply too large. So, I'm trying out horizontal-scrolling widgets instead.

Currently, I create a UISegmentedControl with the options inside a UIScrollView to provide the horizontal scrolling. The segmented control has the perfect behavior I need: it looks standard, it has mutually-exclusive selection, and it's easy to work with. But to me it's an odd fit.

Here's a simulator screenshot of what I'm trying out. The UIScrollView extends from the left side to almost the right side; I'm leaving space for a disclosure button there.



What do you think? Appropriate use, or abuse? How stringent is Apple's review process on human interface guidelines?

[ChrisL]

I agree that it's a pretty odd fit. I've definitely seen worse uses of the standard controls, so I'd be surprised if they'd reject you for it, but it's definitely a nonstandard use. It may be confusing to users because, at least given the way it currently looks, there's no visual indication that the control can actually be scrolled horizontally. My immediate reaction on seeing the screen shot, before reading the text, was that there was some bug causing the segmented control's frame to be cut off.

Is there a compelling reason that all of the options have to be accessible directly on this view, instead of, say, the more usual approach of taking the user to a secondary view controller with a table view or picker when the user taps to edit the current value?

[B-Mac]

Originally Posted by ChrisL

...It may be confusing to users because, at least given the way it currently looks, there's no visual indication that the control can actually be scrolled horizontally. My immediate reaction on seeing the screen shot, before reading the text, was that there was some bug causing the segmented control's frame to be cut off. ...

My intent is to implement useful brevity. I.e., I want to be able to enter a full record on one screen, with few taps, so this is largely an experiment. Can I make it fit, and will it work?

I agree, the cropped right edge looks odd, and I'm thinking about customizing that UIScrollView to enhance the boundary. It will probably help to just make that view the full width so it's more of a ribbon I suppose.

Thanks for your comments, I have a few ideas to try out.