Connect to FlutterFlow: Pagination

Hey there! In this guide, we'll explore how to implement pagination when connecting Xano to Flutter Flow. Pagination is a handy technique for displaying large datasets in smaller, more digestible chunks, improving performance and user experience. We'll cover two different methods: infinite scroll and traditional paging with next/back buttons.

What is Pagination?

Pagination is the process of dividing a large dataset into separate pages or chunks. Instead of overwhelming your app by trying to load and display all the data at once, pagination allows you to load and display data in smaller, more manageable portions. This can significantly improve performance and provide a better user experience, especially when working with large datasets.

Setting Up Pagination in Xano

Before we dive into Flutter Flow, let's set up pagination in Xano. Here are the steps:

1. Create an API endpoint: Start by creating an API endpoint in Xano that queries the data you want to paginate. For this example, we'll use an endpoint that retrieves a list of MLB players.
2. Enable pagination: In the API endpoint's output settings, check the "Enable paging" option. This will split the response into separate pages.
3. Configure paging settings: Customize the paging settings, such as the page number, items per page, and whether to include paging metadata like the total item count, next page, and current page.
4. Add a page parameter: Add a new integer parameter called "page" to your API endpoint. This will allow you to control which page you're requesting from the front-end.
5. Map the page parameter: In the API endpoint's external settings, map the "page" parameter you just created. This will allow you to override the page number from Flutter Flow.
6. Sort the data (optional): To better visualize the pagination in action, you can sort the data by a specific field, like the player ID in our example.

With these steps completed, your Xano API endpoint is now set up to handle pagination requests from Flutter Flow.

Implementing Pagination in Flutter Flow

Now that our Xano API endpoint is ready, let's head over to Flutter Flow and implement pagination using the two methods mentioned earlier.

Infinite Scroll

The infinite scroll method is a user-friendly approach where new data is automatically loaded as the user scrolls down the list. Here's how to set it up in Flutter Flow:

1. Create an API call: In Flutter Flow, create a new API call and connect it to your Xano API endpoint URL. Add the "page" query parameter and set it to a variable called "page."
2. Test the API call: Test the API call and select the relevant response fields you want to display, such as the player's name, team, and position. Don't forget to select the "next page" field from the metadata, as this will be crucial for infinite scroll.
3. Set up the UI: Create a ListView in the UI builder and add the necessary UI elements (e.g., cards, text fields) to display the player data.
4. Configure the backend query: In the ListView's backend query settings, enable infinite scroll and set the page variable to the "next page" index variable provided by Flutter Flow.
5. Generate children: Generate the child elements of the ListView using the "items" array from the API response.
6. Map data to UI elements: Map the player data (name, team, position) to the corresponding UI elements in the ListView.
7. Test in live mode: Finally, test your app in Flutter Flow's live mode. As you scroll down the list, new pages of player data should automatically load and display.

Traditional Paging with Next/Back Buttons

If you prefer a more traditional paging experience with next and back buttons, follow these steps:

1. Add buttons to the UI: In the UI builder, add two buttons to your app: one for "Next" and one for "Back."
2. Create a page state variable: Create a new local page state variable called "page" and set its initial value to 1.
3. Disable infinite scroll: In the ListView's backend query settings, disable the infinite scroll option.
4. Set the page variable: In the backend query, set the page variable to the "page" state variable you created earlier.
5. Configure the "Next" button: In the "Next" button's action flow, add an action to increment the "page" state variable by 1. This will trigger a rebuild of the current page and load the next page of data.
6. Configure the "Back" button: Similarly, in the "Back" button's action flow, add an action to decrement the "page" state variable by 1, which will load the previous page of data.
7. Test in live mode: Test your app in Flutter Flow's live mode. Use the "Next" and "Back" buttons to navigate through the pages of player data.

And that's it! You've successfully implemented pagination in Flutter Flow using Xano as the backend. Whether you prefer the infinite scroll method or the traditional paging approach with next/back buttons, you now have the tools to display large datasets in a user-friendly and performant manner.

Happy coding!