iPad Menus

If you want to transition from paper menus to digital iPad menus, or want both at the same time, all you need are the iPads.

By utilizing iMenuPro’s Live-Sync Print-Alike, you can convert your printed menu into a digital iPad menu in just a few steps. Since iPad menus are digital, you can update your menu without needing to reprint.

Follow these steps create a digital iPad menu using Live-Sync

Create a Menu

1. If you don’t already have a menu, start a new blank menu with File > New Menu

2. Use File > Page Setup to set the correct iPad menu size. This will depend on which model iPad you own, but for most like the Classic iPad or 10.9” iPad, choose Paper Size > Custom and enter 8.5" for the Custom Width and 11.98" for the Custom Height. This will fill the iPad screen.

3. Now create your menu as you normally would. If you don’t want your menu to scroll, make sure it fits onto a single page. But you can also have multiple pages and allow your customers to scroll by swiping.

Enable Print-Alike

4. To exactly match the look of your printed menu on your iPad, use Tools > Live-sync menu, click the Sync button to create a live-sync menu, then check the box that says Enable Print-Alike. Then click the Print-Alike tab that appears.

5. Next click the QR legacy link at the top. Even though you’re not using this QR, you’re going utilize the Public link feature here.

Set up your iPad

6. On your iPad launch Safari and copy the Print-Alike Public link into Safari’s URL bar. This will display your Print-Alike menu on your iPad. But Safari’s URL bar will still be visible.

7. To hide the URL bar, create a menu app icon which will a) allow you to launch the menu quickly and b) hide the Safari URL address bar. To create the app icon, while viewing the Public menu link in Safari, click the Share icon (page with up-arrow) at the top of screen and choose Add to Home Screen.

Share option with Add to Home Screen highlighted

8. After selecting Add to Home Screen, enter a name for your menu icon - this can be any name you want but best to keep it short.

Name your menu app icon

9. Now your icon appears on the iPad home screen. To view your full-screen menu without the Safari URL bar, simply tap the icon.

iPad Menu displayed with Safari URL Address bar hidden

View the Print-Alike live-sync menu

Tip

See Kiosk mode below, which is optional but you’ll most likely want to use it.

Resyncing after menu edits

10. If you have updated your menu, in order to get the updates displayed you’ll need to a) close the menu on the iPad as you would close any app that’s running b) tap the menu icon on the iPad to relaunch it.

Using Mobile vs. Print-Alike

Mobile menus can also be displayed on your iPad as digital menus. All the steps above are the same - just use the Mobile Public link as opposed to the Print-Alike Public link.

For Mobile menus you can include heading navigation tabs or hide them - it’s an option within the app.

iPad Menu displayed using Live-Sync Mobile menu

View the Mobile live-sync menu

Kiosk Mode (Guided Access)

Kiosk mode aka Guided Access is ideal if you want a simple way to lock the iPad to one app without additional infrastructure or cost. For the most up-to-date instructions on how to do this, visit Apple’s support site since these instructions might change in the future.

Apple Support for Guided Access

To enable Kiosk mode do the following:

1. Enable Guided Access. On your iPad open Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access. Then turn on Guided Access Next tap Passcode Settings > Set Guided Access Passcode to enter a secure passcode, and (optionally) enable Face ID or Touch ID to end sessions. PLEASE REMEMBER THIS PASSCODE TO NOT BE LOCKED OUT OF YOUR IPAD.

2. Start a Guided Access Session: Launch the iMenuPro menu from the app icon you have created. On iPads with a Home button, triple-click the Home button; on Face ID models, triple-click the Top button. This will start the Guided Access session (aka put you into Kiosk mode). At this point your customer can’t do anything on the iPad except view the menu.

3. Set the Access Options: Triple click the Top Button and tap Options (lower left), then disable all options. For example Touch, Motion, etc., then tap Resume. Note: If your Print-Alike menu is more than one page or your using a Mobile menu do not disable Touch, else the customer will not be able to scroll.

4. End a Session: Triple-click the Home/Top button again, enter your Guided Access passcode (or use Face/Touch ID), and tap End (upper left).

5. (Optional) Battery & Power: Keep iPads plugged into a continuous power source; if unattended power is unreliable, consider a power-management accessory OR disable auto-sleep in both Guided Access and Configurator settings.

Tip

As an alternative to Apple’s Guided Access, there are apps such as Kiosk Pro that let you do a similar thing, but you can also use Kiosk Pro in combination with Apple’s AirPlay Mirroring to mirror your iPad menu onto a Digital TV for in-store menus or signage. This allows you to create Digital Signage menus at virtually no cost, other than the one time, low cost fee of the Kiosk Pro app. This is an exciting alterantive to paying monthly service fees for Digital Menu Boards and hardware fees per location.