Field iD Mobile: Working Offline and the Offline Mode

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Taking Assets and Jobsites Offline or Online
    2.1 How to take an asset offline or online
    2.2 How to Take a Customer or Jobsite Offline or Online
    2.3 Still can't clear the offline tag?
    2.4 Clearing Offline Data on the Web App
3. Using Offline Mode/Online Mode
    3.1 How to Switch to an Offline Connection (or go back to Online Mode)

1. Overview

The Field iD App for mobile devices (Android and iOS) provides the ability to take either a Customer/Jobsite to an offline status or take an asset offline.  

This allows the user to perform an inspection or identify assets when there is no internet connection available.  

Waiting for a sync to finish is the key to a successful user experience with Field iD's offline mode. e.g.

Adding assets/places to Offline Collection or going back to the online state? Please wait for the sync to finish before proceeding or turning off your device. 

How do I know if the sync is finished? Please wait for the sync banner at the top right to go away. To check the sync progress, you can head to the Sync & Connection page. 

*Be sure to sync your offline inspections before updating your Field iD app, failure to do so may result in loss of data.

2. Taking Assets and Jobsites Offline/Online:

 
2.1 How to Take an Asset Offline: 

1. Once signed into the Field iD app, you will be taken to the Sites menu where your Customers/Jobsites are listed. 
2. From the Sites menu option, click on a Customer/Jobsite that has assets associated with it 
3. Click on the Assets tab from the app and find your desired asset.    
4. When you have identified your desired asset, swipe the asset name from right to left and tap the “Take Offline” icon. A cloud icon with an arrow moving up and down will indicate that a sync needs to be done in order for the change to take effect. 
5. An icon that looks like two rotating arrows will appear next to the asset to let you know that the app is in the process of taking the asset offline. 
6. Once completed, an offline icon will be attached to the asset indicating that it is Offline. 

*To remove your asset from the Offline Collection and take that asset back online, simply repeat steps 1 to 4 and press the “Clear Offline” button. The offline icon will be removed from the asset once it is back online.

2.2 How to Take a Customer/Jobsite Offline:  

1. Once signed into the Field iD app, you will be taken to the Sites menu where your Customers/Jobsites are listed. 
2. Find the Customer/Jobsite you wish to take Offline and swipe right to left over the 3 grey dots in the Customer/Jobsite window. 
3. You will then see an option to “Take Offline”. A cloud icon with an arrow moving up and down will indicate that a sync needs to be done in order for the change to take effect. 
4. An icon that looks like two rotating arrows will appear next to the asset to let you know that the app is in the process of taking the asset offline. 
5. Once completed, an offline icon will be attached to the asset indicating that it is Offline. 

*To remove the Customer/Jobsite from the Offline Collection, repeat steps 1 to 4. This time, click on “Clear Offline” to set the Customer/Jobsite back online.  The offline icon will be removed from a customer/jobsite once it is back online.

2.3 Still can't clear the offline tag? Here's why:

If your assets are still offline after clicking the "Clear Offline" button, make sure the following has been resolved: 

• This asset was manually taken offline -  Clear the offline status manually by swiping left on the asset and tapping 'Clear Offline'

• This asset appears offline due to an upcoming scheduled event - See the article here for more information: https://support.ecompliance.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018620174-Are-scheduled-events-added-to-my-offline-collection-in-Field-ID-s-Mobile-App-

• This asset will appear offline until the next sync has been completed - This indicates that you have tried to clear the offline status of an asset. Sync the app through the Sync & Connection page to take the asset back online

• This asset is offline due to its associated site being taken offline - Clear the offline status manually by swiping left on the site and tapping 'Clear Offline'

• This asset is offline due to an associated saved draft - Submit the draft and sync your app through the Sync & Connection page

For more information on how to Sync your app, please read this article here: Field iD Mobile: Syncing

2.4 Clearing Offline Data:

When working in offline mode, the data you collect from your events remain loaded on your Field iD mobile device.   

Each user’s offline data collection contributes to your account’s total data collection. If too much data accumulates over time, it will slow down response time and may even force the app to time out.     

Not all users can clear their Offline Data Collection. Only Administration users can clear the data on their own accounts. The Super Administration user, on the other hand, can clear the Offline Data Collection, on every single one of the account’s users. To clear “Offline Data Collection” as either an Administrator or as the Super Administrator, do the following:  

1) Click on your name in the top, right-hand corner of the screen.  

2) Click on the “Mobile Offline Collection” tab   

3) Either choose to remove individual assets or “clear the entire collection.”  

Remember to purge any unused data here regularly in order to maximize the efficiency of your Field iD app. 

3. Using Offline Mode/Online Mode

3.1 How to Switch to an Offline Connection (or go back online):

1. Use your login credentials to sign into the Field iD app 
2. Once signed in, click on the three horizontal lines (hamburger icon) in the upper left-hand side to open the Menu screen 
3. From the listed menu options select “Sync & Connection” 
4. In the Connection area of the app, the status will default to Online - click on the orange Go Offline button. 
5. A banner will pop up at the bottom of the screen to indicate that the app is offline.

To revert to Online, tap the 'Go Online' button and the offline banner will slide off the screen. 

Reverting back to Online mode does take all assets online. If assets or sites have been manually taken offline, they will stay offline until their offline status has been manually cleared. See the steps above (How to Take an Asset Offline) to return an asset or site online.