Offline mode allows you to input data on a FieldScope project data entry form on any device when you are in an environment with no cell or wifi signal, and then sync and upload that data once you are reconnected again. This is all accomplished in the browser on your phone, tablet, or laptop and does not require downloading a special app.
This article goes over the process of making sure you are set up for offline mode, what you will experience when offline, and how to sync and upload your data once you are back online.
Before Heading Out to Collect Data
Before you head out to a disconnected environment where your device is not able to connect to a cell or wifi signal, make sure to load the FieldScope project you will be adding data to and login. If you do not, you may not be able to use all functionality and will encounter the following message when you do go offline.
If you know where you will be collecting data, it is highly recommended to add the location to FieldScope ahead of time (if you have not already) so the Station will be available to select when you are at your collection site and using offline mode. Open the data entry form and add a new station, or make sure an existing station you will be collecting data at is already visible. See more about adding a station to the FieldScope platform in the Adding Data to a Project article here.
If you are not able to add the station location at this time because you do not yet know where you will be collecting data, that is OK! You are able to add a new station while in offline mode by manually adding latitude and longitude coordinates to set your location. If you do not have a way to do this while offline, you can always proceed by using the default latitude and longitude for your new station, and then fixing this location information when you are connected again.
At Your Offline Collection Site
Once you open the FieldScope project on a browser on your device, you will see a message at the top indicating that you are offline. You can proceed with entering your data.
Select your station or add a new one. Then fill out your information in the appropriate data fields.
*Note, media cannot be added in offline mode, so collect any media on your device’s camera or audio recorder, and plan to add it to your observation once you are connected again and the observations are saved to the database.
Once you have filled out all the information, click Save at the bottom of the screen to finish your offline data collection. Or, click Save and add another if you want to keep adding more observations at the same or a new location.
After you save, you will be taken to a map. The map may not load in offline mode, so click the Map/Table toggle to see your data added in the table and ensure your data are viewable in offline mode. The looping video below shows what this data entry and saving experience looks like in offline mode.
Note: Data entered while in offline mode are saved in the browser; so clearing browser history will delete offline data.
You will not see your offline data if signed into a different browser or device, so make sure to use the same device and browser when you are once again connected to a cell signal or wifi and are ready to proceed with the next steps.
Once You Are Connected Again
When your device again is connected to a cell signal or wifi and you have the browser open to the FieldScope project, it will alert you that you have added observations while offline that you need to upload.
In the My Offline Observations tab, click each row. Before you click Upload to submit it, we recommend reviewing the data and editing it if necessary (read more about editing data here). Alternatively, you can upload first, and review and edit later.
After you upload each of the observations you saved while in offline mode, the My Offline Observations will simply disappear, which is an indicator that all of your data has been successfully synched with the online database.
