Overview
If you're out in the field conducting surveys or inspections in a remote location, you may not always have access to a stable internet connection. But with FastField's offline data collection, you can keep working without any interruption.
The FastField app allows you to complete forms even without a continuous internet connection by caching or downloading them to your device. Forms that are submitted offline are saved in the Sync folder on your device and auto-synced when you're back online. Offline data collection is particularly useful for those in the field where internet connectivity can be spotty or non-existent — allowing you to collect data with confidence.
How to enable offline data collection
In order to view and fill out your form offline, make sure the form has been loaded onto your mobile device. Log into the app (while connected to the internet) before using offline data collection to check. Once you've made sure the form has been loaded to your device, you'll be able to access it in offline data collection. To use offline data collection:
Log into the mobile app with your user email and password.
Tap the Online button at the bottom center of the main menu.
When prompted to work offline, tap OK.
Here is how it will look on iOS:
Here is how it will look on Android:
Submit in offline data collection
If you try to submit forms while in offline data collection, the FastField app will save your completed forms to the Sync folder on your device. Once you have internet connection through WiFi or mobile data, the app will automatically sync/submit all forms that are in the folder. If for some reason the forms in your Sync folder don't automatically sync when reconnected, you can manually sync them. Tap the green Sync button in the top-right corner of the Sync folder in the app.