This article will show you how to use the Mobile Offline Inspection system. This process requires a subscription to this feature within the Community Development product.
Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are simply installed web applications. Websites you can install on your mobile device, much like you would install an App from an App store. It allows a user to access the site offline without an Internet connection.
Purpose
Field staff can install the PWA on their mobile device browsers. Staff can then use the system offline. This works without an Internet connection in the field. Inspectors can view and manage inspections assigned for the current day while offline. All changes made to an inspection are saved on the mobile device. These changes are stored until the user syncs the device. Syncing happens with the online system once an Internet connection is available.
Note
If the user has a stable Internet connection or Wi-Fi access to the browser-based system, the offline PWA does not need to be used.
Approved Mobile Device Browsers
Only the newest versions of Chrome and Safari are supported. They must run on the latest iOS and Android operating systems.
Install the PWA on a Mobile Device Browser
Follow the instructions to Install a Progressive Web Application.
Connect to the PWA
The user must first have a connection to the Internet. With that connection, launch the PWA from the icon on the device.
You will log in with normal Community Development credentials
Note
On your first login, you will be prompted for a PIN. This PIN is used to verify the synchronization of your data.
First, connect to the system online. Wait for the application to finish updating. Then, put the mobile device in airplane mode. Or, use a similar mode that turns off the Internet connection.
Note
Once offline, do not close the application. The application will not operate correctly if a user attempts to connect to the PWA while offline.
Use the PWA
Once offline, follow the instructions below to use the PWA.
When the site loads, relevant inspections appear. They are shown on the left side. What is visible depends on the user's account permissions.
Inspection icon key:
P: Permits Inspection
C: Complaints Inspection
V: Violations Inspection
J: Projects Inspection
F: Fire/Safety Inspection
L: License Inspection
You can narrow down your list by using the Search option
Or use the Filter options
Note
Inspectors can view only the inspections assigned to them. Administrators can see all inspections.
After an inspection is selected, more menu items appear. They are located to the right of the chosen inspection. These items can be expanded. This allows users to enter the needed information.
Inspection: This section shows general information about the inspection. This includes its status, location, and inspection type.
Codes: This section allows you to enter the appropriate codes against the inspection.
Documents: This section lets users upload files or images. These files or images are linked to the inspection. Users can choose files from their device. Or, they can open the camera on a mobile device.
Checklist: This section allows you to fill out any associated Checklist.
Review: This section shows any applicable review information for the inspection.
Related Inspection: If there is a related inspection, it will be referenced in this section.
Forms: This feature works only when online. This process sends a PDF from the server. The document will be fetched correctly only after the user's changes have been synced.
Upload/Download Data from the Online System
The PWA must work offline. So, the device must be in airplane mode during inspections. Users can Sync the data stored on the mobile device to the server. Do this when inspection work is done for the day, or when an Internet connection is available. Follow the steps below to sync. If the user plans to continue field inspections offline after syncing, the device must be put back in airplane mode.
Access the device's settings and take the device out of airplane mode.
Use the Sync button to send changes back to the server database. This will also sync any changes from the database to the customer's application. Typically, you will be prompted to enter your PIN for the sync to complete.
After all data is synced, a user might need to keep doing inspections offline. If so, keep the PWA active. Put the device back in airplane mode. Then, follow the steps above to handle more inspections.