No WIFI or Cell service… then what?

[LeoC2]

I’m worried about using the IOS app out in the field if there is no internet access or cell service. How else can I get the data to the Mac version? If I create a network on the MacBook and have the IOS devices sign on can I transfer data to the Mac version?

Leo

[Leo]

Leo,

you can use TF in the field. Once your back in reach of a network you can initiate a sync to upload the changes you’ve made. All changes are date and time stamped so if a form is changed in the same timespan all subsequent changes are processed.

I assume you know how to initiate a sync?

Leo

[Leo]

Leo,

you can use TF in the field. Once your back in reach of a network you can initiate a sync to upload the changes you’ve made. All changes are date and time stamped so if a form is changed in the same timespan all subsequent changes are processed.

I assume you know how to initiate a sync?

Leo

[LeoC2]

“I assume you know how to initiate a sync?”

I’m not following, do you mean a sync over a local WIFI network created by the Mac in the field with no need for internet access? If that’s what you men… then no.

Leo

[Leo]

No,

that’s not what I mean.

I ment, you can use, or modify data in the field. Once your back in network reach you can initiate a sync on iOs by pulling the main screen to upload all changes you’ve made in the field to all other devices.

[LeoC2]

Yes but doesn’t TapForms need to access iCloud to sync devices? If there’s no internet access how do I sync devices? My problem is that there may not be any internet access at some sites so how do I still sync all devices and the Mac?

Leo

[Leo]

Leo,

the view, edit, add part is done in the field.

the syncing part is done later when you are back within network range.

Thats how we do it for years now. The only thing to remember and do is to initiate a sync.

Leo

[Brendan]

Yes, Tap Forms does require access to iCloud which implies requiring an Internet connection. But Leo is correct, you can edit your data in the field all you like outside of an Internet connection and then sync with iCloud once you get back into Internet range.

However, if you really need to see the data that you’ve created on your iOS devices on your Mac, then you could always use iTunes File Sharing to copy the TapForms_db.sqlite file from your iOS device to your Mac. However, this will replace the database on your Mac with the database from your iOS device. You may or may not want to do that.

Alternatively you can export records from your iOS device as a CSV file and import them into your Mac. You could do this by copying the Share folder from the iTunes File Sharing area for Tap Forms to your desktop and then using the Import Records command in the File menu of Tap Forms. You should also enable the Export Record IDs and Field Type Tags options on the Import & Export Settings screen in the Tools area on iOS before you export your records. When you do an export, the CSV file will be stored in the Exports folder, which is itself inside the Share folder that you have access to from iTunes File Sharing.

See attached photo to see what iTunes File Sharing looks like.

Hope that makes some semblance of sense.

Thanks,

Brendan

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[LeoC2]

OK so the iTunes idea sounds like a good workaround in the event there is no internet access, it would just be a matter of connecting each IOS device to the Mac and I’m in business. But… when I test this the iTunes window shows the share folder as empty. If I save it to the desktop there is nothing in the folder. But the export folder on the iPhone has plenty of exported files in it.

[Brendan]

Hi Leo,

Ah… there’s one wrench in the system that I hadn’t thought about. iCloud. When you have iCloud enabled, Tap Forms stores its files in a different location not accessible from iTunes (unfortunately). The only solution is to turn off iCloud sync and choose the “Keep a Local Copy” option when prompted. That will copy the files from iCloud to your local Share folder. Which of course “may” imply that you need to have an Internet connection. I say “may” because if all of the files are already downloaded to your device, then it may be possible for it to copy them from the Mobile Documents folder to the local folder accessible from iTunes. But if there are any files still not downloaded, then it would need to download them from iCloud over the Internet to get them.

So maybe before you go into the field to collect your data, you disable iCloud, choose the Keep a Local Copy option when prompted and then do your field work without iCloud enabled. Tap Forms will export files to the local Share folder when you export your records and the files will be available in iTunes File Sharing.

I wish Apple allowed iTunes access to the Mobile Documents (iCloud) folders too, but they don’t.

Thanks,

Brendan

[LeoC2]

OK this will work. I just tested it by shutting down WIFI here. I turned off iCloud and then filled in some test forms. I exported them and then was able to retrieve the exported data in iTunes.

Thanks, this will help when there is no internet access at a site.

I’m also going to try some of the available file transfer programs to see which would work in lieu of iTunes. I’ll keep you posted unless you know of one that works particularly well.

Leo

[Brendan]

I often use iExplorer ( http://www.macroplant.com/iexplorer ) For digging into the files within apps.

[LeoC2]

Just checked it out, excellent. Thanks!

Leo

[jols]

I know this thread is a little old, but the discussion is as close as I can find to what I need to do.

I just want to put a TapForms database file in a shared folder on a local network between two iMacs. So that each iMac user can access this file when needed. This of course assumes I have purchased TapForms for each Mac.

Okay, so what happens when one user has the database open and they are happely editing and adding records, etc. Then the second user tries to open the same database?

Do we get a:
BEEP: You can’t open that because the database file is already in use.

or

BEEP: You can open the database as read-only.

or

NO BEEP: Tap forms allows each user to overwrite each others work.

Anyone?

[Author]

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