In combination with an iOS-, Android- or Desktop-App the offline client plugin allows for offline data collection with FORMCYCLE forms. The collected data can later be transmitted to the FORMCYCLE server. This plugin is subject to additional charge.

Please note: As it cannot be guaranteed that an active internet connection exists, there are a few restrictions when using the offline app.

• The appointment finder is not available in the offline app.
• JavaScript that accesses resources from the internet (such as CSV data sources) is not supported.

Offline Apps

There three different apps that can be used for collecting form data offline:

• FORMCYCLE iOS-App
• FORMCYCLE Android-App
• Desktop-App (in development, currently only available in Beta version)

In order to use these apps it is neccessary to install the offline client plugin in FORMCYCLE. This plugin provides the capability to synchronize forms between app and server.

Configuration

On app startup the connection to the FORMCYCLE server needs to be configured. These settings can be changed anytime by accessing the menu entry Settings.

User name

Name of the FORMCYCLE user that collects data using this app. 

In the desktop app the client needs to be specified within this field like so: user@client

Password

Password of the FORMCYCLE user

Client (only in iOS- and Android-App)

FORMCYCLE client of the user. 

In the desktop app the client needs to be specified within the user name field: user@client

URL

URL under which the FORMCYCLE system is accessible. 

This URL needs to the same as the base URL of the client if a FORMCYCLE master server is accessed. If a frontend server is accessed, its URL has to be used instead, e.g.  https://fs.example.com/frontend-server 

Language (only in Desktop-App)

Language of the app

Logfile Level (only in Desktop-App)

Determines what kind of messages will be logged for the app

Using the App

After configuring the FORMCYCLE offline app the available forms will be loaded from the server. These forms will then appear on in the overview of the app and can be opened anytime. Which forms will be loaded from the server depends on the user permissions in the form login and the form groups in the offline client plugin.

Synchronize

After Clicking/tapping that button all forms will be loaded from the FORMCYCLE server and all finished form records  of the app will be send to the server.

Clicking/Tapping a form from the form overview opens it. The form can now be filled out. If the form is filled out it can be finished or saved by clicking/tapping Send or Save. Finished form records will not be send directly to the server. Only after clicking/tapping Synchronize in the form overview will the finished form records be send to the FORMCYLE server. Saved form records will be saved on the device the offline app is installed on. These form records will not be send to the server.
Finished and saved form records can be accessed to the left of the form or via the menu in the top right corner. Saved form records can be changed before finishing and synchronizing them with the server.

Form buttons for submitting or saving the form are not available in the offline apps because the form records will not be send directly to the server.Us the buttons Send and Save of the offline app instead.

Note: Form buttons for submitting or saving the form are not available in the offline apps because the form records will not be send directly to the server. Use the buttons Send and Save of the offline app instead.

Therefore, the processing chains with a button-event in the workflow will not be executed. The "Offline app submit"-event can be used instead to react to the synchronisation.

Global plugin settings

The offline client plugin must be installed as a system-plugin. After installing the plugin can be configured with the following parameter:

group-name

If not all forms of a client should be available in the offline app, a form group can be specified here. If a form group is set only the forms of that group will be available in the offline app.