Using IMS4Field Offline

Note

To accommodate sites with poor connectivity, IMS4Field allows you to perform your field activities without an active internet connection. However, a working network connection is required to prepare for using IMS4Field, and to synchronize data collected while offline with IMS.

Specifically, the following IMS4Field functions require a working internet connection:

• Initial download of the scope (Schedules, FLOCs, Equipment, ECHs)

• Selecting a new Dynamic Form for use in an ECH

• Viewing linked CMMS information on a Schedule

• Calculations in Dynamic Forms

• Databinds in Dynamic Forms

• Entity Lookup in Dynamic Forms

• Viewing “who can approve this”

• Approving work (ECHs) in IMS4Field

This section of the Handbook describes how to use IMS4Field offline.

IMS4Field has been designed with the understanding that a working network connection is not available at all sites. With this in mind, IMS4Field can function either with a working network connection or in offline mode for use in environments where a network connection is not available.

When a working network connection is available, information captured in IMS4Field is immediately synchronized with the IMS database. When network connectivity is poor or non-existent, IMS4Field stores any captured data locally on your device until a network connection is re-established. At that point, any saved data is synchronized with IMS.

Preparing for Offline Work

To prepare for working offline in IMS4Field, a few steps should be taken to ensure that you will have access to the Schedules, Dynamic Forms Checklists, and other information you need on your device.

Retrieving Assigned Schedules

Prior to using IMS4Field in an area without a working network connection, you should first retrieve any Schedules which have been assigned to you in IMS. To retrieve any Schedules that have been assigned to you in IMS4Field:

• Access IMS4Field on your device. (See Accessing IMS4Field to learn more.)

• Click Refresh to retrieve any assigned Schedules.

After clicking Refresh, IMS4Field will display a progress indicator for your retrieval. In this step, IMS4Field is downloading all information needed for your Schedules. Time need to download depends on the number of Schedules. It usually requires approximately few seconds per Schedule with reasonable internet connection.

When this process completes, data associated with your Schedules will be stored on your device, ready to be used without a working network connection.

Adding additional Schedules, Equipment, FLOCs, or ECHs

If necessary, you can manually add extra Schedules, beyond the ones already assigned to you. To add additional Schedules, Equipment, FLOCs or ECHs, see Adding Schedules, Equipment, FLOCs, or ECHs directly to IMS4FIeld.

Adding additional ECHs and Checklists

We recommend doing a final review of your planned work. Ensure that each Schedule and Equipment has an associated ECH with all necessary Checklists included and downloaded. If any are missing, create the required ECHs and add the Checklists while still online. You can create new ECHs while offline, but keep in mind that Checklists require an internet connection to download, so they must be added beforehand.

Dynamic Forms Checklists in IMS4Field

In order to use Dynamic Forms Checklists in IMS4Field, those Checklists need to be downloaded. Checklist download happens in two cases:

1. If your Condition Histories in IMS already have one or more Checklists selected, IMS4Field will download those Checklists automatically when you click Refresh.

2. If your Condition Histories in IMS do not have Checklists selected (or if the Condition History is created in IMS4Field):

   1. Online Mode: IMS4Field allows you to select a Checklist and start the download process if the Checklist has already not been downloaded.

   2. Offline Mode: IMS4Field will only offer Checklists which have previously been downloaded.

Working in offline mode

Once you've confirmed that all your Schedules and required Checklists are downloaded, you're ready to work offline. Except for the features listed below, you can now proceed to capture your field data as outlined in Using IMS4Field.

When you have no connection, it will be indicated in the top right.

While it's not required to manually switch between offline and online modes, you can do so from the Settings, if needed.

Features Which Require an Internet Connection

In order to reduce download times, there are certain features which require a working internet connection in IMS4Field. They are described below.

Selecting New Dynamic Forms Checklists

Only those Dynamic Forms Checklists which were downloaded are available for use in recording the results of your inspections. If you anticipate needing additional forms, make sure those are selected while there is internet connection.

Accessing CMMS Information Links

Internet connection is needed to see all CMMS information about a Schedule. To be exact, internet connection is needed when clicked on the Maintenance Plan number, Notification number or Work Order number.

Calculations in Dynamic Forms

When working in offline mode, calculations in Dynamic Forms Fields will not work.

Viewing “Who Can Approve This”

Internet connection is needed in order to see “who can approved this”.

Approving Condition Histories

When an ECH is created offline, the approval screen will not be available until the ECH has been synched with IMS. You will only be able to approve the ECH when IMS4Field has a functioning network connection.