Work offline and sync

Lab keeps a copy of your laboratory's open work on your device. You can enter readings with no internet connection. When the device is online again, Lab sends your work to the server and gets the changes that other people made. This is a sync.

What works with no signal

• Open tests, their worksheets and the result that Lab calculates as you type.
• Samples on the device, and scanning their labels.
• Site work, for example field density and concrete sampling.
• Standard text for notes and remarks.

The office tasks on the desktop need an internet connection. For example Book in, Review, Reports, the Equipment register and Training.

See the sync status

• Computer: the status bar at the bottom left shows Up to date or what is waiting.
• iPad: the dot at the top right is green when Lab is up to date, amber when work waits to send, and grey with no connection.
• Phone: tap Me. Waiting to send shows how many changes are not on the server yet.

Sync now

Lab syncs by itself. To sync at once:

• Computer: click Home › Sync now, or press Ctrl+R.
• iPad: tap the sync dot.
• Phone: tap Me › Sync now.

When the server refuses a change

Sometimes the server cannot accept a change. For example, you are not authorised to do the test, or the equipment is out of date. Lab keeps the change on the device and tells you:

• iPad: the sync dot is orange. Tap it to open Refused by the server.
• Phone: tap Me › Refused by the server.
• Computer: the status bar shows how many changes need review. Click it.

Each change shows the reason from the server. Fix the problem, then tap Send again. To remove the change from the device, tap Discard.

Download everything again

If the device shows old data, tap Download everything again in the settings. Lab keeps your unsent changes.

Before you sign out

Caution: Sign out only when Waiting to send shows 0. Lab does not sign you out while changes wait to send, because signing out would lose them.

Related pages

• Open Lab and sign in
• Do a test on a worksheet