Synchronize task

The field applications are capable of uploading field edits to ArcGIS Server and downloading operational data to the field device. To synchronize with ArcGIS Server, ensure that your device has an Internet connection to the server. Also, take into account the amount of time needed to complete synchronization, which depends on the following factors:

• Number of features and amount of their attributes
• Whether features have attachments, and if so, what the total attachment size is
• The connection speed between the field device and ArcGIS Server (for example, a 3G/4G/WiFi connection with a strong signal yields a faster synchronization than an Edge network)
• Performance of ArcGIS Server and the back-end database

Synchronizing data manually and data auto-upload

There are two ways that you can synchronize field edits with ArcGIS Server:

• Manual synchronization done through the Synchronize task.
• Auto-upload done by the application at a regular time interval, when data changes, or when the device is connected

Manual synchronization

Using the Synchronize task, you can push your field edits to and/or pull data from the back-end database.

Windows Mobile device

Steps:

1. Make sure your mobile project is open (see Opening/Closing/Deleting projects for details).
   Note:

   If there's no mobile service-based operational data when you open the project, the Download Data? page appears and prompts you to download data. Tap Yes, then proceed to step 4.

2. On the Task List page, tap Synchronize.
3. The Choose Layers page appears. If you have field edits in the mobile service-based operational layers, the layers will be listed in the Upload Changes For: section. Check the layer or layers which if you want to upload their edits.
   Note:

   Attachments will be uploaded with its associated features.

4. The Download Updates For: section at the bottom of the page lists all mobile service-based operational layers. Check the ones you want to download features for.
   Note:

   For both upload and download, if there's a mobile service-based identity layer in your project, it will be checked compulsorily.

5. Tap Next.
6. If any of the layers you selected to download contains attachments, the Download Attachments page appears. Uncheck the names of the layer or layers if you don't want to download their attachments; then tap Next.
7. If the mobile map service or services from which you are downloading data is secured, you will be prompted to enter credentials to connect to the mobile map service. Enter the credentials and tap OK to start downloading data.
   Tip:

   During data synchronization, you can tap the Tasks button to continue your field work simultaneously. While synchronization is in progress, the synchronize symbol is shown at the top right, as shown in the image in the next tip:

   Tip:

   If you want to cancel the synchronization, tap Menu > Cancel Synchronization, as shown in the image below:

8. When synchronization ends, the Synchronization Status page appears. The page is divided into three sections:

   • At the top, the Last Upload Operation section lists the uploaded operational layers (and attachments).
   • In the middle, the Last Download Operation section lists the downloaded operational layers.
   • At the bottom, the Attachment Download Details section lists the map layers which attachments were downloaded.

   Tip:

   A check mark next to a layer indicates it was synchronized successfully and a red dot indicates that synchronization failed. In either case, you can tap the layer to see details in the Synchronization Details page.

9. Tap OK to return to Task List page.

Windows device

Steps:

1. Open the mobile project (see Opening/Closing/Deleting projects for details).

   If there's no mobile service-based operational data when you open the project, the Download Data? dialogbox appears and prompts you to download data. Tap Yes, then proceed to step 4.

2. The View Map page appears. Tap Tasks > Synchronize.
3. The Upload page appears. All mobile service-based operational layers that have field edits are listed and checked. Uncheck the layers to exclude them from uploading, then tap Next at the bottom right.
   Note:

   Attachments will be uploaded with its associated features.

4. The Download Data page appears. All mobile service-based operational layers are listed and unchecked. Check the ones you want to download data from, then tap Next at the bottom right.
5. If any of the layers you selected contains attachments, the Download Attachments page appears. Check the names of the layer or layers that have attachments you want to download, then tap Next.
6. If the mobile map service or services from which you are downloading data is secured, you're prompted to enter credentials to connect to the mobile map service. Enter the credentials and tap OK to start downloading data.
   Tip:

   During data synchronization, you can tap the Back button to continue your field work simultaneously. While synchronization is in progress, the synchronize symbol is shown at the top right, as shown below:

7. The following image shows the synchronization results where feature upload and download were successful but attachment download failed. Tap Details to see a detailed message.
8. Tap Back to return to the View Map page.

Auto-upload

Auto-upload automatically posts field edits back to the server at a regular time interval, when data changes, or when the device is connected. This setting can be configured by you or your project administrator. To know how to configure the auto-upload setting in the field applications, see Synchronization settings.

As with manual synchronization, when the field applications are posting edits, you can see the synchronize icon at the top right of any page and your field work isn't interfered.