Synchronize task

Field applications can upload field edits through mobile services (hosted on ArcGIS Server) and/or feature services (hosted on ArcGIS Online for organizations or your on-premise Portal for ArcGIS), and can download edits by other field crew to your device. To synchronize data, ensure that your device has an Internet connection. Also, consider the time needed to complete synchronization, which depends on the following factors:

• Number of edited features and amount of their attributes
• Whether features have attachments, and if so, the total attachment size
• The Internet connection speed (for example, a 3G/4G/WiFi connection with a strong signal yields faster synchronization than an Edge network)
• Performance of the back-end database, as well as your ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Online for organizations, or Portal for ArcGIS
• Amount of existing features in the mobile cache

Synchronizing data manually and data auto-upload

There are two ways that you can synchronize field edits:

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

Manual synchronization

Use the Synchronize task, to push field edits to and/or pull data from the back-end database.

Windows Mobile device

Steps:

1. Open your mobile project (see Opening/Closing/Deleting projects for details).
   Note:

   If a mobile service and/or feature service is used in your project, the Download Data? page appears and prompts you to download data. Tap Yes and 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 service-based operational layers, the layers show in the Upload Changes For: section. Check the layer or layers you want to upload to these layers' edits.
   Note:

   Attachments are uploaded together with their associated features.

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

   For both upload and download, if there's a service-based identity layer in your project, it is 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.
   Note:

   For feature services, attachments are always downloaded with features.

7. If the service or services from which you are downloading data is/are secured, you will be prompted to enter credentials to connect to the service (if you have not logged in). 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 that have attachments 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 on the Synchronization Details page.

9. Tap OK to return to the Task List page.

Windows device

Steps:

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

   If a mobile service and/or feature service is used in your project, the Download Data? dialog box appears and prompts you to download data. Tap Yes and 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 are uploaded with its associated features.

4. The Download Data page appears. All service-based operational layers are listed and unchecked. Check the ones you want to download data from and 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 and tap Next.
   Note:

   For feature service, attachments are always downloaded with features.

6. If the service or services from which you are downloading data are secured, you will be prompted to enter credentials to connect to the service (if you have not logged in). 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 shows at the top right, as shown below:

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

Auto-upload

Auto-upload automatically posts field edits back to the back-end database at a regular time interval, when data changes, or when the device is connected or cradled. 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.