Offline Mode and Background Sync
Work without internet — your changes sync automatically when you reconnect.
Signplanr is designed for fieldwork where internet access is unreliable. When you lose connectivity, the app continues to work. Your photos and status updates are queued locally and sync automatically the next time you are online.
How offline mode works
The Signplanr contractor app is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that caches key data on your device. When you go offline:
- Sign list and details remain accessible from the local cache.
- Artwork and reference documents you have already viewed are available offline.
- Map views you have previously loaded are cached and visible.
You do not need to toggle anything on. Offline mode activates automatically when your device loses internet connectivity.
What you can do offline
| Action | Offline support | |---|---| | View sign list and details | Yes | | View previously loaded artwork | Yes | | View cached reference documents | Yes | | Take and upload photos | Queued, syncs later | | Update sign status | Queued, syncs later | | Add comments | Queued, syncs later | | Receive new sign assignments | No (requires internet) |
Photo uploads and background sync
When you upload a photo while offline, it is saved to a local queue on your device. As soon as your connection returns, the app uses background sync to upload all queued photos automatically. You do not need to keep the app open — sync happens in the background.
Background sync relies on your browser's service worker. For the most reliable experience, install the app as a PWA rather than using it in a regular browser tab.
The sync indicator
A small indicator appears at the top of the screen when there are pending changes waiting to sync:
- Orange dot — changes are queued and waiting for a connection.
- Spinning icon — sync is in progress.
- No indicator — everything is up to date.
If you see the orange dot while you have internet, try refreshing the page. In rare cases, a force-refresh (pull down on mobile) clears a stuck queue.
Tips for fieldwork
- Load the event before heading out. Open your sign list, tap into a few signs, and view the map while you still have Wi-Fi. This ensures the data is cached.
- Download reference documents early. Open any event-level or sign-level documents before you leave the office so they are cached offline.
- Check sync status at the end of the day. Before leaving the site, connect to Wi-Fi and confirm the sync indicator clears. This ensures all your photos reach the organiser.
If you clear your browser data or uninstall the PWA, any unsynced photos in the queue are lost. Always confirm sync is complete before clearing data.