Sync in EarthRanger Mobile: Difference Between Downloading and Uploading

Sync: Difference Between Downloading and Uploading


When the Sync button is tabbed on the status view, two actions start if the device is online: downloading and uploading.

1. What is Downloading?

Downloading is the process of receiving data from the EarthRanger web platform to your mobile device. In other words, your app retrieves information stored remotely and saves it locally so you can access the latest data when working offline or in the field.

Examples of downloading:

  • Updating Event Types created via the admin
  • Updating new Event Categories created via the admin
  • Updating Patrol Types 
  • Updating Account changes made via the admin
  • Updating new Subjects
  • Updating Subject Tracks and locations
  • Getting new Shared Events

Before downloading, the mobile app checks with the server to confirm whether the data has changed since the last synchronization.

  • If the data has changed, it is downloaded and updated on the device.
  • If the data is unchanged, the server notifies the app that no update is needed.

This verification process helps minimize unnecessary downloads, saving bandwidth and ensuring faster synchronization.


Examples:

No Changes Detected Changes Detected Changes Detected But Failure Occur
  • You modified the schema of an event type in the admin
  • The web browser saves that something changed somewhere within the data
  • When you tap on the Sync button, it checks with the web platform: 
  • “Do you still have data changes in the schemas?”
  • If the schema hasn’t changed, the server replies:
  • “No, that’s still current, no need to download it again.”
  • You modified the schema of an event type in the admin
  • The web browser saves that something changed somewhere within the data
  • When you tap on the Sync button, it checks with the web platform: 
  • “Do you still have data changes in the schemas?”
  • If the schema has changed, the server replies:
  • “Yes, something is different”
  • The app now will compare the local data vs the server data, to find the updated data and download.
  • You modified the schema of an event type in the admin
  • The web browser saves that something changed somewhere within the data
  • When you tap on the Sync button, it checks with the web platform: 
  • “Do you still have data changes in the schemas?”
  • If the schema has changed, the server replies:
  • “Yes, something is different”
  • The app now will compare the local data vs the server data, to find the updated data and download.
  • If a failure occurred before the data was donwnloaded, next time the app tries to sync, the server will response that no data has changed. So a manual change will be needed for the web server to notify again of the previous change.

This system helps maintain synchronization efficiency by only downloading data when updates are detected.

Important to know:
Changes made to Choices do not trigger an automatic update notification. To see these updates reflected in the app, you must initiate a manual change. For example, by modifying the related schema to prompt a new synchronization.

2. What is Uploading?

Uploading is the process of sending data from your mobile device to the EarthRanger Web Platform. In other words, your app shares locally collected information such as Events, Patrols, or Tracks with the central database.

Examples of uploading include:

  • Sending Track Data
  • Submitting Event Data
  • Uploading Patrol Records

Good to know:
Uploading happens automatically whenever the mobile app has an active internet connection. No manual action is required from the user.


3. At a glance

Data Collection
Users upload the data they collect on the device, such as patrols, events, and tracks.

Data Resources
Users download reference data that supports data collection in the field — for example, information about subjects, event types, or patrol configurations.

In summary:

  • Uploads happen automatically whenever a connection is available.
  • Downloads occur either when the app starts up or when the user manually initiates synchronization (e.g., by tapping Sync).

 

  Downloading Uploading
Direction From the web platform → To your mobile device From the mobile device → To the web platform
Automatically Not automatically Automatically
Common Use Getting updates made in the admin Uploading data that was saved in the device
Example Get new subjects, get new event types, get new patrol types, get changes made in event schemas Upload user tracks, upload events created in the app, upload event attachements, upload patrols

 

 

 

Up Next:  Faster App Launch and Optimized Sync in EarthRanger Mobile