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Working Offline

CADENSA Mobile works seamlessly offline. Track time without internet connection and sync when you're back online. This guide explains how offline mode works.

Understanding Offline Mode​

What is Offline Mode?​

Offline mode allows you to:

  • Start/stop/pause/resume timers
  • Create new time entries
  • Edit existing time entries
  • Delete time entries
  • Browse projects and tasks (cached)
  • View synced time entries

Without internet connection!

How It Works​

  1. You Perform Action (e.g., start timer)
  2. Action Saved Locally (device storage)
  3. Action Queued for Sync (offline queue)
  4. When Online: Queue syncs to server
  5. Confirmation: Changes appear on all devices

Offline Queue​

What is the Offline Queue?​

The offline queue is a list of actions waiting to sync when online. Examples:

  • Timer started
  • Timer stopped
  • Time entry created
  • Time entry edited
  • Time entry deleted

Viewing the Offline Queue​

  1. Go to Settings Tab
  2. Tap "Sync" Section
  3. Tap "View Queue"
  4. Queue Screen Opens

Queue Display:

⏳ OFFLINE QUEUE (3 items)

1. Timer Stopped
 Project: Website Redesign
 Duration: 2:30:00
 Time: 10:30 AM

2. ✏️ Entry Edited
 Project: Mobile App
 Duration: 1:45:00 → 2:00:00
 Time: 11:00 AM

3. 🗑️ Entry Deleted
 Project: Marketing
 Duration: 0:30:00
 Time: 11:15 AM

Each item shows:

  • Action Type - Start/stop/edit/delete
  • Timestamp - When action occurred
  • Details - Project, duration, etc.
  • Status - Pending, syncing, or failed

Network Status Indicator​

Connection Status Bar​

At the top of every screen, you'll see:

Online:

Connected

Offline:

 Offline - 3 items pending sync

Syncing:

🔄 Syncing... (2 of 3 items)

What Each Status Means​

  • Connected - App is online, changes sync immediately
  • ** Offline** - No connection, changes are queued
  • 🔄 Syncing - Currently syncing queued items
  • Sync Failed - Last sync attempt failed

Automatic Sync​

When Does Auto-Sync Happen?​

The app automatically syncs when:

  1. Connection Restored
  • WiFi or cellular reconnects
  • Auto-sync starts within 5 seconds
  1. App Opened
  • Every time you open the app
  • Checks for pending items and syncs
  1. Change Occurs (if online)
  • Start/stop timer
  • Create/edit/delete entry
  • Immediate sync (no queue)
  1. Periodic Sync (if configured)
  • Every 5/15 minutes (based on settings)
  • Background sync (iOS/Android)

Sync Progress​

During auto-sync, you'll see:

  1. Sync Icon appears in status bar
  2. Progress Message "Syncing 2 of 5 items..."
  3. Completion Toast "All items synced "

Sync Completion​

When sync finishes:

  • All items synced - Queue is empty
  • Some failed - Queue shows failed items
  • ⏳ More items added - Sync continues

Manual Sync​

When to Manually Sync​

Use manual sync when:

  • You want to sync immediately (not wait for auto-sync)
  • Auto-sync failed and you want to retry
  • Before logging out (to save offline queue)
  • Before switching workspaces

How to Manually Sync​

Method 1: Settings Tab

  1. Go to Settings > Sync
  2. Tap "Sync Now" button
  3. Wait for sync to complete

Method 2: Pull-to-Refresh (Time Entries Tab)

  1. Go to Time Entries tab
  2. Pull down from top
  3. Release to trigger sync

Method 3: Queue Screen

  1. Go to Settings > Sync > View Queue
  2. Tap "Sync All" button

Sync Result​

After manual sync:

Success:

Sync Successful

All 3 items synced.

Partial Success:

 Sync Partially Complete

2 of 3 items synced.
1 item failed (tap to retry).

Failed:

Sync Failed

Unable to sync. Check connection and retry.

Conflict Resolution​

What is a Conflict?​

A conflict occurs when:

  • You edit entry offline on mobile
  • Someone else edits same entry on web
  • Both changes try to sync

Example:

Mobile (offline): Edit duration 1:00 → 2:00
Web (online): Edit duration 1:00 → 1:30
Conflict! Which duration is correct?

Conflict Detection​

When sync detects conflict, you'll see:

  1. Conflict Badge on affected entry ( icon)
  2. Toast Notification "1 conflict requires attention"
  3. Conflict Screen (automatic or tap to open)

Resolving Conflicts​

Conflict Resolution Screen:

 Conflict Detected

Entry: Website Redesign - Development
Date: Jan 15, 2024

📱 Your Version (Mobile)
Duration: 2:00:00
Description: "Implemented login feature"
Edited: 11:30 AM (offline)

🌐 Server Version (Web)
Duration: 1:30:00
Description: "Worked on login"
Edited: 11:25 AM (online)

[Keep Mobile] [Keep Server] [Merge]

Resolution Options:

  1. Keep Mobile - Discard server changes, use your version
  2. Keep Server - Discard your changes, use server version
  3. Merge - Combine both (manual editing)

Auto-Resolution Rules​

To avoid conflicts, app uses "last write wins" by default:

  • Newer timestamp wins - Most recent change is kept
  • Server preferred - If timestamps are same, server wins

You can change this in Settings > Sync > Conflict Resolution:

  • Auto-resolve (last write wins) (default)
  • Always ask - Show conflict screen every time

Orphan Cleanup​

What are Orphans?​

Orphans are queue items that:

  • Reference deleted projects
  • Have invalid data
  • Can't be synced (corrupted)

Automatic Cleanup​

The app automatically detects and cleans orphans:

  1. Validation - Check each queue item before sync
  2. Detection - Identify orphaned/invalid items
  3. Notification - Alert you about orphans
  4. Cleanup - Option to remove orphans

Orphan Notification​

 Invalid Queue Items

3 items cannot be synced (orphaned).

Possible reasons:
- Project was deleted
- Invalid data
- Corrupted entry

[Remove Orphans] [Keep for Review]

Options:

  • Remove Orphans - Delete invalid items from queue
  • Keep for Review - Leave in queue (review later)

Manual Orphan Cleanup​

  1. Go to Settings > Sync > View Queue
  2. Tap "Validate Queue"
  3. See Validation Results:
  • Valid items (can sync)
  • Invalid items (orphans)
  1. Tap "Remove Invalid Items"

Data Persistence​

What Data is Saved Offline?​

Always Available Offline:

  • Synced time entries (last 30 days)
  • Projects and tasks (cached)
  • User profile
  • Workspace info
  • Settings

Requires Internet:

  • Older entries (beyond 30 days)
  • New projects (not yet cached)
  • User avatars (not cached)
  • Reports and analytics

Cache Duration​

Cached data remains available for:

  • Time Entries - 30 days (configurable in settings)
  • Projects - Until you sync or force-refresh
  • User Data - Until logout

Storage Limits​

Offline Queue:

  • Maximum: 500 items
  • If exceeded, oldest items are removed
  • Warning at 400 items

Cached Entries:

  • Default: Last 30 days
  • Can configure: 7 days / 30 days / 90 days
  • Settings > Data & Storage > Offline Cache Duration

Offline Capabilities & Limitations​

What Works Offline​

Fully Functional:

  • Start/stop/pause/resume timer
  • Create new time entries
  • Edit existing entries (last 30 days)
  • Delete entries
  • Browse cached projects
  • View cached time entries
  • Change settings (local)

With Limitations:

  • Switch workspace (if cached)
  • Search projects (cached only)
  • View project details (cached)

What Doesn't Work Offline​

Requires Connection:

  • Initial login (must login while online)
  • Fetch new projects (not cached)
  • Load older entries (beyond cache)
  • Sync changes (queue until online)
  • Push notifications
  • Real-time WebSocket sync

Offline Notifications​

Queue Reminders​

If offline queue has items for extended period, you'll receive reminders:

After 24 Hours:

⏰ Offline Queue Reminder

You have 5 unsync items.
Connect to internet to sync.

After 7 Days:

 Long-Standing Offline Items

10 items pending sync for over 7 days.
Please sync soon to avoid data loss.

Sync Recommendations​

App recommends syncing when:

  • Queue reaches 50+ items
  • Oldest item is > 7 days old
  • Before switching workspaces
  • Before logging out

Offline Best Practices​

1. Sync Before Going Offline​

Before traveling or going offline:

  1. Open app while online
  2. Force sync (Settings > Sync Now)
  3. Ensure "All synced " status
  4. Now you're safe to work offline

2. Enable WiFi-Only Sync (Mobile Data Saver)​

If you have limited data:

  1. Settings > Sync > WiFi Only: ON
  2. Changes queue until WiFi available
  3. Connect to WiFi periodically to sync

3. Increase Cache Duration for Long Offline Periods​

If you'll be offline for weeks:

  1. Settings > Data & Storage > Offline Cache Duration
  2. Select 90 days
  3. More entries available offline

4. Monitor Queue Size​

Regularly check queue:

  1. Settings > Sync > View Queue
  2. If queue is large (50+ items), sync ASAP
  3. Prevents queue overflow

5. Resolve Conflicts Promptly​

When conflicts appear:

  1. Tap conflict notification
  2. Review and resolve immediately
  3. Don't let conflicts accumulate

Troubleshooting Offline Issues​

Queue Won't Sync​

Symptoms:

  • Items stuck in queue even when online

Solutions:

  1. Check internet connection (Settings > WiFi/Cellular)
  2. Verify server is reachable (ask admin)
  3. Force sync (Settings > Sync Now)
  4. Restart app
  5. Check queue for orphans (Settings > View Queue > Validate)

Changes Disappeared After Sync​

Symptoms:

  • Made changes offline, synced, changes missing

Solutions:

  1. Check Time Entries list (may be filtered)
  2. Check if conflict occurred (may have chosen server version)
  3. Check if entry was orphaned (project deleted)
  4. Contact support with debug logs

Offline Mode Not Working​

Symptoms:

  • Can't start timer or create entries offline

Solutions:

  1. Ensure you've logged in at least once while online
  2. Check storage permissions (Settings > Apps > CADENSA > Storage)
  3. Verify storage space (need at least 50 MB free)
  4. Restart app
  5. Clear cache and re-sync (Settings > Data & Storage > Clear Cache)

Queue Items Syncing in Wrong Order​

Symptoms:

  • Timers stopped before they started (order issue)

Solutions:

  1. Wait for all items to sync (queue syncs sequentially)
  2. Don't interrupt sync process
  3. If stuck, clear queue and re-create entries manually

Frequently Asked Questions​

How long can I work offline?​

Indefinitely! As long as you have storage space and battery. The queue can hold 500 items. Sync when convenient.

Will offline changes sync to all devices?​

Yes. When you sync, changes upload to server and download to all other devices.

What happens if my phone dies while offline?​

Queue is saved to persistent storage. When you recharge and reopen app, queue is still there. Sync when online.

Can I delete items from offline queue?​

Yes. Go to Settings > Sync > View Queue > Tap item > Delete. But this discards the change permanently.

What if I made a mistake in offline mode?​

Edit the entry before syncing. Or sync, then edit the synced entry. Both work.

Does offline mode use battery?​

Minimal. Offline mode is very battery-efficient (no network requests). Timer in background uses slightly more battery but still minimal.

Can multiple people work on same project offline?​

Yes, but conflicts may occur. Each person's changes queue and sync when online. Conflicts are resolved based on settings.

Next Steps​

Learn more about:

Work Anywhere, Sync Everywhere! 📡