Managing connectionless systems

Connectionless systems or connectionless field clients are offline devices that are used in the field to fill in the forms generated and set up using the InfoAsset Mobile Office version. 

Connectionless systems have the Field version of InfoAsset Mobile installed, which is a cut-down version designed for the collection of field data. Such devices allow teams to continue their work where a data connection is not available, and can be synchronized at a later time, either when a mobile data connection is again available or with access to an office network. The flexibility of this solution means that InfoAsset Mobile can operate in any environment.

Note: Only users with an Administrator or a System Administrator role can configure, synchronize and view connectionless systems.

This section shows a brief overview of the chronology of operations that should be carried out when implementing and using connectionless systems.

  • Connectionless systems are set up in the Field version of InfoAsset Mobile. A DCSL.xml key file is automatically generated as a result, inside a directory that can be found in the chosen save location. The file and directory should be copied onto a removable device if a removable drive was not chosen as the destination for saved files at install time. A connected InfoAsset Mobile Office client must then be used to validate the connection and allocate a field licence. The generation and validation processes are described in detail in the Setting up connectionless systems topic.
  • Once the validation process is complete, System | Account | Manage Connectionless System can be used to configure which applications, networks, and users will be available to the connectionless system.
  • After this, a synchronization should be performed. This is achieved by using System | Account | Synchronize Connectionless System. Reports are initially synchronized as specified in the Manage Connectionless System dialog at configuration time.
  • The removable drive can then be re-connected to the field machine and InfoAsset Mobile Field started. InfoAsset Mobile Field version should now work with the application, network and logins selected during configuration on the connected Office version.
  • Once the work has been completed in the field, the drive can be removed and re-attached to the Office client and a synchronization performed to upload the work. Any merges that are required can be done using the System | Account | View Connectionless System.

The sections below describe in more detail the different operations that are part of the management of connectionless systems.

See the Setting up connectionless systems topic for further details.

Connectionless system configuration is performed by an administrator using a connected InfoAsset Mobile Office client. Configuration occurs in the Manage Connectionless System dialog, which is accessible by selecting System | Account | Manage Connectionless System.

  1. Select the desired connectionless system from the standard Windows Open dialog that is displayed and click Open.
  2. On the Manage Connectionless System dialog:
    1. In the Applications page, select the applications that will be available on the connectionless system.
    2. In the Networks page, select the networks that will be accessible from the connectionless system.
    3. In the Users page, select the users who are allowed to log into the connectionless system.
    4. In the Synchronize page, configure synchronization parameters. These define the default behaviour of the connectionless system as far as synchronization with the InfoAsset Mobile server is concerned. Report type and date range settings can be specified here.
  3. When finished, click OK.

    You should now carry out a synchronization.

Synchronization is the process by which a connectionless system and the InfoAsset Mobile server are updated at the same time with data changes made on each other. Only administrators are allowed to perform synchronizations.

  1. Select System | Account | Synchronize Connectionless System.
  2. Select the desired connectionless system from the standard Windows Open dialog that is displayed and click Open.

    Note: Connectionless systems must be configured before being synchronized.

    Synchronization is carried out according to the default settings specified in the Synchronize page of the Manage Connectionless System dialog.

    Several dialogs are displayed with progress bars, showing the update progress. These dialogs disappear automatically once synchronization is complete.

Synchronization should be performed:

  • Whenever work has been carried out in the field and needs to be uploaded to the InfoAsset Mobile server.
  • Whenever changes have been made on the InfoAsset Mobile server, such as creation of new forms and report uploads.

Connectionless systems can be viewed in a connected InfoAsset Mobile Office client. This is available only to administrators.

To view a connectionless system:

  1. Select System | Account | View Connectionless System.
  2. In the standard Windows Open dialog that is displayed, select the desired DCSL.xml file.
  3. Click Open.

    The View Connectionless System dialog is displayed.

  4. Select the desired application and network.
  5. Click View.

    A message is displayed, asking the user for confirmation. ClosedShow image

    6. Change to Connectionless System message

  6. To proceed, click Yes.

    InfoAsset Mobile Office loads the data for the selected connectionless system. The layout is very similar to the one of a connected system with the following exceptions:

    • !!Connectionless!! is displayed in the software titlebar.
    • The View Connectionless System dialog is still displayed on screen and is not in focus.
  7. Perform any required tasks on the connectionless system (generate, edit , complete or merge reports, etc).
  8. When finished, click the Close button of the View Connectionless System dialog.

    InfoAsset Mobile closes the data of the connectionless system and the connected client is reloaded.

Administrative tasks