zInspector’s two-part synchronization approach—Sync & Queue—allows for numerous users to inspect the same properties even without an internet connection. Website changes sync to mobile device(s). Inspections upload via the Queue.

 

Sync

The Sync icon/button in the app toolbar indicates the sync status of your mobile app. A green icon indicates that the app has recently synced with the server for changes to your Properties, Contacts, and global settings. Sync occurs every time you re-open the app and then as specified to keep up to date. The Sync icon will momentarily turn yellow when a sync is in progress. To make sure your app is up-to-date on any recent website changes, tap the Sync icon to see when the last sync occurred and perform a force sync immediately, if needed.

Tip: You can specify the periodic sync frequency as needed to every minute, every ten minutes, or every hour (which is the default) in the app’s Settings menu under Sync Settings.

Queue

The Queue icon/button in the app toolbar (just left of the Sync icon) indicates the number of inspection items and app-performed database changes remaining to be uploaded. Tap on the Queue button at any time to see the item currently uploading and subsequent items waiting to upload (if any).

Important Notes:

• • Until the Queue has finished uploading all items, the inspection will be incomplete on the website. If you can’t find a completed inspection in your Timeline, don’t panic: check the Queue on your mobile app!
  • The mobile app must be open in order for Queue items to upload. In previous versions of zInspector, the app also had to be active (i.e., currently in view on the device) in order for the Queue to process. Now, as long as the app is open, even if it is idling in the background, Queue items will upload, based on your WiFi Settings (discussed below).

How the Queue Works 

Typically, the Queue will look like the image below—unless it is empty. The top item is the one currently uploading or the next one to be uploaded to the zInspector server. An Up Arrow status icon indicates that the corresponding item is in the process of uploading. An Hourglass status icon will typically accompany any subsequent item(s) in the Queue, to show that it is waiting for the item(s) above it to upload.

To troubleshoot a Queue item: Tap on any Queue item (photo or video) then select Send to Support to email it to zInspector Support. You will rarely, if ever, need to do this; it is provided as a useful debugging tool in a few specific situations.

To edit a Queue/Gallery item: Tap on any Queue item (photo or video) then select Highlight in Gallery. To reach Gallery view, you can also tap the Gallery icon (just right of the Sync icon) at any time. In the Gallery, you can manage photos and videos that have uploaded or are awaiting upload in several ways. Gallery view looks like this:

Gallery View

Gallery View displays any photos awaiting upload in the Queue as well as any photos previously uploaded, within a specified number of days. You control the number of days to keep photos on the device once they have uploaded (under Settings > Misc. Settings)—either never, 1, 3, 7, or 30 days—but the default is 7 days. Some Gallery tools are especially handy on the mobile device, such as Markup, so we recommend keeping uploaded photos on the device for at least 1 or 3 days. The following tools are available for Gallery items:

Item Info: Tap the camera icon to see basic info about the Queue/Gallery item: address, activity type, area name, media type (photo or video), and upload status. Tap Edit to access the Edit Tags tool for this item (discussed next) or tap View to view or delete it (tap the trashcan icon).

Edit Tags: Tap the pencil icon to edit the item tags: activity type, area, detail, action, and comment—just make sure to click Save after making any changes to the tags. You can also delete the item here (tap the trashcan icon).

Important note: Use caution when deleting any item from the Queue or Gallery. Any item deleted from the Gallery will be permanently removed from the device, from the Queue (of waiting up load), and from the website (if already uploaded but still in the Gallery).

Markup: Tap the pen icon to mark up any photo in red, black, white, and/or yellow.  Tap the X to undo markups. Save markups by tapping the disk icon. Markups added to any photo in the Gallery will upload to the website, even if the photo originally uploaded without any markups. Videos cannot be marked up.

Share: Tap the share icon to bring up the standard Share menu for your device. Send the item via a text / message app, email program, printer, or other, as available.

WiFi-Only Uploading or No Internet

If the first item in the Queue shows a crossed out WiFi symbol, your app settings are specified to require WiFi for one or more upload types and that the device is not currently connected to WiFi.

WiFi Settings

There are three different Mobile Data / WiFi Only settings:

Photos on WiFi only: Only upload photos when connected via WiFi. When this is selected, video uploads automatically restrict to upload on WiFi as well and the setting will be greyed out.

Videos on WiFi only: Only upload videos when connected via WiFi. This does not restict photos from uploading without a WiFi connection (i.e., using mobile data).

High priority items on WiFi only: Only upload high-priority items when connected via WiFi.  High-priority items include the main inspection data (detail ratings and comments). We do not recommend restricting the upload of high-priority items in most cases.