This guide explains how the Capture app behaves when you open it, switch back to it or navigate in it, what happens during a full sync – and what you can do, whether you are online or offline. 

Contents

• 1.0 The app updates automatically
• 2.0 Full project synchronization
  • 2.1 When does a full synchronization occur?
  • 2.2 Monitor the progress
  • 2.3 View synchronization details
  • 2.4 Models that have already been downloaded
• 3.0 When you return to the app (from background to foreground)
• 4.0 When you reopen the app (after it has been fully closed)
• 5.0 When you return from a list or details page
• 6.0 Maps
  • 6.1 Selecting map layers
  • 6.2 Online maps – available features
  • 6.3 Offline maps – what works without an internet connection
  • 6.4 Limitations – what requires the internet
  • 6.5 Norgeskart and road reference – for road projects
• 7.0 Summary – what do you need to remember?

1.0 The app updates automatically

The goal is that you always see up-to-date information (registrations) on the home screen.

Every time the home screen (the 3D view or the camera) in the Capture app becomes active or is shown on your device, the app automatically:

• Checks for new or changed registrations.
• Updates the 3D view / map so that all new registrations with a location are also shown.

This happens without you having to tap a separate “refresh” button. The app is updated in these situations:

1. When the app goes from background to foreground (that is, if you come from another app and back to Capture without it having been closed completely).
2. When you open the app again after it has been closed.
3. When you switch project or workspace.
4. When you go back from a list or detail page to the home screen.

The situations are explained in more detail below. They only describe how the app fetches new registrations or changes to existing registrations.
 

Note: Registrations are synced automatically. To do a full update of the app – including the project setup, template configuration and updated models/drawings – tap Sync in the side menu. This keeps the app fast and prioritises the changes users work with most actively. You can do a full sync at a time that suits you. See 2.0 Full sync of the project.

2.0 Full sync of the project

A full sync downloads everything you need to work in the project, also without internet. It consists of four parts that run at the same time:

• BIM model – the models linked to the project.
• Offline map – the map of the project area.
• Templates – the templates for registrations in the project.
• Registrations – the registrations in the project.

2.1 When does a full sync happen?

• When you switch project.
• When you tap Sync in the side menu. Do this, for example, when the project setup, templates or models have changed.

2.2 Follow the progress

While the sync is running, a banner is shown at the bottom of the screen with the text Syncing for offline use. The banner shows which part is being synced and how many of the four parts are done, for example 3 of 4.

When everything is done, the banner changes to Ready for offline use, with the time of the sync. Close the banner with X.

Working while the sync is running

• From the landing page, you can go to the overview of registrations while the download is running.
• The 3D view cannot be used until the first model has been downloaded and is shown.

Stopping the sync

You can tap Stop syncing at any time. The app then uses the information that has already been downloaded.

Note: If you stop the sync before the model has finished downloading, you cannot place registrations in the model until it has been downloaded. Start a new sync with Sync in the side menu when you have good coverage.

2.3 View sync details

Tap the banner to see the details. Each part is shown on its own row with a status:

• Up to date – the content on the phone was already up to date, and nothing had to be downloaded.
• Done – the content has been downloaded.
• [fill in: status and text when a part fails]

For Templates and Registrations, the number downloaded is also shown. Tap Close to go back.

Note: Photos and files are downloaded in the background after the sync has finished, and become available offline gradually. Files other than photos and videos, for example PDFs, are only available offline if you have opened them while online.

2.4 Models that are already downloaded

The app only downloads a model if there is a new version. If you switch back to a project you have used before, and the model has not changed, the model already on your phone is used. This makes the project ready faster.

When the model opens, the app shows how many disciplines have been loaded, for example 0/4 disciplines.

3.0 When you return to the app (from background to foreground)

Situation: You have been using the Capture app, but switch to another app, take a phone call or lock the screen. Capture is then not closed, but stays in the background while you do something else.

What happens when you open Capture again:

• The app continues where you left off.
• As soon as the home screen is shown, the app automatically checks whether there are new registrations, or whether existing registrations have changed while you were away.
• New and changed registrations are shown in the 3D view or map, and in the list of registrations.

What do you need to do: Nothing. The update happens automatically.

Note: Only the registrations are updated here. Changes to the project setup, templates or models are fetched with a full sync. See 2.0 Full sync of the project.

4.0 When you open the app again (after it has been closed completely)

Situation: The Capture app has been closed completely. This can happen in two ways:

• You have closed the app yourself.
• The phone has closed the app automatically, for example to save battery or memory. This often happens if the app has not been used for a while.

What happens when you open Capture again from the home screen or the app list:

• The app restarts.
• When the home screen is shown, the app does a full update of the content and fetches the latest registrations.
• This makes sure that all new information is available before you start working.

What do you need to do: Nothing. The update happens automatically when the home screen is shown.

5.0 When you go back from a list or detail page

Situation: You have left the home screen to work with registrations, for example to:

• open a registration from the 3D model or the map to see the details
• go through the list of registrations
• create, change and save a registration

What happens when you tap “Back” and return to the home screen:

• The app automatically updates the registrations in the home screen.
• Changes you have made yourself, for example a new location or a changed status, are shown right away in the 3D view or map.
• New registrations from others in the project are also included.

What do you need to do: Nothing. You always see up-to-date information when you return to the home screen.

6.0 Map – possibilities and limitations

The map in Capture lets you navigate to places in the field, place registrations precisely and find existing registrations. Here is an overview of what you can do – and what requires an internet connection.
 

6.1 Choose a map layer

Choose a map layer in the drop-down menu at the top of the map. Which map layers you can choose from depends on the project setup, for example World Map, Norgeskart and Project Area.

Project Area is the project area, that is, the part of the map that is available when the device is offline. The area is set up by an administrator on the web.

• When you are online: If you choose Project Area, the map automatically jumps to the project area.
• When you are offline: If the device is already offline when the app starts, the project area is shown directly, not the other map layers.

Note: Outside the project area, you have no background map when you are offline. Make sure the project area covers the area you will work in.

Note: Norgeskart is a Norwegian map service that only covers Norway. This map layer is therefore only relevant for projects in Norway.

6.2 Map online – available features

When you have an internet connection, all map features work:

• GPS and position display.
• Address search.
• Background maps (OpenStreetMap globally, map data from the Norwegian Mapping Authority for Norway).
• Distance measurement.
• Automatic coordinates and address when placing.
• Real-time sync of registrations.
   

6.3 Map offline – what works without internet

The map in the Capture app is designed to work in the field, also without coverage. All three core features – Navigate, Place and Find – work without an internet connection.

When you are offline:

• GPS and position display work as normal.
• You can place registrations, take photos and fill in information.
• Locations, photos and metadata are saved locally on the device and sent automatically to Interaxo when you are back online.
• Existing registrations and offline maps are available as normal.

Note: The offline map must be set up by an administrator in advance. Without this, you will have no background map available offline. See the administrator guide for offline maps for more information.

6.4 Limitations – what requires internet

Some features are only available when you are online:

• Address search – Searching for an address in the map requires an internet connection. Registrations that are already placed still show their address offline.
   
• Norgeskart and road reference (NVDB) – These are special features for road projects in Norway and always require an internet connection. See more below.

6.5 Norgeskart and road reference – for road projects

This section only applies to projects in Norway. Norgeskart and NVDB are Norwegian services that only cover Norway, and cannot be used for projects in other countries.

For Norwegian road and infrastructure projects, it is possible to enable an additional map type:

Norgeskart – The Norwegian Mapping Authority's Norgeskart becomes available as an extra background map alongside the standard map.

Automatic road reference (NVDB) – When you place a registration, the app automatically fetches the nearest road from the Norwegian Road Database (Nasjonal vegdatabank, NVDB) and shows the road reference on the registration. This makes it easy to document the exact place along a road without having to look up the road reference manually.

Important limitations for these features:

• They require an internet connection – they do not work offline, because fetching the road reference requires a map search.
• They are only available in Norway.
• They are not part of the standard delivery. Each customer must ask to have this enabled for their projects. Contact your project administrator or Interaxo if you want this.

7.0 Summary – what do you need to remember?

General sync

• Registrations are updated automatically every time you see the home screen – you do not need to do anything.
• You do not need to tap a “refresh” button or close and reopen the app to get the latest version.
• For a full update of the project setup, template configuration and models: tap Sync in the side menu.
• The banner at the bottom shows the progress. Ready for offline use means that the project can be used without internet.

3D viewer

• The 3D viewer updates automatically and shows new registrations with a location every time the home screen becomes active.
• This happens when you return to the app, open it again, switch project, or go back from a list or detail page.
• Models that are already downloaded are not downloaded again.

Map

• Navigate, Place and Find work both with and without an internet connection.
• Address search requires internet – registrations that are already placed still show their address offline.
• Offline maps must be set up by an administrator in advance. Without this, you will have no background map available without coverage.
• Norgeskart and NVDB road reference only apply to projects in Norway, require internet, and must be enabled per project – they are not enabled by default.

See also (Opens in a new tab)

• A2: Main navigation
• A8: The record list
• Features in the 3D Viewer