Ken, The tricky part is: On Mon, Oct 1, 2018 at 5:00 PM Kenneth Geiger via 4D_Tech < [email protected]> wrote:
> These people need to take notes and record data during their field-work > using iPads. Then, once they get back to “civilization”, this data needs to > be uploaded to the Database. How are you going to do that? You didn't mention which version of 4D you are looking at. I strongly suggest 17 because when it comes to transferring data over the web it's most likely going to be JSON and you can't beat v17 for working with that. But what's the interface to collect the data and then what's the mechanism to transfer it? iPads and iPhones can use the Apple office apps, like Pages and Numbers. Numbers makes it easier to export to tabular data but would suck to write more than a few words at a time. Haven't looked at Pages to see if they have a usable form tool. In either event you'll need to make it easy to move this data to where you can get to it. I'd look at Dropbox, Box or the like where you (actually your client) can own the box the docs get dropped in. Or rather they will need to be exported to the cloud destination because 4D can't do anything with native Numbers or Pages files as far as I know. We currently use emails for importing data (notes and pictures). This may be a workable solution in that you could use a mail app that allows writing emails offline. If you're interested in this I'll share the details. Another idea is to build (or have built) a single page web app that could cache the data until it gets signal. And there's always the possibility of 4D Mobile maturing to the point of being able to send data by the time you need it. Of all the options that would be the best. I think the input process is going to dictate what you need to do on the back end. In most of them (4D Mobile excepted, perhaps) something like Randy describes is what you'll want to do. But frankly that's going to be the easy part - working out how your users will collect data on an iPad, store it, and then transfer it is the nut to crack. Have a conversation with the folks at 4D about this. It really is a fabulous first case for 4D Mobile. -- Kirk Brooks San Francisco, CA ======================= *We go vote - they go home* ********************************************************************** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: https://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:[email protected] **********************************************************************
