Solution for collecting forms when offline.

Hello, i'm trying to figure out a solution for collecting forms when offline, I read somewhere that we can create a fillable pdf of our existing jotform, I started this process and it successfully converted a form I had in jotform to a pdf and allowed me to save it on my desktop.  I'm trying to figure out how to place this pdf in jotform so that I can collect the data and later submit when I have an internet connection. Can you please walk me through how to collect offline date using the pdf option.  Thanks

Hello ahashimi,

If I understand your question correctly, you want to save the data offline and then submit it when you are back online. Is that correct?

There are two option which I believe should fit into your requirement:

#1. Auto fill setting: You can enable the "Auto Fill" feature of your form which will save the input data every few seconds. Please be noted that auto fill feature saves the input data in browser cookie. That means if the user access the form again from other browser, other system or clear the browser cache, the saved data will not be accessible. The following guide should help you:  http://www.jotform.com/help/227-How-to-Enable-Auto-Fill-Feature-Save-Form-Entries-to-Continue-Later 

#2. PDF form: You can download PDF version of form where you can input your data and submit it only when you are back online. The following guide should help you how to download PDF version of form:  https://www.jotform.com/help/212-How-to-create-a-PDF-form

Hope this helps.

Do get back to us if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Hello,

Thanks for the quick response.

I’m using a particular form for capturing leads live on the phone, so while we are speaking to the lead over the phone, we are entering their contact information using the jotform iPhone app. My concern is while we are entering the info, if we suddenly lose our data connection or any other error occurs, will we somehow be able to retrieve the information we had already entered into the form? I enabled the auto fill setting you mentioned, does that mean if I simply push the back button on our phone browser (using safari browser) that the info we had entered will still show up in the form?

Another instance is when someone is on a job site and they need to complete a project checklist form, however they don’t have a good data connection and cannot load form on their iPhone. In that instance, would they use the pdf to capture the info and upload that info to jotform later? I converted our project checklist form to a pdf using your method and it saved the fillable pdf to my desktop, i’m just not sure what I need to do after that step is complete. Everything we are doing is using the mobile app, so i’m assuming we would need to import the pdf file into jotform somehow for capturing that offline data?

My concern is while we are entering the info, if we suddenly lose our data connection or any other error occurs, will we somehow be able to retrieve the information we had already entered into the form?

As long as you are filling the form on the same browser and you have autofill enabled, you will be able to see the previous data that you have entered on the form. 

I enabled the auto fill setting you mentioned, does that mean if I simply push the back button on our phone browser (using safari browser) that the info we had entered will still show up in the form?

Yes, you can click the back button on your browser and the info that you entered will still show up in the form. You can check out this feature in my demo form here: https://form.jotform.com/62731895922970. Fill in the data in the first page and click back. You will see that when you go back to the form, the data will still be there.

Another instance is when someone is on a job site and they need to complete a project checklist form, however they don’t have a good data connection and cannot load form on their iPhone. In that instance, would they use the pdf to capture the info and upload that info to jotform later?

Yes, you can use the Fillable PDF to save the filled form while on a place with poor connection. Then once they are able to connect to the internet somewhere else, they can submit the PDF form and the data will be sent to jotform.

I converted our project checklist form to a pdf using your method and it saved the fillable pdf to my desktop, i’m just not sure what I need to do after that step is complete. Everything we are doing is using the mobile app, so i’m assuming we would need to import the pdf file into jotform somehow for capturing that offline data?

Once you have converted the project checklist form to a PDF, simply send the PDF to the user who will fill in that form. Then to fill the PDF form, they can use a PDF reader that can be used for fillable PDFs. You do not need to import the PDF file back to jotform. All your users will need to do is to fill the form and save it offline. Then find a place with good connection later and click the submit button on the PDF to submit the data to jotform.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Regards.