FAQs about Downloading Projects to Mobile Devices
When downloading projects to your mobile device, consider the following details to optimize storage and ensure you have access to the necessary data.
- What happens when I turn a download option from on to off?
- Why is the Files download option only available the first time I download a project?
- Considerations for Downloading Photos
- How Downloading Attachment/References Works with Other Download Options
What happens when I turn a download option from on to off?
If you turn off the Sheets, Photos, or Attachments/References download options, items downloaded in the previous sync stay on your device after the next sync.
Why is the Files download option only available the first time I download a project?
Download options for Files work differently because there are more granular controls available. You can download files and folders individually and apply a setting on each to download the latest version automatically. Learn how in Sync and Download Files.
Things to Consider:
If you do not set a file or folder to download automatically, but an item such as an issue references the file (and the Attachments/References > Issues toggle is on in mobile download options), the file downloads.
If you turn off the download option in Files for a file or folder, those files are removed from your device. Files that meet the mobile download options are downloaded again.
The latest versions of files always download to mobile devices, even if older versions are attached or referenced by items.
Considerations for Downloading Photos
When you set the Photos download options for a project, keep these points in mind:
If you select a time-based photo download option, such as Photos from last seven days, only photos added to the project in the last seven days (not including today) download. If today is March 28, photos added between March 21 and March 27 download. On March 29, if you keep the same download option, the date range for downloads is now March 22 to March 28. Photos added since the previous date range (March 28) download.
For photos not yet downloaded, you can manually download them even if they do not match the selected download option. Photos not yet downloaded appear as follows:
- iOS – Undownloaded photos show a placeholder. Tap to manually download any photo.
- Android – Undownloaded photos show a spinning icon. If you have an internet connection, photos in your view download automatically. For example, if you view a form, photos referenced in that form download automatically. After later project syncs, downloaded photos stay on your device.
If you change your photos download option from No photos to All photos, all photos will download on future project syncs. This includes photos added as references to other items, such as a photo referenced in a form or issue.
Downloaded photos stay in the Photos tool in the app unless you delete them from the project on the web. In this example, photos from March 21, which are now outside the current date range, stay on your device.
How Downloading Attachment/References Works with Other Download Options
Items such as sheets and photos can be individual data or attachments or references for other items. So two sets of download options may apply. Items do not need to meet both sets of criteria to be downloaded.
For example, consider these download options:
- Photos – Photos from last seven days
- Attachments/References - Issues toggle – On
In this case, here are some scenarios of what is downloaded:
Asset A is referenced by Issue A, and Issue A is open. Asset A downloads per the Attachments/References criteria.
Photo A was created five days ago and is not attached to or referenced by any other item. Photo A downloads per the Photos criteria.
Photo B was created 10 days ago and is attached to Issue B. Issue B is open. Photo B does not meet the Photos criteria, but downloads per the Attachments/References criteria.
Photo C was created 10 days ago and is attached to Issue C. Issue C is closed. Photo C does not download because the issue is not active, and the photo does not meet the Photos criteria.
Asset A is referenced by Issue A, and Issue A is open. Asset A references Photo B.
- Asset A downloads per the Attachments/References criteria.
- Photo B doesn't download per the Attachments/References criteria, as it is not directly linked to Issue A.
- However, Photo B could download per the Photos option if it meets the criteria. For example, if Photo B was created five days ago, it would download per the Photos criteria.