Offline mode is a great tool to use in situations where cell service is poor. When you're using your device to run searches or issue violations in a low-service area - such as an underground parking lot - the app can run slowly as it drops service and continuously attempts to reconnect to the servers. 


Turning on Offline Mode takes the app completely offline, letting the patroller issue violations without the lag times that low-service areas can cause. 


Offline Mode is also turned on automatically to prevent issues when your device cannot find a network signal. 


How Offline Mode works:

When Offline Mode is enabled either manually or automatically, the Roker Patrol app no longer accesses any network. This means that whatever data is currently showing on the app is what will be there until you go back online. 


For example, if you are on the main page and have not selected any locations, you will not be able to select a location without getting 0 results since none of that data is cached and since the app needs to access the internet to pull that data in. You'll need to open a location first and then go into offline mode. 


If you have previously selected a location and are seeing data, then whatever data is showing there will remain on your device until you go back online and refresh the location. 


This means that Offline Mode is great for only short bursts of patrolling, as data can be out-of-date quite quickly in a busy location. 


Important notes to consider: 

  • Data is cached automatically when a new location is opened
  • Data cannot be cached if you are offline. However, you can use cached data offline IF you have already cached it while online
  • 'Cached Data' refers to all active parking sessions that show in the mobile up when a location is opened under Enforcement
  • You can only cache data on one location at a time. For example: if you open Location A, that data will be cached. If you open Location B, Location A's data will be overwritten with Location B's data. 
  • Violations issued in Offline Mode are not immediately sent to the server. They are only sent to the server once you go online again (this is done automatically)
  • While offline, the last minute check prior to issuing a violation only searches the parking sessions that were cached. Any parking sessions created after first updating the offline cache will not show. This is why we recommend refreshing the cache every 10 or so minutes, in an area with cell reception, so that you have less of a chance of issuing violations to registered vehicles. 


Step 1

Open the Roker Patrol app and log in

Step 2 

Select a location. 

Step 3

Once the location has loaded, the data is automatically cached. You should see a brief notice at the bottom letting you know it was successful. 

Step 5

Go into Offline Mode (found under Settings in the Roker Patrol app). If you leave the Enforcement screen to issue a violation, the data will continue to be cached unless you select a different location while online. 


Note: if you do not go into Offline mode and you start patrolling in an area with poor cell reception, the app will bump you into Offline mode automatically after attempting to reach the server five (5) times. 


 

Step 6

Important: we recommend that you go online every 10-15 minutes, turn off Offline mode and refresh the data on the location to get all of the latest registrations. Then, follow steps 2-5 again. 

Step 7

After you have finished patrolling and are back in cell reception, pull down on the screen or hit the refresh button to go back online.  The app will now sync the violations you submitted to the server. You can confirm they were all sent by going to Violations History on the front page.