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Capture Data Anytime, Anywhere: Leveraging SurveyJS Functionality Offline

Form builder with offline functionality

Have you ever found yourself sifting through all your form data? Do you wish you had a simpler and more efficient way to manage online forms and surveys? If so, SurveyJS might be the powerhouse tool you're looking for.

This article will explore this tool, which is designed to streamline the creation and management of web-based forms and surveys. We'll examine the tool's offerings and see why it's an unparalleled solution for anyone who wants to collect and analyze data without the headache of manual processing. You'll also learn how to use SurveyJS functionality offline to collect data on devices with no internet access. So, let's dive in.

What is SurveyJS?

At its core, SurveyJS is a comprehensive suite of JavaScript libraries tailored for those who need to build highly customizable forms, surveys, quizzes, and questionnaires. It is reliable web form automation software for individuals and businesses who want flexibility, functionality, and ease of use. If you want to avoid multiple form submissions or you're looking for the best free web form builder, SurveyJS is a great go-to choice.

Why You Should Use SurveyJS

SurveyJS supports complex logic, dynamic data population, and multi-page forms. All these features make your data collection tools as simple or sophisticated as your project demands.

If you're looking to build a web form for a small internal team or a large-scale survey for widespread public distribution, SurveyJS equips you with the tools to do so efficiently and effectively.

To simplify form creation, you can self-host SurveyJS Creator with a drag-and-drop web form builder interface. This way, any member of your team, regardless of their skill level, will be able to create professional-quality forms without any background in web development.

Advantages of Using Forms Offline

Create Offline Data Collection Form.

One of the most compelling features of SurveyJS forms is their offline functionalities. This way of data collection works best in areas with unreliable internet connectivity or for users who need to gather information in the field. Let's take a look at some of the most significant benefits.

Uninterrupted Data Collection

Offline form functionality continues data collection even with internet outages or connectivity issues. You can use this function for field research, events, or any scenario where internet access is limited.

Improved User Experience

Users can complete forms conveniently and remotely. All they need is a gadget with the form already pre-loaded. Creating this form leads to a smoother, more reliable experience and can increase the completion rate for surveys and forms.

Enhanced Data Reliability

Data entered into offline forms goes into a local database until your device restores an internet connection. At that point, your form will securely transmit data to the server. Such a dynamic mechanism will minimize the risk of data loss due to connectivity issues.

Accessibility in Remote Locations

For projects that involve traveling to remote areas, offline functionality is invaluable. Studies show that only 5.35 billion people have access to the internet. That's roughly 66% of the world's population. And for those with access, a good portion have intermittent access, which can pose a data collection challenge if your forms are web-dependent.

Researchers and workers can collect data as usual and sync it later. This way, geographic limitations no longer hinder data collection efforts.

Cost Savings

Operating offline can lead to significant cost savings while still accomplishing the task. You won't have to pay for expensive satellite internet connections or send respondents to one connectivity-enabled place. Go out with a tablet or phone and have people complete your forms.

How to Set Up Offline SurveyJS Forms

Setting up SurveyJS forms with offline capabilities ensures you can capture data seamlessly, regardless of your respondents' online status. Here's a comprehensive guide to walk you through the steps to implement offline functionality in your projects with SurveyJS.

Step 1: Understand SurveyJS Libraries

Before diving into the setup, you should understand the SurveyJS libraries and their roles. You can take computer science or coding classes. Even the cheapest CS degree can give you a good background. Otherwise, you should hire a developer to help you with this process.

SurveyJS consists of several key components: the Form Library, Survey Creator, PDF Generator, and Dashboard. Each part is essential for creating, deploying, and analyzing surveys. For offline functionality, we'll focus primarily on the Form Library, which is responsible for form rendering and data collection.

Step 2: Integrate SurveyJS Into Your Project

First, you'll need to integrate SurveyJS into your web project. Refer to the following tutorials to quickly get started with SurveyJS. Ensure you use the latest version of the libraries to take advantage of all features and improvements.

Step 3: Create Your Survey

Use a free full-featured demo of SurveyJS Creator to design your survey. The drag-and-drop web form builder lets you construct your survey visually: add questions, configure options, and set up logic without writing a single line of code. Once your survey design is complete, export the JSON object representing the structure of your survey.

Step 4: Implement Offline Support

To enable offline functionality, you must store the survey data locally on the respondent's device until an internet connection becomes available. You can achieve this by using the browser's localStorage or IndexedDB. This guide will focus on localStorage due to its simplicity and broad browser support.

Upon form data submission, you need to determine whether the user is online or offline. You can use the navigator.onLine property to check the connection status. If it is offline, save the results to localStorage upon completion, as shown below:


survey.onComplete.add(function (result) {
   if (!navigator.onLine) {
      window.localStorage.setItem('surveyResults', JSON.stringify(result.data));
   } else { 
      // Implement your data syncing logic here, e.g., posting to your server
  }
 });

Step 5: Sync Data When Back Online

After collecting responses offline, you must implement a mechanism to sync the data with your server once your device connects to an internet service. Listen for the window's online event to trigger the data sync process.


window.addEventListener('online', function() {
  const results = JSON.parse(window.localStorage.getItem('surveyResults'));
  if (results) {
    // Implement your data syncing logic here, e.g., posting to your server
    window.localStorage.removeItem('surveyResults'); // Clear after syncing
  }
});

Step 6: Test the Offline Functionality

Thoroughly test your survey's offline functionality to ensure reliability. Simulate offline conditions by toggling your browser's offline mode or disabling your internet connection. Complete the survey and ensure that the responses are stored locally. Then, reconnect to the internet and confirm that the stored data syncs back to your server or designated endpoint.

Step 7: Fine-Tuning and Deployment

After testing, you may need to fine-tune your survey to accommodate specific requirements based on feedback. Consider edge cases like partial form submissions or multi-page surveys to ensure your offline functionality covers all scenarios. Once satisfied with your setup, deploy your survey, confident you can collect valuable data regardless of connectivity.

Using SurveyJS Functionality Offline

Setting up SurveyJS with offline functionality involves understanding the SurveyJS libraries, integrating SurveyJS into your project, creating your survey, implementing offline support, syncing data when back online, testing the setup, and fine-tuning for deployment. Following these steps will give you the full power of SurveyJS. Then, you can collect data efficiently and effectively, whether online or offline.

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