Conflict resolution

A synchronization conflict comes into play when users modify a record in the Resco Mobile CRM application in offline mode, but before they synchronize the change, the same record is also altered on the backend server. In other words – the same record gets updated both in the mobile client and on the server, but neither of these modifications has been yet synchronized between them.

And thus the conflict occurs: Which modification should be applied to the record, both in the app and on the server, after the next synchronization takes place?

Identifying conflicts

Conflicts are identified during synchronization. One of the early phases of synchronization is uploading client changes to the server, and in this step, the client searches for conflicts (using the modifiedon attribute of records).

Configuring conflict resolution

Woodford administrator can select a conflict resolution strategy. The strategy is defined for each entity. Select the entity in the Project menu and choose the appropriate option for the On Conflict parameter. See App_projects#Conflict from more details.

For automatic handling, you can decide which side (client or server) wins. The change on the losing side is lost.

Alternatively, to ensure that you don't lose any important information, you can resolve conflicts manually. You have two options for manual conflict resolution:

• App users can resolve conflicts directly in the app.
• Administrators can resolve conflicts remotely using the Sync Dashboard. Go to Woodford Configuration > Offline Data Sync > Sync Errors and enable Remote Conflict Resolution.

Resolving conflicts on the client

In case of conflicts, a new item appears as the first item of your Home screen: Sync Errors.

Tap More if you want to show the detail of the affected entity record. The client version is displayed.

Tap Resolve and select how to resolve the conflict:

• Clear Error & Retry – Delete the error log, assuming that you have changed the data in Resco Mobile CRM to fix a validation error. The record with new values will be synchronized at the next synchronization.
• Clear Error & Ignore – Delete the error log, assuming that you have changed the data on the CRM server and next synchronization will download the fix to Resco Mobile CRM application.
• Help – About sync errors – Takes you to https://www.resco.net/sync-errors/
• Take Server Version – Save server version of the record also to the local database and delete the error log.
• Email – Send one or all errors to your administrator for consideration.
• Merge – Merge conflicting records manually, specifying the fields to take from device or CRM server version.
• Cancel – Allows you to resolve the conflict later.

Resolving conflicts on the server

See Conflict resolution in Sync Dashboard for more details.