Understand sync status and conflicts

What Pending sync, Syncing, Sync failed, Sync stopped, Synced and Needs review mean, and how an administrator resolves a conflict.

When you work offline, InvoBill saves each change on the device and sends it to the server later. A small status chip shows where each record stands.

What each status means

  • Pending syncSaved on this device and waiting to be sent. Nothing is lost.
  • Syncing…Being sent to the server right now.
  • SyncedThe server accepted the change.
  • Sync failedA send did not work. InvoBill will try again.
  • Sync stoppedInvoBill gave up retrying this change. It needs attention.
  • Needs reviewTwo versions of the same record differ. A person must choose.

If a record stays Pending sync

  1. Do not enter the same bill again. Check first that it is really missing.
  2. Make sure you have internet. Open a normal page and see that it loads.
  3. Keep the app open for a minute. Pending records are sent when the connection is back.
  4. If it shows Sync failed, wait and check again. Do not clear site data.
  5. If it shows Sync stopped, tell your administrator.

When two versions differ

InvoBill handles the two kinds of data differently.

  • Everything else, including products and parties: the latest change to each field wins. You are not asked.
  • Money records: invoices and their items, purchase invoices and their items, payments, expenses, bank transactions and accounts. InvoBill keeps both versions and marks the record Needs review. It does not pick a winner for you. If the only differences are notes, remarks or similar non-money fields, or a stock quantity differs by less than one unit, it resolves on its own.

Resolve a conflict (administrators)

Only an administrator can resolve conflicts. Staff such as a salesman cannot open the screen.

  1. Go to Settings & Admin > Admin Dashboard.
  2. Open the tile Sync Conflicts. It shows Total Conflicts, By Type and a list of Unresolved Conflicts with the record type, record ID, Local Time and Cloud Time. When there is nothing to resolve you see No unresolved sync conflicts.
  3. On the Conflict Resolution screen, the list is titled Pending conflicts. When it is empty it says No pending conflicts. Everything is in sync.
  4. Tap Resolve on a conflict. A window opens with the Local version (from the device) next to the Server version. Fields that are the same are marked Identical. Fields that differ are marked Differs.
  5. For each field that differs, choose the Local or the Server value. Compare dates, amounts, references and linked stock and payment entries before you choose.
  6. Tap Save merged record. Or, to take everything from the server, tap Accept all Server values (the list also has an Accept server button for a quick choice). Cancel closes the window without changing anything.
  7. After saving, check the totals that depend on the record, such as the customer's balance and the stock quantity.
Decisions are recorded in the sync audit log. A record you decide not to keep is archived, not erased.