Working offline and synchronisation

primedocs Desktop keeps templates, profiles and shared snippets in a local cache (offline cache) on your computer. Depending on your organisation's setup, you can keep working with it without a connection to the primedocs server, for example on the train or in the home office without VPN. With lazy loading set up, however, a connection is required. New or changed templates are fetched automatically as soon as the connection is back.

Applies to: primedocs Desktop. primedocs Web and the web add-ins always need a connection.

What works offline

• Creating documents from templates already on the computer, provided the template needs no functions with a server connection
• Using own and shared snippets that are already loaded
• Switching between your profiles
• Using the local functions of the primedocs tab in Word, classic Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel

What needs a connection

• Receiving new or changed templates, profiles and shared snippets
• Assigning an organisational unit to someone else's shared profile (editing right also required)
• Searching recipients via a service that needs a network connection
• Outputs and other functions that access a server or connected service

How current is my data?

At the bottom right of primedocs Desktop, Last update shows the time of the last successful synchronisation. By default primedocs Desktop synchronises about every 15 minutes. Your organisation can change this interval. After program start the first synchronisation may be delayed so that not all computers load the server at the same time.

Under primedocs → Help → Versions and connection you see whether the client is connected. Offline, the server version reads "Unknown (Offline)".

Synchronise now

If a template that was just published is missing, fetch the changes immediately:

• Click Last update at the bottom right and then Synchronise, or
• right-click the primedocs icon in the Windows notification area and choose Synchronise.

First start and large changes

On first start primedocs Desktop synchronises the required data. The duration depends on the volume, and primedocs is ready only afterwards. Later only changes are transferred. If your organisation changes the server address, primedocs Desktop rebuilds the cache.

If lazy loading is set up for you (loading on use), primedocs Desktop loads templates and snippets only on first use. In this mode primedocs Desktop needs a connection to the server. Lazy loading is not intended for offline work.

If something does not work

You see	What helps
A new template is missing	Click Synchronise. If it stays missing, have release, profile and document language checked.
An error appears on creation although the template is visible	With lazy loading or templates using server functions, check the connection and read the error message.
Last update is days ago	Check the connection (for example VPN) and synchronise manually. If the update still does not happen, see Help and troubleshooting.
Profile fields show old values	Check whether the field carries its own value (then restore inheritance). Otherwise the server-side reconciliation of user data may still be pending. It has its own schedule, and a manual synchronisation does not speed it up.