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Turn on FieldWorks Lite

FieldWorks Lite lets team members do dictionary work on a phone, tablet or computer while the rest of the team keeps using FieldWorks. This page is for the project manager who turns it on. FieldWorks Lite is still being developed (what that means).

Before you start​

  • Your FieldWorks project is on Lexbox and has data. A new project stays empty until someone sends it from FieldWorks for the first time (Fill it with data), so even a team that will only use FieldWorks Lite needs FieldWorks once to start. No project on Lexbox yet? See Host a project.
  • You are a Manager of the project (roles).

Turn it on for your project​

  1. Open your project's page on lexbox.org and choose Try FieldWorks Lite?.
  2. Confirm with Yes, please!.

Lexbox prepares a FieldWorks Lite copy of your project. This can take a while, longer for a large project. It runs on Lexbox, so you can leave the page while you wait. When it's done, the project shows a Using FieldWorks Lite badge. Refresh the page if you don't see it yet.

If the project has no data yet, the dialog says so instead of offering Yes, please!. If you aren't a Manager, Yes, please! is greyed out.

If you don't see the button​

The button only appears on FieldWorks projects.

While FieldWorks Lite is in beta

Only managers with early access see the button. You can request it on the Where's my project? page. If you have early access but still don't see the button, write to lexbox_support@groups.sil.org with the email address or login you use.

Give your team access​

Add each person on the project page as usual (Add people), with the Editor role for people who will edit. Then send them Getting started: it covers installing the app, logging in and downloading the project. For team members without an email address, see People without an email address.

Keep the two sides in step​

FieldWorks Lite users don't need to do anything. If some of the team still uses FieldWorks, make this part of the team's rhythm:

  1. FieldWorks users Send/Receive as usual.
  2. An Editor or Manager presses Sync on the Lexbox tab in FieldWorks Lite (or Sync FieldWorks Lite on the project page). Once started, it runs on Lexbox, so you can close the app or the page.
  3. FieldWorks users Send/Receive again to pick up the FieldWorks Lite work.

How sync works shows why each step is needed.

Before big changes in FieldWorks​

Some changes in FieldWorks, such as adding a custom field, ask everyone on the team to Send/Receive first. Count FieldWorks Lite as one more team member: do steps 1 to 3 above, make the change, then do steps 1 to 3 again.

Questions​

The FieldWorks Lite FAQ answers common questions, including how to ask for help. When you write to support, mention that your project uses FieldWorks Lite.