OCAD App Data Exchange

The OCAD App is currently in beta testing. Although we have thoroughly tested the app, errors may occur.

Use the OCAD App Data Exchange tool in OCAD Desktop to export data to or import data from the OCAD App.
To the main page of the OCAD App | To the OCAD App Manual page.

Export data to App

Open the OCAD App Data Exchange tool from the File menu.
A file must be open for the function to be selected.

During the beta phase of the OCAD App, this feature is not available in OCAD Trial.

Manage Transfer Projects

Select Transfer project

• Create a new transfer project. Enter a project name. The project name will be displayed in the OCAD App.
• Rename an existing transfer project.
• Delete an existing transfer project.
• Restore a transfer project, that has been deleted.

A QR code will be shown if you select a project that was already uploaded to OCAD Cloud Transfer.

Deleting a project in the desktop version of OCAD means that data for this project no longer can be imported via OCAD Cloud Transfer, even when recreating a project with the same name! You can still select a transfer project if you change the file name.

Transfer direction

Select a transfer project in the list above and choose the transfer direction. If you select a transfer project for which data has already been uploaded, its data will be overwritten.

Export data to App: Use this option if you like to export your map and background maps to the app for field work. This option is described below.

Import data from App: Use this option if you like to import data from field work back into OCAD Desktop. Read more about this step in the Import data from App section.

Arrange Export

Extent

• Entire map: Includes the extent of the entire map and all its background maps.
• Part of map: Choose a predefined extent or define a new one. You can define a new extent by clicking on Define or open the Setup Part of Map dialog and save an extent there.

The Part of map option is reset when transforming the map to another coordinate system or rotating the map to magnetic north.

Background Maps

Choose the background maps that shall be exported to the OCAD App.
Use SHIFT key to select multiple files. Use CTRL key to unselect a selected file or click the Unselect all button.

Settings

Allow map object editing in the OCAD App: If this option is disabled, vector objects cannot be drawn or edited in the app. This option is not available for Course Setting Projects.

Execute data processing

Click Execute data processing button to prepare the data for export.

This step can take several minutes if you have chosen a large extent or large background maps.

Transfer and Share

Choose one of the Data transfer options.

OCAD Cloud Transfer

The project is uploaded to the OCAD Cloud Transfer which creates a QR code and a link to download the project to your mobile device.

Choose this option and click Upload to OCAD Cloud Transfer.

A green hint shows you if the upload was successful and the QR code and link is shown in the Share section.

QR Code

Scan the QR code image directly from the OCAD App. The project will be loaded automatically into the OCAD App.

You can also copy the QR code or the link to the clipboard and may send it to someone else by email, SMS, WhatsApp, ect.

The QR code will also be displayed in the Manage Transfer Projects section, if you select the newly uploaded project there.

Project ID

Alternatively, open the link (e.g. https://app.ocad.com/project/af1bc2df-2abc-42a7-a190-0eeb97fb1e95) directly on your mobile device or open a project by clicking on the '+' sign and entering the project ID (e.g. af1bc2df-2abc-42a7-a190-0eeb97fb1e95).

The files will be removed from the OCAD Cloud Transfer after 7 days. Once you downloaded the data to your mobile device, the data will remain on your mobile device even if the project is removed from the OCAD Cloud Transfer.

Close the dialog.

USB cable

Copy the project folder manually to your mobile device.

Choose this option and click Open folder and copy data. The Windows Explorer opens at the folder which contains the project folder.

Android:
Copy the entire project folder (e.g. Bürenflue Sample Map)
from C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\OCAD\OCAD 2018\Tmp\_OcadAppExchangeData\_DesktopToApp
to this folder on your Android device: /Android/data/com.ocad.app/files

iOS:
Upload the entire project folder (e.g. Bürenflue Sample Map)
from C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\OCAD\OCAD 2018\Tmp\_OcadAppExchangeData\_DesktopToApp
to iCloud and then move it on your device from the iCloud drive to this folder: On my iPad/OCAD

Close the dialog.

On Windows computers this option can only be used for Android devices. For iOS: Please load the project folder to the iCloud Drive and move it on the iOS device from there to Files\On My iPad\OCAD Sketch.
Maybe a notification appears on your mobile device where you need to allow file transfer.

We recommend avoiding map editing while the project is edited on the mobile device(s).
Otherwise, data synchronization can be very challenging due to conflicts.

Import Data from App

The project needs to be uploaded from the App to OCAD Cloud Transfer after field work.

When opening a map file in OCAD a message box appears if data from the App was uploaded in the meantime.

Click OK to open the OCAD App Data Exchange dialog.

If you click Cancel, you can still open the OCAD App Data Transfer tool from the File menu.

Manage Transfer Projects

• Select transfer project: As you like to import data from the OCAD App, you need to select the project that was used for the export.
• Project status on mobile devices: The box shows the status of this project on all devices where it was downloaded (if the mobile device was online to send the latest status to the OCAD Cloud Transfer).
• Transfer direction: Choose Import data from App to import data from field work into OCAD Desktop.

Arrange Import

The importable files appear in the list.
Select a file (Note: Only 1 file can be imported at a time)

Files with a version 9xxx are copied manually from the mobile device to the desktop.

Selecting a Map file shows

• Import sketches and notes option
• Import map objects option

If the uploaded map file contains changes in the map objects, the number of changes and conflicts are shown in the dialog.
It is required to Manage… the changes/conflicts before the data can be imported.

Manage

Navigate through all changes and and decide for each if the App or Desktop version should be taken.
The currently selected change is highlighted in the map view. The table shows the status as well as the creation and modification date on both the App and the Desktop.
Conflicts are displayed in red and mean that the same object has been changed in the app and on the desktop.

When an action has been selected, the line of the change / conflict turns green.

There is also an option to Accept all App changes where no conflict or to Reject all App changes.

The OK button becomes enabled when all changes are resolved (decision between App or Desktop version).
The Pause button could be used to interrupt the synchronization and continue at the current state another time.
The Cancel button can be used to abort the synchronization. Already resolved changes are not saved.

Click OK to close the Manage map object synchronization dialog.

Click Import data to import the data dialog.
A Import successful is shown.

GPS log

Selecting a Position (GPS log) file shows the option to assign a line symbol to the GPS log track.

Click Import data to import the positions file.

Choose the next file to import or Close the Arrange Import dialog.

Import via USB Cable

As an alternative workflow the project can also be exported and manually copied from the mobile device to the desktop if the project was already transferred in this way from the Desktop to the App or if the upload was not available due to missing wi-fi connection etc.

Android:
Copy the entire project folder (e.g. Bürenflue Sample Map)
from /Android/data/com.ocad.app/files
to C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\OCAD\OCAD 2018\Tmp\_OcadAppExchangeData\_AppToDesktop

iOS:
Upload the entire project folder (e.g. Bürenflue Sample Map)
from On my iPad/OCAD
to the iCloud drive on your device
and download this folder on your Desktop to C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\OCAD\OCAD 2018\Tmp\_OcadAppExchangeData\_AppToDesktop

Close the dialog.