Buildxact IS NOT designed for two users to work on the same estimate or job at the same time. However, multiple users can work on different projects simultaneously without any issues.
In this article we talk about multiple users being in the same estimate at the same time and how that can cause data to be overwritten, but this issue can also be caused by:
One user having multiple tabs/windows open on a browser.
One user logging in on two devices, such as a laptop and a phone. Ensure that each user has their own account under the shared subscription to avoid conflicts.
User Access and Permissions
Buildxact allows each user to have their own account under a shared subscription. This setup ensures that multiple users can work on the platform simultaneously without conflicts. However, it is important to note the following:
Separate User Accounts: Each person should have their own user account. Sharing a single user account across multiple people is not supported. If multiple individuals need to work at the same time, create separate user accounts for each person under your Buildxact subscription.
Device Usage: While the same user account can be accessed from different devices, it cannot be used by two people at the same time. This restriction helps maintain data integrity and prevents conflicts.
Buildxact will warn you if this is occurring by showing a colored circle in the top right with the initials of the other user accessing the same estimate. Hovering your cursor over the initials will show you the user's name and how long they've been in the estimate.
The bubble will appear when other users from your account (or tenant) are performing any of the below actions on an Estimate at the same time.
Viewing the Estimate
Editing the Estimate
Saving any changes over your changes
The bubble will disappear when the other user leaves the estimate either by navigation or when they close the browser/tab.
What do I do if I see another user in the estimate at the same time as me?
This can happen one of two ways:
Someone joins the estimate you're in
In this case we would recommend saving your work immediately and contacting the other user to advise them that you're working in there.
You access an estimate and see that someone is already there
In this case just don't do anything, especially don't save anything, just exit the estimate. If you need the estimate urgently, contact the other user to coordinate this.
Why can't I work in an estimate or job at the same time as another user?
When this happens, there is a significant risk that one user will override the other's work. Every time a user saves, we update the data we hold with what that user is saving, this may not include work that a second user has done or is doing.
See the graphic below for a visual representation of what happens in Buildxact when two users are in an estimate at the same time.
When a Buildxact user goes from one "page" (defined as something with a separate URL) to another, the system checks our database to see the latest information.
Both sessions get their data from the database and are in sync at this point in time.
Session 1 (green) adds an item to their estimate and pushes a save to the database.
The database accepts this save. From now on, anytime a user loads this estimate they will receive Session 1's (green) data. This data is not pushed to Session 2 (red) creating an out of sync issue.
Session 2 (red), working with the original database information, adds an item to the estimate. When Session 2 (red) pushes a save to the database it now OVERRIDES the previous information.
Since Session 2 (red) added their save to the database Session 1's (green) data is lost.