Data sharing is a feature of some Vernier applications where a host device can share live data collection with one or more client devices running Graphical Analysis. There are two types of data sharing when using Graphical Analysis or Graphical Analysis Pro as a client:

• Internet data sharing from the Graphical Analysis Pro app. This feature allows sharing from a Graphical Analysis Pro host to one or more Graphical Analysis Pro clients. The connection is over the internet, so this mode works both locally and between devices on different or distant networks.
• Local data sharing from LabQuest 2, LabQuest 3 or Logger Pro host to a Graphical Analysis client. This older version of the data sharing feature allows LabQuest 2, LabQuest 3, and computers running Logger Pro to share data over a local network to one or more client devices running Graphical Analysis.

Both of these types of data sharing will continue to be supported on macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, and iPadOS when using the non-PWA version of the app. The situation is different for ChromeOS.

Beginning in 2025, only the Progressive Web App (PWA) version of Graphical Analysis and Graphical Analysis Pro will be available on ChromeOS. Google is imposing this change on the ChromeOS platform; this is not a Vernier decision. Due to security requirements of the PWA platform imposed by Google, the local data sharing feature is not available in the PWA version of Graphical Analysis or Graphical Analysis Pro. This is true of the PWA running on any of ChromeOS, macOS, Windows, iOS/iPadOS, and Android.

As a result only internet data sharing will be possible when using the PWA version of Graphical Analysis Pro as a client or host. Sharing from Logger Pro or LabQuest over a local network to Graphical Analysis (PWA) will not be available.

Here are two alternate workflows.

Rather than using a LabQuest as a source, collect data directly to Graphical Analysis Pro. Do this by connecting the LabQuest by USB to a device running Graphical Analysis Pro, or by using Go Direct sensors with Graphical Analysis Pro. Share the data from this host copy of GA using internet data sharing to Graphical Analysis Pro on another device, including Chromebooks running the PWA. This is the better path since it preserves all the familiar graphing and analysis tools of Graphical Analysis for the students receiving the shared data.

You can also bypass Graphical Analysis as a client app entirely. Local data sharing from LabQuest 2, LabQuest 3 and Logger Pro to a web browser (as opposed to Graphical Analysis) is still possible over a local network by using the local URL provided by the host device. This form of local data sharing does not depend on Graphical Analysis at all, and so is not affected by the release of a PWA. Enter the LabQuest local URL on a client device browser to see and analyze data. The browser will display a graph or data table of the shared data. Examine lines, linear, and quadratic curve fits can be performed directly on the browser. Analysis is limited compared to Graphical Analysis, however. Data can be exported via CSV files.

Below is the screen on LabQuest 3 used to enable local data sharing. In the lower left is the URL at which the shared data is available from this LabQuest.