Category Archives: HowTo

HowTo: Index

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Here are the links to all HowTos for easier access.

Map
Use the map
Download map
Download ready made maps
User defined map
User defined map: examples
Install OSM Vector maps
Install themes for vector map files

Tracking
Edit tracks on the map
Create own track on map

Geocaching
Login to geocaching.com
Import Waypoints / Pocket Queries
Add stages to cache

General
Calibrate compass

How to install themes for vector maps

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This is an advanced topic and it works only with maaloo Outdoor 8  Version 2.9.3.1 or newer.

This app can use OpenStreetMap vector map files in the mapsforge-format. Currently the version 0.3 of mapsforge is supported with some limitations.

You can import themes into the app. Themes are drawing rules for the vector data. Which data has to be drawn and which color has to be used decides the theme.

Themes are organized in a .zip-File with normally two folders ‘symbols’ and ‘patterns’ which contain .png-icons. SVG-Icons are not supported. The ‘patterns’-folder can be deleted because patterns are not supported.
The .zip-file contains one or more XML-files with the drawing rules. The files must not be saved in an additional folder as parent folder.

The .zip file structure should look like this:

my_theme.zip / symbols / icon1.png    (and many more Icons)
my_theme.zip / theme1.xml
my_theme.zip / theme2.xml

Important! Windows Phone does not allow to link .zip files with apps for direct access. The solution is to rename the file from .zip to .mtz (Map Theme Zip ;). The app is associated with the file extension ‘.mtz’ and knows that this file is a zip-file.

You should transfer the MTZ-file to your phone, e.g. by mail. Click on the .mtz-file which will open maaloo Outdoor 8 and import the theme.

Afterwards the theme should appear in the theme selector. Press the ‘…’-button to select the theme from the imported themes list. Press the green OK-button to use the selected theme.

wp_ss_20160922_00011

To enable the full rule dependencies to the map data you should disable the speed optimization in the map options. Map / Map options / Map / Speed Optimization = None. The default settings for this option is Medium which disables some types of ways and tags in lower zoom levels, to speed up the rendering somewhat.

There are some sources of themes in the Internet. The themes for mapsforge 0.5 are not fully supported. Better use the mapsforge 0.3 themes. If there are ready made zip’s for download, you should use the ‘normal’ or ‘PC’ versions. the specialized versions for certain apps have different folder structures.

 

How to install OSM vector maps

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Installing OpenStreetMap vector map works on the PC quite simple. You must connect your phone to the PC, e.g. via USB cable. In Windows Explorer the drive for the phone should appear. In the folder ‘Downloads’ we want then copy the map file. But in order.

1. Download OSM vector map

As source of the map files we us the very well-prepared maps of OpenAndroMaps.

You can download any regions under “Map Downloads“.

If you like the maps, please support this project with a donation.

2. Unpack .map file

The downloaded zip file must be unpacked. Most browsers open the file directly when you click on the download. It contains a map file and other .zip files. Select the map file and mark it for copy with Ctrl + C.

You do not need the .zip-files with render-themes for other apps, because maaloo has its own render theme.

Some users had problems with corrupt files. The Chrome browser or Firefox (with Addin “Down them all”) works better when downloading files.

3. Copy the map file on Smartphone

Per Windows Explorer we go to the phone drive in the folder ‘Downloads’ and then copy the map file (Ctrl + V).
The PC part is complete.

4. Import map in maaloo

The map file is now prepared on the phone and must be transferred to the local storage of the app. This can be done using an arbitrary file manager app on the phone. The official ‘Files‘ app performs good services here. Install it from the App Store.

Switch to the ‘Files’ app to the folder ‘Downloads‘ on the phone. There you will find the just copied map file. Click on the map file. The ‘Files’ app now asks what to do with the file. Possibly a list of apps is displayed that can handle this file type. Should maaloo be currently the only app that can do that, it will be opened directly.

5. Map is imported into maaloo

maaloo is now called and imports the map in its own local storage. Possibly this will take some time. You will see a success message.

The map is now available in the map management under Offline / Imports and can be activated.

6. Cleanup

Since the map has been imported in the local app storage, the file can be deleted from the phone folder ‘Downloads’.

7. Clear Cache – now and then

The app calculates map tiles from the vector data. Thus not every map tile needs to be recalculated again and again, this are stored locally in the cache. Over time, this cache gets bigger and bigger and consumes your phone storage. You can clear this cache manually. Proceed as follows.

  1. Restart maaloo
  2. Switch to the map management (button Map-Download)
  3. Select a .map file
  4. Press the Info-button
  5. There are shown some details of the map file
  6. Switch to tab ‘Cache’
  7. Press the button ‘Clear Cache’ … wait.
  8. All map tiles are now deleted. Done.

8. Limitations of the vector maps implementation

The speed of the rendering in zoom level 10 – 14 is not fast. But each map tile is rendered only ones, as long you do not clear the cache. So the next time you use the same area on the map, you get the map tiles from the cache much faster.

The implementations draws no street names.

HowTo: Edit tracks on the map

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You can edit and fine-tune your tracks on the map. You can add or delete track points or move points to another position. Each point of an track can start the edit-mode for this track. Zoom in to at least zoom level 16 to see all track points.

Follow this steps to edit tracks:

  1. You should have activated at least one track for the map.
  2. Open the map.
  3. Zoom in to zoom level 16.
  4. Move the map to the track points you want to edit.
  5. Tap on one of the track points. You will see a widget with information of this track point. Press on the edit button (this with the pencil).
    wp_ss_20141005_0006
  6. The edit-mode for tracks is activated now. You see instructions on the upper screen and some statistics of the track (length and number of points).
  7. Tap on the track point you want to move, edit, delete or add.
    wp_ss_20141005_0007
    The add-mode will insert a new point between the last selected point and the following point. If your selected point was the last point of the track, you can append new points by simple taps on the screen.
    wp_ss_20141005_0008
    The move-mode will show a big circle around the track point which you can drag to move the point.
  8. You can press the back-button of your phone to cancel the edit-mode. Your changes will be saved automatically.

[This feature is available in the Outdoor-version only.]

HowTo: Create own track on map

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You can create your own tracks/routes directly on the map. Plan your trips in advance or just click your path while you are offroad. You can use this feature to plan alternative ways on your trip.

Follow this easy steps:

  1. Open the map.
  2. Wait for stable GPS-signal.
  3. Press on an empty position of the map. The distance from your GPS-position and your selected point will be displayed in a little widget on the map. Enlarge the widget by the button with the three dots.
  4. You see at least 2 more buttons now. Press the second button with the plus and  track sign.
    wp_ss_20141005_0001
  5. This will start the edit-mode for tracks and allows you to add track points now. Tap on the display to add more track points. You can zoom and drag the map to navigate to other positions on the map.
    wp_ss_20141005_0002
  6. Press on the OK-sign below to save or revoke your edited path. You can edit and fine-tune your track later, if you want.
  7. That’s it.

[This feature is available in the Outdoor-version only.]

User defined map: examples

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Here is a list of possible settings for your user defined map.

Open the settings page of the user defined map as follows:
1) Home screen, first page
2) press the small download button of the big Map button
3) scroll to the Online page
4) in the list of map providers scroll down to the last entry and press the + button of the ‘User’ map provider

The settings page looks like this
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6) Edit all settings according to a map provider of your choice including all the letters, symbols and brackets exactly as shown. Close the page with the OK-sign.
7) You find a new map provider entry in the list of User defined maps. Chosse this new entry and press the OK-sign to use it for the map

List of map providers

Google road

  • URL: http://mt{3}.google.com/vt/lyrs=m@@x={0}@@y={1}@@z={2}
  • Parameter Type: Google
  • Server Count: 2
  • Max Zoom: 18
  • File Extension: png

……view online: maps.google.com

Google hybrid

  • URL: http://mt{3}.google.com/vt/lyrs=y@@x={0}@@y={1}@@z={2}
  • Parameter Type: Google
  • Server Count: 2
  • Max Zoom: 18
  • File Extension: png

……view online: maps.google.com

 

Eniro (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland)

  • URL: http://map0{0:1}.eniro.no/geowebcache/service/tms1.0.0/map/{1}/{2}/{3:i}.png
  • Parameter Type: OSM
  • Server Count: 4
  • Max Zoom: 15
  • File Extension: png

……view online: kartor.eniro.se

Nearly all map providers do not allow bulk downloads. Do not download this maps, only use them for map browsing.