The new version of Locus Map brings a lot of improvements, fixes, and changes. We’ve chosen three of them for this short introduction. Two completely positive, and one, unfortunately, less positive, which you already met at the beginning of December last year:

• Satellite maps
• Export anywhere
• Data in private folders

We have satellite maps of the world

Locus Map is one of the few navigation applications that are not built on the Google Maps API. This has significant advantages in terms of our creative and economic freedom, but also one major disadvantage - we cannot freely use Google's map data. Unless we want a lot, and we pay a lot.

We, therefore, used to solve the demand for satellite and aerial maps with the help of regional suppliers. E.g. we offered USGS Ortophoto in the United States, in Austria satellite Basemap.at, in France IGN Photographies, etc. Unfortunately, most of the surrounding world remained without coverage.

However, the situation has changed. Now, thanks to a more sustainable way of financing the application development and content, we have finally been able to afford to find a partner who has provided us with satellite and aerial maps with worldwide coverage at a reasonable price. These are current data from HERE, Maxar, and EuroGeographics.

Maps are available online in zooms down to level 18 and they can be kept in the Locus cache for up to a year.

In Locus, you can find the maps in the Online tab in the Map Manager. They are in a common category of base maps with our LoMaps and you can use them after purchasing the Premium Gold package.

Export anywhere

The second positive news concerns the export of GPX, KMZ, TCX, etc. files.

In addition to the already known Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, you can save exported files from the application

anywhere on the device, including the SD card, even outside the private folder!

Data again only in private folders

And now we have the less positive news here. Unfortunately, after three months of rest, Google validators woke up from hibernation and revoked Locus Map 4's "all files access" permission.

So what options does Locus Map have now?

Locus main directory

can only be:

• in the private directory in the internal storage
• in the private directory on the SD card

When you install the application, it creates its directory in the internal storage. It can then be moved to the SD card via the application settings.

If you have the main Locus directory /Locus/ in the root of the internal storage now, you'll be prompted to start a smooth data transfer to the new location after the app update.

Where can I have maps?

You can have map files saved

• in the private directory in the internal storage - default setting after installation
• in the private directory on the SD card - this can be changed in the Locus settings, maps will be moved here, see >> 

Plus, you can combine these

• with the Android/Media directory in the internal storage
• with the Android/Media directory on the SD card

Map files can only be saved in Media folders in the external file manager. Locus will load them automatically after reboot.

How do I get my own maps into the app?

When this plague struck us first in December 2021, all we could do was try it out with external file managers, a connection to a PC, and so on. Fortunately, we managed to deal with this - we have significantly improved the import of maps:

Import from map manager

• open the offline tab and under the “+” button you will find the item “Import”
• select source - device storage, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or remote file
• if you select the device storage, the system file manager will open and you can import the map into Locus from anywhere on the device. If it is a raster map, it will be saved in the Locus/Maps directory, if it is a vector, it will be in the Locus/MapsVector directory

Other imports

The map file is also recognized by the import started from the point or track manager. Everything then proceeds in the same way as in the case of import from the map manager.

Import from an external file manager

If you click on any supported map file in the system or external file manager, Locus Map will be offered as an application that can process the file. If it is a raster map, Locus will import it into the Locus / Maps directory, if it is a vector, it will import it into Locus / MapsVector.

What else can I have on the SD card besides offline maps?

• backup files - these can be stored on the SD card without any storage space restrictions
• online maps - definition and temporary files (cache)
• geocaching data - pictures, spoilers…
• SRTM data - offline elevation data, important for the elevation chart when planning routes, terrain shading, etc.

We hope that the last change did not upset you much. This is a limitation indeed, but you can still have your "big data" on the SD card and save space in the internal storage. However, we recommend using fast SD cards with the latest technologies - you’ll appreciate this when working with large map files.

Článek Finally! Global satellite maps are coming into Locus se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

a guest blog post by Matej Halouska and Adriana Plotzerova

We have been actively traveling for many years and Locus Map is our most favorite map application. As far as outdoor hiking maps go, there is simply no competition for Locus Map. One of the most useful features is the ability to import maps with custom points and routes created on Google Maps. We just love maps and we are creating maps into almost every article at blog Czechtheworld.com. The readers can then easily upload these maps to Locus Map and make their travel planning much easier.

Let's have a look at the detailed instructions on how to create your own map on Google Maps and how to upload it to Locus.

How to create your custom map on Google Maps

Google Maps has a MyMaps page, where you can create your custom maps. Just click "Create a New Map" to start creating.

The procedure is that you always search for a specific point (such as an interesting landmark or your hotel) and click to add to the map.

The point is saved to your map and you can then edit it:

• Change name
• Add a caption (such as opening hours, address, website, or anything else)
• Change color and icon

You can also add points to different layers - such as interesting points to the first layer, accommodation to the second layer, a route to the third layer, etc. It has the advantage that you can show and hide individual layers or export single layer instead of exporting all points at once. 

You can also create routes. Use the "Create Route" button to start creating the route and then add more points. Maps will automatically calculate the best route for you. You can choose a calculation for a car, bike or walk. There is a maximum of 10 points in each route. If you reach this limit, you must create a new route and continue with the second part.

Importing the created map to Locus

Let's have a look at how to import the created map into Locus. Click the "3 dots" icon next to the map name and select the "Export to KML/KMZ". Choose whether to export the entire map or just a single layer. A KMZ file with the map will be downloaded to your computer.

Upload this file anywhere into your phone's memory and try to open the file. If you have Locus Map installed, you should have an option to open it directly in it. Then you just need to choose or create a folder where you want to import the points and that's it. Points are imported into Locus.

If your phone doesn't show you the option to open it directly in Locus:

1. Open Locus.
2. Go to Points.
3. Press the "Plus" button.
4. Select Import.
5. Find the map file.
6. Select a folder where you want to import the points to.

Manage points in Locus Map

Then you can continue to manage your imported points in Locus. Besides adding and deleting, you can also filter and hide/show the points. Which is useful if you have a map with a lot of points and it’s a huge mess if you have them shown all.

For example, you can only display points of a certain type (icon colors). For this reason, it is good to divide points into categories by color when creating a map. You have 5 function keys below the points list:

1. Create a new point.
2. Show / Hide - You can show or hide all or selected points.
3. Sort - You can sort points by name, creation date, edit date, or distance from you.
4. Filter - you can display only points of a specific color or title.
5. Tools - more operations with points like copying, exporting, deleting etc.

Exporting a map from Locus and uploading it to Google Maps

You can also create a map in Locus. For example, add points during your traveling - where you slept or record a hiking trail. It may then be interesting to upload the map to your computer and show it to your friends. Or send it to someone who's going there after you and help him with planning. It's quite easy to do:

1. Click the „3 dots“ next to the folder, which you want to export.
2. Select Export.
3. Select a folder in your phone memory, where you want to save the map file.
4. Copy the file from your mobile to your computer.
5. Create a new map on Google My Maps or open an already created map, where you want to upload points.
6. Select "Add Layer".
7. Select "Import" for the newly created layer.
8. Upload the map file and points will be uploaded to your map.

Outdoor enthusiasts and map lovers Matěj and Adriana write the travel blog Czechtheworld.com. There you can find hints, tips, and guides for other travelers and fans of outdoor activities.

Článek How to import custom points from Google Maps to Locus and vice versa se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

Most of modern active sporty people use at least some of many available sport tracking devices or services. Being that dedicated devices like Garmin, Suunto or Polar or their software equivalents Runkeeper, Endomondo, Strava or Velo Hero. All these gadgets and apps provide track recording including processing data from various external sensors, calculating statistics, data export to various formats or web services.

As you surely know, Locus Map, besides its robust map and navigation capabilities, offers many of above mentioned sports tracking features too - it records tracks and data from external sensors of heart rate, speed or pedaling cadence, it offers detailed statistics, it can also audio-coach your training. One thing that is so far missing is its own web interface where it is possible to store, present and share your sports activities with your friends. We don't deny we would like to have such an interface and that we'll once build it but before it happens we offer connection with already working and well established projects - your sports activities recorded in Locus can be quickly and comfortably exported to world wide servers Strava, Runkeeper, Velo Hero, Ride With GPS and others.

Which service is the best?

Thorough analysis of all sports websites would cost us much time and many pages of text so we'll get by with only brief introduction of the most favourite ones. Each of us prefers something different - somebody likes detailed stats, somebody has many buddies on the server, someone else is a geek who needs a lot of gadgets... Locus Map cooperates with following (besides others):

Runkeeper evokes an idea that it can be used just for monitoring your running workouts but as well as other services it enables you to share all of your sports activities. If you track was somehow recorded with mistakes you can easily edit it in Runkeeper.

[caption id="attachment_9813" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Track detail with simple stats and charts[/caption]

Strava is a technically advanced service full of fancy gadgets. We have written about the possibility to display their global heatmap in Locus. Strava offers many options of monitoring your activity connections with other sportsmen, it isn't limited by classic means of social networks communication. For instance, their "Fly-by" feature is very interesting - you can play animation of your activity in relation to activities of other sportsmen nearby:

[caption id="attachment_9812" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Fly-by feature in action - the animation reveals en-route activities of several sportsmen at once on a map and a chart[/caption]

Velo Hero is a choice for those who like simplicity without complex website environment:

[caption id="attachment_9810" align="aligncenter" width="600"] VeloHero dashboard - beauty in simplicity[/caption]

How to export from Locus?

Each of above mentioned services can be found in the selection of the track export format.

1. open the track detail screen and tap the export icon in the bottom bar
   
2. select Export
3. tap the icon of default export format (GPX when using Locus for the first time)
   
4. tap to select the service
   
5. each service requires its own login - it's necessary to sign up before this on their websites. Parameters of the export may also vary. For example Runkeeper enables to detect pauses in the activity, Strava differentiates between private and public activities etc.
   
   
   

What to do if I use service that is not supported by Locus?

A typical case is Endomondo. This widespread service, unfortunately, doesn't provide API, i.e. it's not possible to connect it to a third party app - Locus.

[caption id="attachment_9814" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Endomondo is a featured sports server but it doesn't provide connection to other applications.[/caption]

That's why it's necessary to use services of Tapiriik.com - the website was created upon demand of many active people who have their friends scattered among many various sport-community servers and who don't want to bother themselves by laborious exporting their activities manually on several sites individually. Just register, select your websites to connect and Tapiriik synchronizes all your activities among them.

[caption id="attachment_9809" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Tapiriik can synchronize whole range of sports servers and services[/caption]

If you want to use quality maps, reliable navigation and sports activity recorder with the option of presenting them online, it's not necessary to stuff your phone memory with dozen apps. You'll get by with Locus Map.

Článek Locus – a partner of worldwide sport trackers se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

What is GPX?

You must have met this GPX abbreviation many times before when working with tracks or points. GPX importing into Locus, track or points export into GPX... Anyway, what does this magic formula mean?

A file with GPX suffix, meaning GPS eXchange format, is a common GPS data format based on XML and used in various software applications. I describes georeferenced line and point objects, tracks or points in our case, e.g. geocaches. Its detailed description can be found on this Wikipedia page. As it 's been already mentioned, in general it is used for transferring information about tracks and points between applications. In case of Locus it means communication between it and e.g. websites where you can upload your tracks in GPX form or between Locus and other similar apps (e.g. OruxMaps) or between Locuses mutually. One GPS file can contain both tracks/routes (even more at once) and points - Locus can handle them all. Let's show it on a few examples.

GPX into Locus

You love riding a bike, hiking in the mountains. You always plan your routes carefully but when you are headed to some unexplored places you can find out it could be worth getting yourself inspired by someone who had visited the place before you and had planned the routes, or even better, tested the routes on his own. And so you start browsing the Internet. There are loads of options, loads of route database servers all over the World. Locus directly cooperates with one of them, GPSies.com - you can browse their database directly within the app, as we have mentioned here once. Anyway, it might happen you won't find the right route on GPSies or you just prefer some other service. For instance, Bikemap.net.

When you export the route out we recommend to store it in your Dropbox. That the shortest way to a mobile and subsequently to Locus that is able to display Dropbox folders as one of the file manager tabs. You have several options in Locus how to import a GPX route. Over the Data import button in the main menu, over the Import in a route folder action menu... all about import can be found in our User guide.

Routes and points at once

As we mentioned in the beginning, GPX can contain both routes and points. When importing such a file Locus offers storing points to an extra folder or merging them with the route and store in one folder. This way, however, you'll miss the option to manipulate with the points individually.

GPX from Locus

You are going on a trip, recording your track so that you can view it comfortably later at home on your PC. Displaying track on a mobile is fine but the big PC screen gives the track a completely different perspective. So now it requires a reverse procedure. Open the track detail window from the track manager and pick Export from the bottom bar:

If you don't have GPX set as the default export format, tap the item under the Export type title and select GPX. Name your track, define the storage place (again we recommend Dropbox) and export.

On the Bikemap.net, click the "Upload" button in the upper right "New route" menu. Find your file on Dropbox and import.

GPX with geocaches

If you'd like to sent a tip for afternoon geocaching hunt to you friend, GPX again may be the solution. Mark the caches for export in your points manager in Locus and select Export from the bottom bar. Save the file where you need and sent it via e-mail.

Your friend can import it to his Locus or some web based map service.

GPX format can handle a pretty huge amount of data as we have recently seen in the article about a unique database of sleeping shelters, that we transferred into Locus as one big GPX file as well.

Do you have any other tips or tricks on using GPX in Locus and would you like to share them? Write in comments.

Článek What is GPX and what can you do with it in Locus? se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.