Messages

Hi Peter,
  recording is currently not possible. I expected question on this theme I'm still not sure if this feature will be implemented, probably yes, but cannot promise now. For me priority is
  1. work with online maps
  2. work with offline maps
  3. POI handling ...
  4. other things (from wishlist )

so, after I'll be satisfied with first three points, I should start work on something like track record. Hope you enjoy program without that feature!

[needed version - 0.6.12 and higher]

needed version - 0.6.12 and higher

method is very simple. Icons compress with zip compression and whole file copy into Locus/icons directory. In dialog where you select icons, you will have choice which icons (internal Locus or any of your files) you want to show!

size of icons is on you! Suggest sizes around 32x32px or 48x48px.

align of icons is on center of bottom border. I thing that's best and most useful.

enjoy!

So you're from Czech, fajn
  ok ok, I'll do it exchange for support on czech forum is promissing

Hi Diamond,
 about custom icons, this will be in any of next releases. I agree that this is really needed

 about quick way to some functions - about that I was already thinking. Still not sure if it will be on Locus title or some left/right popup menu, will see but something to quick access, will be done surely. Thanks for pushing me to give this bigger importance!

[use this]

Simple method is to check, if Locus allowed to handle points and is in system ...

use this

Code Select Expand

public static boolean isLocusAvailable(Activity activity) {
    try {
        // set intent
        final PackageManager packageManager = activity.getPackageManager();
        final Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
        intent.setData(Uri.parse("menion.points:x"));

        // return true or false
        return packageManager.queryIntentActivities(intent, PackageManager.MATCH_DEFAULT_ONLY).size() > 0;
    } catch (Exception e) {
        return false;
    }
}


Hehe, seems you remember my starting project nice ...

  did you know thet until I think november, I thought that Locus will be just same as paper map, but in mobile? Only as fast as possible and universal, map viewer. But many people wanted support for POI's or something to remeber position, now you with geocaching! ...

  if you import any PocketQuery file, you can see that POI database is really huge against normal data import. All geocache data ale already importing . Only thing is to create new screen with all geocaching data ... that's only problem cause old one is upgraded and implemented in SmartMaps and I don't want to use whatever, what I did for SmartMaps.

  Also I want focus mainly on maps and stuff around maps. This is priority for this software! So believe, geocaching support in c:geo or other geocaching software, will always be better then in Locus. I hope then carnero (author of c:geo) will do better support for Locus than now and both programs will be more connected together!

  we'll see, what time brings

[AndNav format]

I currently added support for SQLiteDB map format into Locus. Locus also work with slightly modified TrekBuddy map format with map (default map format from OziExplorer) or my own map definition format in xml file.  Also big news, but nowhere published is support for various Online maps providers with custom map format, different (custom tile name, other projections) from Google Maps or other main map providers.

So I was checking which format I can add more to support. I lunched Mobile Atlas Creator and created few map from same source to compare them and for my surprise, they're almost all really terrible. Just look at them. Testing area was Czech and Slovakia in bounding box and Google maps in zooms 8 and 12. Together its 7243 tiles.

• AndNav format - hmm really nice, create folder structure based on zoom/x/y.png.andnav.
    stats: there is 7243 files, 133 folders and size? 72,3MB that seems on disk as 86,3MB.
  
  
• Maveric format - next very nice. Exactly same as AndNav except tiles ends with .tile endings.
    stats: same as AndNav!
  
  
• Mobile Trail - same again, no!! this is even worst. Every file end with correct name, in this case .png, so in Android, all map tiles are in image gallery, terrible!
    stats: same as AndNav!
  
  
• OruxMaps - it's first from listed map formats, that use it's own system. On first sight, it compress 4 tiles into one binary file. Whole map layer is in one directory together with configuration file, similar to my xml. Only problem seems to be that predict rectangular map are projection (only four calibration point in corners).
    stats: there is 1848 files, 4 folders, size 94,5MB that seems on disk as 98,1MB. Too much against others, weird!
  
  
• OziEplorer - little funny, whole map layer pack into one huge png file. It's 140MB big ... unusable!
    stats: there is 4 files, 0 folders, size 136MB that seems on disk as 136MB.
  
  
• TrekBuddy - well know format, for me - still a little mystery. Why so complicated???
    stats: there is 5 files, 3 folders, size 77,9MB that seems on disk as 77,9MB.
  
  
• SQLiteDB - from available formats, my favorite. I founded some missing things in it, for example some info about numbers of layers in it, date of tiles adding (so I may update only few of them). But finally, it's just a SQ Lite database with "int x, int y, int z, byte[] image" table.
    stats: there is 1 files, 0 folders, size 74,3MB that seems on disk as 74,3MB.
  
  
• Locus format - grab from TrekBuddy atlas only tared map files and place them into one directory. You have Locus format. Simple and easy ...
    stats: there is 2 files, 0 folders, size 77,6MB that seems on disk as 77,6MB.

So why this article? I wanted to sumarize available map formats. As I wrote on beggining, I'm searching for format that should Locus also support. Yes you're right, one main is missing. Ozfx2(3), map format. For this I have to use external library. I really don't want to do this. If you want use this format, recreate map to Locus format by this method.

I really don't know why use format where is 7243 tiles on SD Card. It's really terrible to manage. I hate this ... you wait five minutes until directory is deleted ...

So, I wanna ask you if you have any tips to improve map format support. Currently, totally best format seems to be SQLiteDB. I plan to rewrite map creating process from Locus format to SQLiteDB. It saves time (no packaging, no deleting dowloaded tiles) and reduces error which comes to me during this process. What you think? I enjoy your feedbacks!

so, problem by email solved.

solution? just check more then one zoom level on downloading screen

hi
 I don't know about any bug in zooming offline maps (only one when zooming on SQLiteDB maps with multitouch), so ...

  did you really downloaded more zooms? When you select area and then choosing zooms, you have to select all that want to show later as offline ...

  if you already downloaded more zooms and still is available only one, please send me on email your downloaded map pack and I'll look at it

  PS: you can also zoom only in one zoom level (by re-rastering map). It's done by lock button and then zoom-in/out, but this is not true zoom ...

hmm amazing
  it looks, that I have to create some more support for geocaching import and similar stuff

I think than best is to use some background from google icons in first post (shape, background shade, all is done ...). I mean they're really nice and looks good on map ...

if you will be satisfied with your creation, you should also post them on that google code - map icons site.

Thanks

hm, very nice

  if you want to do this, icon size is same as in first post link to google icons, so it's 32x32px + 5px bottom arrow. So, 32 width and 37px height. This do not hurry, I'm currently fighting with multi-touch zoom and I'm completely rewriting this feature to work with SQLiteDB maps too. But then, some support for geocache should be on plan ...

[maps]

SQLiteDB map file contain 4 zooms of whole Czech and Slovakia. Download, extract from RAR file and copy into maps directory!

... removed ...

Enjoy!

ah, now i understand ...
- it's prepared to send multiple cache at once from c:geo! depends only on carnero (author of c:geo), if he implements this feature or not.

- about settings correct icons to imported geocache, this has one problem. I want to be as legal as possible. Icons I'm using are free even for commercial projects so I can use them. Icons from groundspeak aren't.
- so If I can find any icons that represents geocaches, and will be free even for commercial projects (I want to create Locus free with advertisement, and payed for a symbolic fee without), I should do this feature and assign geocache icons automatically to correct caches! But I'm not a graphics, so ... any tips?

Hi,
  I'm not sure if I fully understand your question ...

when using Locus together with c:geo, c:geo sends together with cache name and coordinates, also icon, so when you press on cache in c:geo "show on external map", cache is shown on Locus map together with correct icon. So I don't know where is by you, not show correct geocaching icons.