Interact with map
This article is incomplete & needs to be reviewed. You can help by creating a pull request.
Overview
How to interact with map using buttons and gestures, so you could pan, rotate and zoom in/out the map, how to rotate the map manually or automatically by compass or by bearing and how to change zoom scale.
Gestures
Gestures are important part of the map navigation.
| Map Action | Gesture |
|---|---|
| Move | Press on the map with one finger and move around |
| Slide | Swipe the map with one finger |
| Zoom in | Double tap on the map with one finger Double tap on the map with one finger and then swipe down Pinch with two fingers |
| Zoom out | Double tap on the map with two fingers Double tap on the map with one finger and then swipe up Pinch with two fingers |
| Rotate | Press with two fingers on the map and rotate |
| Tilt - 3D | Press with two fingers on the map and then move them up/down This option is only available with map rendering engine version 2 (OpenGL) |
Slide animations could be disabled with special setting.
My Location & Zoom
My location is a circle button that shows whether the center of the map is synchronized with "my location" (geolocation of the device). It is also known as "Where am I?". Generally in navigation, the map is synced with device location, and there are no needs to move the map constantly. In this case, the button is hidden and will be activated when the map and 'my location' will go out of sync by user gesture. The app will try to find the device location and show it on the map at the center of the screen when the user clicks on it. It will switch to the 3D mode when the user click twice on it.
My location button has following indicative states:
- Full blue icon - location is found but it is not synchronized with map
- White icon - location is found and it is synchronized with map
- Grey icon - location has not found yet
- Arrow icon - 3D mode is switched on
Long tap on My location opens Context menu, so user can share own location.
Zoom buttons are always visible next to My Location and allow to control map zoom level. Changing zoom level doesn't change map synchronization with location. Long tap on Zoom buttons opens Map magnifier dialog and allows to change map detailing.
Keep in mind that during navigation zoom can be controlled by Auto zoom setting:
Android: Menu → Settings → App profiles → Navigation settings → Map during navigation → Auto zoom map
iOS: Menu → Settings → App profiles → Navigation settings → Map during navigation → Auto zoom map
Map magnifier
Map magnifier is a special way to magnify the map. Essentially it works as a magnifying glass for paper maps, it allows to see the text bigger for raster maps or to see more or less details for the same scale - Read more.
Map orientation & Compass
Map orientation modes
The map orientation modes allow the user to select how the map is displayed on the device screen. Enabling each mode changes the way the map is oriented according to the selected option.
- Android
- iOS
Menu → Settings → Profiles → General settings → Appearance → Map orientation
Menu → Settings → Profiles → General settings → Appearance → Map orientation
- North is up - The map is fixed in the direction of the North, which is the top edge of your device. The map does not have automatic rotation, but you can rotate it manually with a two-pointer gesture (two-finger touch & rotate). In this case, the map orientation mode will change to Manual rotation.
- Movement direction - The map rotates relative to the direction of your movement known from GPS data. For details, go to Rotate map by bearing.
- Compass direction - The icon on the button points to the actual North, and the map moves according to the compass orientation of your device. Your device should be in as horizontal a position as possible. If your device does not have a compass sensor, the orientation of the map remains unchanged.
- Manually rotated - When you select this option, the map is fixed in the current position and does not rotate automatically. You can manually change the map orientation with a two-pointer gesture (two-finger touch & rotate).
Note
Map Orientation modes can be opened in Profile settings as well as by long-tapping the Compass button.
To quickly switch map orientation modes, tap the "Compass" button located in the upper left corner of the screen, if it is visible.
Compass
- Android
- iOS
Menu → Configure screen → Buttons → Compass
Menu → Configure screen → Left panel → Compass
The compass button shows how the map is oriented. The red arrow, or the direction of the arrow in Movement direction mode, indicates the North. The icon on the button indicates the current map orientation mode. One tap the compass button toggles through all modes in turn.
Rotate map by bearing
If rotate map by bearing (rotation by movement direction) is enabled, the map will be oriented so that the forward view will be strictly above the icon of my location on the map. Without movement, the map won't be rotated.
In this mode, the center of the map will be located slightly below the center of the device. It allows you to see more map data before you move, which is useful in the navigation mode.
Rotate map by bearing mode can be changed in Profile settings or by single tap on the Compass.
Map Tilt and Horizon
With new map rendering engine you can change camera tilt from 90 (no tilt) to 10 degrees. Approximately at map tilt less than 20-22 degrees (this parameter depends on zoom level), the imaginary horizon line becomes visible. Unlike the real one, the program horizon is always straight.
- Android
- iOS
Under horizon you can see so-called haze or fog. This area of the map is filled with grey color, only few map details can be observed.
The use of fog is necessary, since the display of remote objects on the map requires significant computing resources and is not always justified due to map distortions at small viewing angles. So the visible distance on OsmAnd map is currently limited to 35 tiles.
Map tilt can be changed by long press on the screen with two fingers and moving them up/down. You can also change tilt by tapping on the "My location" icon in the lower-right corner of the screen (only 45 and 90 degree positions are available).
You can not change Camera tilt when old map rendering engine (version 1) is on.
Settings
External input device buttons
External input device buttons provide a convenient and efficient way to interact with the map and the OsmAnd application interface. They are located on external devices, such as Bluetooth or other types of keyboards, specialized buttons on vehicle navigation devices, WunderLINQ, Parrot and other controllers.
One of the main functions of the external input device buttons is to zoom in and out on the map. They also allow you to navigate around the map, and change map orientation without having to tap and gesture at the screen. The external input device buttons also support other functions, such as opening the main menu or AV Notes.
The keyboard continues to work even if the External input devices option is turned off, when None is selected.
- Android
- iOS
Menu → Settings → Profiles → General settings → External input devices
| Key | Device | Action |
|---|---|---|
| C | Keyboard | My location |
| D | Keyboard | Map orientation |
| N | Keyboard | Open Navigation view. |
| S | Keyboard | Open Search view. |
| P | Keyboard | Switch to the next app profile. Show toast like message App profile: Name. |
| O | Keyboard | Switch to the previous app profile. |
| ↑ | Keyboard | Move up |
| ↓ | Keyboard | Move down |
| ← | Keyboard | Move left |
| → | Keyboard | Move right |
| + | Keyboard | Zoom in |
| − | Keyboard | Zoom out |
| Menu (legacy Android) | Keyboard | Drawer |
| Joystick click (legacy Android) | Keyboard | My location |
| Media button | Keyboard | AV notes |
| ← | Parrot | Zoom out |
| → | Parrot | Zoom in |
| ↓ | Wunderlinq | Zoom out |
| ↑ | Wunderlinq | Zoom in |
| ESC | Wunderlinq | Opens Wunderlinq dashboard |
You can read more about the actions of external input devices on GitHub in the MapActivityKeyListener package.
Menu → Settings → Profiles → General settings → External input devices
| Key | Device | Action |
|---|---|---|
| C | Keyboard | My location |
| D | Keyboard | Map orientation |
| N | Keyboard | Open Navigation view. |
| S | Keyboard | Open Search view. |
| P | Keyboard | Switch to the next app profile. Show toast like message App profile: Name. |
| O | Keyboard | Switch to the previous app profile. |
| ↑ | Keyboard | Move up |
| ↓ | Keyboard | Move down |
| ← | Keyboard | Move left |
| → | Keyboard | Move right |
| + | Keyboard | Zoom in |
| − | Keyboard | Zoom out |
Extra compass settings
Use Kalman filter - Reduces noise in compass readings but adds inertia. Smoothes the rotation of the card with a slower rotation animation, although this introduces a slight delay, not more than 1 second.
Menu → Settings → Profiles → General settings → Other → Use Kalman filterUse magnetic sensor - For the compass reading, use the magnetic sensor instead of the orientation sensor. Smoothes the rotation of the card with a slower rotation animation, although this introduces a slight delay, not more than 1 second.
Menu → Settings → Profiles → General settings → Other → Use magnetic sensor
No animations
You can turn off all map animations during map changes, such as gestures and buttons.
Menu → Settings → Profiles → General settings → No animations
Animate own position (iOS: Animate my location)
Android: Menu → Settings → App profiles
iOS: Menu → Navigation → Navigation settings → Animate own position
Creates a smooth map panning effect versus the My Position icon when in motion. The effect introduces a slight delay versus ground truth of about 1 second. Enabling this has been reported to create some pronounced lag issues under some circumstances, disable if such issues arise.