How to use file-based maps?

The file-based maps support allows the application to read or import maps from various files, including well-known and commercial map formats.

For most formats, the application will read the map data on-the-fly, directly from the file, but for some particular ones, it will need to import the map data in its own optimized format before displaying it. This process is mostly transparent for the user.

Here is the list of all supported file formats.

Please check the notes and requirements for each format.

Supported file-based map formats	Read on-the-fly	Import in *.pgd	Read elevations
AlpineQuest Maps (*.aqm) Raster map format that can be created with MOBAC (free and multi-plateform map creator, see a tutorial here) and MAPC2MAPC (able to convert a wide range of map formats, free and commercial versions available)	Yes	No	No
AlpineQuest Maps (*.pgd) Fast raster map format created by the application when importing maps from other formats.	Yes	No	No
OGC GeoPackage Maps (*.gpkg)1 Open, non-proprietary and platform-independent data format for geographic information system defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium. It supports multiple layers and map projections.	Yes1	No	No
OziExplorer Calibrated Images (*.map + *.jpg/*.png/*.bmp/*.gif/ *.webp/*.heic/*.heif)2,3 Maps created from calibrated images. Images with a size up to 2018px × 2018px can be read on-the-fly.	Yes2,3	Yes2	No
OziExplorer Maps (*.map + *.ozf2/*.ozfx3)4 Commercial and proprietary widespread raster map format.	Yes4	No	No
CompeGPS Raster Images (*.rmap)2 Commercial and proprietary widespread raster map format.	Yes2	No	No
MemoryMap QuickChart Maps (*.qct)5 Commercial and proprietary widespread raster map format.	Yes5	Yes5	No
MBTiles Raster Maps (*.mbtile)1 Open source raster map format for storing arbitrary tiled data.	Yes1	Yes1	No
RMaps SQLite Maps (*.sqlitedb) Simple raster map format using a SQLite database to store image tiles.	Yes	Yes	No
XYZ Zip Maps (*.zip) Zipped raster tiles following the OpenStreetMaps tile server specification. Root folder must be called “XYZ/”, next sub-level must contain “z” values, then next sub-level “x” values.	Yes	No	No
TMS Zip Maps (*.zip) Zipped raster tiles following the Tile Map Service tile server specification. Root folder must be called “TMS/”, next sub-level must contain “z” values, then next sub-level “x” values.	Yes	No	No
GeoTIFF Raster Maps (*.tiff)2 Open, non-proprietary and platform-independent raster image format embedded with georeferencing information.	No	Yes2	No
Google Earth Image Overlays (*.kml, *.kmz)3 Raster map format that can be easily created from geo-positioned images using Google Earth.	No	Yes3 see here	No
Plain images (*.jpg, *.png, *.bmp, *.gif, *.webp, *.heic, *.heif)3 Create maps from images by using the application built-in calibration tool.	No	Yes3 see here	No
SRTM data files (*.hgt) Binary format containing elevation data for an area of 1 square degree. Both 1-arc-second and 3-arc-second resolutions are supported.	No	No	Yes see here

<sup>1. Vector tiles/features/items are not supported.
2. Some encodings, map projection or datum may not be supported, contact us in case of any issue.
3. Size limits may apply based on your device configuration and Android version. WebP: Android 4.0+, HEIF/HEIC: Android 8.0+.
4. Some *.ozfx3 and newer *.ozfx4 maps are not supported (compatible with Img2Ozf 3.03 and older, MapMerge 1.15 and older).
5. QC3 (*.qc3) and encrypted maps are not supported.</sup>

The easiest way to put map files on your device is using your USB cable and connecting your device to your computer as a mass storage device. On your computer, browse your device like any USB key using the file explorer.

You can put your maps at any location, including the external SD card.

Be sure that your maps have been entirely copied before un-connecting your device.

Once you have correctly un-connected your device, you can start the application.

• Tap on the “Maps” menu and on “Available maps” to open the maps explorer;
• By default, the application lists the on-demand maps ;
• Tap on the left drawer menu ;
• Under the “File based maps” section, select the folder in which you've put your map file. For example, if you've put your maps in a sub-folder of you external SD card, select “SD Card” .

When selecting a folder from the drawer menu, the application will list its content . If you maps are in a sub-folder, just select it. When a folder containing maps is displayed, they will be listed. Click on a map to display it and close the maps explorer.

If you don't see your maps on Android 11 and later, please put your maps in the application or media folder, as explained here.

By default, maps are sorted in two categories. The “In-bounds maps” are maps covering the area currently displayed, whereas “Out-of-bounds maps” are maps covering an area far away. To change this sort:

• Click on a maps category menu icon ;
• Select the desired sort from the “Sort by” .

When selecting a map from the out-of-bounds group, the application will ask you if you want to slide the view over the area covered by the selected map.

When sliding the view out of the covered area, the application will automatically search for another map covering the new area in the last displayed folder. If one is found, it will be automatically selected.

Some file-based map formats store large areas as multiple maps covering smaller and continuous areas (as displayed in the screenshot on the right). It's often the case when the maps are created from scanned paper maps.

If you put all those continuous maps inside the same folder, the application is able to deal with them in various ways. The maps can even be in different formats.

When you select a map from a folder containing multiple continuous maps, this one is displayed .

As you slide the displayed area, if the screen center moves over an area which is not covered anymore by the current map, but which is covered by another map from the same folder, this other map will be automatically loaded and displayed .

For the continuous maps auto-loading to work, only one file based map must be displayed at the same time.

An auto-loading is also available if you have multiple maps covering the same area with different scales. When using the “+” and “-” zoom buttons, the application will auto-load the best scale matching map.

In order to create a virtually large map areas from small continuous map areas, you can display multiple maps at same time:

• List a folder containing multiple continuous maps ;
• Tap on the file-based maps header menu ;
• Select “Display all” .

The maps are all displayed at the same time .

In order to re-display all those maps at the same time after having displayed any other map, you can create a favorite map set.