Avenza Maps Tips

This document provides tips on using Avenza Maps on iOS and Android devices.

Avenza Map Supported File Types

Supported map formats are; GeoTIFF, geospatial PDF, and GeoPDF.

The open-source QLandkarte GT mapping application can be used to create the geo-referenced TIFF maps. There is some information on QLandkarte GT in GisTips.

Supported map features such as routes, tracks and waypoints must be in a KML/KMZ format. Pro subscription users can apparently import Shapefiles.

Use GPSBabel to convert many file formats to KML.

iOS (iPad/iPhone)

These instructions relate to using version 3.2 (72.23) of Avenza Maps on an iPad running iOS 10.3.3 (some updates for iOS 11.2.1).

iTunes File Sharing

See Apple Knowledge Base - About File Sharing on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch for more information.

Maps, routes, tracks and waypoints can be copied to the iPad using iTunes file sharing.

  1. Connect iPad to iMac running iTunes using the lightening cable

  2. Click the icon representing the iPad from the navigation bar at the top of the main iTunes window

  3. Select 'File Sharing' from the 'Settings' section of the sidebar

  4. Select 'Avenza Maps' from the list of Apps in the left side-bar

  5. Files can be dragged from the Finder application and dropped into the 'Avenza Maps Documents' folder

Maps can subsequently be imported within the Avenza Maps app on the iPad:

  1. Select the 'Maps' option from the menu bar at the bottom of the Avenza Maps main screen

  2. Click the plus sign at the top right corner of the maps screen

  3. Select 'From iTunes File Sharing'

  4. Select one or more maps from those listed

  5. Click 'Import'

  6. The map is imported and added to the list

Routes, tracks and waypoints can be similarly imported:

  1. Select a map that encompasses the area being imported

  2. Click the pin icon that has three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the map page

  3. Click the double square icon with a downward arrow at the bottom right of the dialog

  4. Click 'Import Layers'

  5. Click 'From iTunes File Sharing'

  6. Select one or more files

  7. Click 'Import'

  8. When the import completes, click 'Close'

  9. The imported artefacts are displayed

Import from iCloud

Map Import

It doesn't appear there is a way to import maps from iCloud, so you will need to use one of the other methods to transfer your own maps, such as iTunes File Sharing as described above.

KML File Import

  1. Browse to the map file in iCloud/Files app on iPad/iPhone

  2. Choose the option to 'share' the file (method varies with iOS versions)

  3. Choose 'Import with Avenza Maps' or 'Copy to Avenza Maps' from the carousel of app icons

  4. Avenza Maps imports the file as a layer and displays the list of layers

  5. Select the 'Maps' option from the menu bar at the bottom of the Avenza Maps main screen

  6. Select a map that encompasses the area being imported

  7. Click the pin icon that has three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the map page

  8. Click the double square icon with a downward arrow at the bottom right of the dialog

  9. Select 'Manage Existing Layers'

  10. Select the imported file

  11. Click 'Apply'

  12. Click 'Close'

  13. The layer's attributes are displayed on the map

Changing Path Attributes

To change the colour of the path

  1. Click on the path on the map; or

  2. Click the pin icon that has three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the map page and navigate down the tree of the layer until the path layer is displayed together with a map thumbnail of the path, then select the path.

  3. The map is displayed with a small box containing an information icon (letter i in a circle) and the path's distance.

  4. Click the information icon in the small box

  5. The 'Line' dialog is displayed

  6. You can choose a colour from a small range. You cannot necessarily revert to the colour the line was given during import. You will need to reimport it to undo the change.

When following the second point above, if your path has placemarks (points) defined, you can change the attributes of those placemarks by clicking the information icon representing the complete list.

Android

Map Import

Avenza Maps supports the 'Open with...' option from a number of sources. A couple of examples follow:

Google Drive

  1. Browse to the map file in Google Drive

  2. Click on the three vertical ellipses next to the filename and choose the 'Open with' option

  3. Google drive downloads the file then prompts you to select the target application (unless you have already selected and app to always open this file type)

  4. Select the Avenza Maps icon (the name is missing in the current version of Avenza Maps) and click 'JUST ONCE'

  5. Avenza Maps opens and imports the map

File Manager

Use a file manager to open the application. This example is for the Amaze File Manager

  1. Browse to the file in the file manager

  2. Click on the three vertical ellipses next to the filename and choose the 'Open with' option

  3. Choose 'Other'

  4. Select the Avenza Maps icon (the name is missing in the current version of Avenza Maps) and click 'JUST ONCE'

  5. Avenza Maps opens and imports the map

KML File Import

  1. Select a map that encompasses the area being imported

  2. Click the pin icon that has three horizontal lines at the top right of the map page

  3. Click the icon with three horizontal bars at the bottom right of the screen

  4. Select 'Import Map Features'

  5. Select 'From Device Storage'

  6. Browse to the file to be imported and select it

  7. The file is imported and shown in the 'Map Features' list

  8. Click the back arrow at the top left of the screen to view the map

Changing Path Attributes

To change the colour of the path

  1. Click on the path on the map; or

  2. Click the pin icon that has three horizontal lines at the top right of the map page and navigate down the tree of the layer until the path layer is displayed together with a thumbnail showing the colour of the path.

  3. Either;

    1. Select the path

    2. The map is displayed with a small box containing an information icon (letter i in a circle) and the path's distance.

    3. Click the information icon in the small box

    or

    1. Click and long-press the path

    2. The path is highlighted

    3. Select the edit (a pencil) icon

  4. The 'Edit Map Feature' page is displayed

  5. You can choose a colour from a small range. You cannot necessarily revert to the colour the line was given during import. You will need to reimport it to undo the change.

When following the second point above, if your path has placemarks (points) defined, you can change the attributes of those placemarks by long-pressing the entry representing the set of placemarks, the choosing the edit (pencil) icon.

Free GeoPDF Maps of USA

See SectionHiker - How to Navigate with GeoPDF Maps

References

-- Frank Dean 24 Sep 2017

Related Topics:

Garmin_eTrex30, GisTips, GPSBabel, OsmAndMaps, ViewRangerTips