Manual | ArxSilex MapTools

Find your way around the app

Menu tree and icon guide

The tree follows the default order of the map workspace. Open a branch, recognise the icon and jump straight to the relevant guide. Sub-actions show what appears after a tool has been started.

Direct map buttons6 areas outside the main menus

These buttons sit directly on the map. A short or long press can open different views depending on the button.

Open the numbered standard view

Compass and Fix
Orients the map, keeps a bearing direction fixed and opens the compass view on a long press.
- Compass
- Fixed bearing
Search
A short press opens coordinate input; a long press opens POI search. Project objects remain in the object browser.
- Coordinate input
- POI search
Maps and layers
Switches map slots and opens maps, layers, overlays, POI and elevation data.
- Map presets
- Offline data
Object browser
Searches, filters and manages markers, tracks, routes, areas, circles, measurements, ViewRanges and search grids.
- Object browser
- Project management
Settings
Opens map presets, app profiles, Display and interaction, Connections and offline operation, Device and sensors, Measurement, Colours and symbols, Navigation and menus, and Help and information.
- Coordinate favourites
GPS and map information
Switches between free map movement, GPS centring and map information. In Info mode, tapping the map opens data for that point.

Tools7 entries in default order

Tools create map objects or measurements. Starting a tool opens a context-sensitive action bar.

Open the complete Tools menu guide

Marker
Places and documents a single point.
Distance
Sets a start and end point in sequence and calculates distance, bearing and available elevation data.
Cross bearing
Intersects two bearings and shows the calculated target area with quality information.
Bearing
Creates a direction line from a start point, angle and length.
Area
Captures a polygon point by point and can save it after at least three vertices.
Circle
Sets a centre point and uses the radius configured in the action bar.
ViewRange
Calculates a 360-degree visible area from a viewpoint, radius and active elevation data.

Navigation5 entries in default order

Navigation leads to a target, records movement or follows a route. AR complements the map view.

Open the complete Navigation menu guide

Target
Sets a target and shows direction, straight-line distance and approach.
Tracking
Records your movement as a track and provides pause, resume and finish controls.
Route
Plans a sequence of waypoints freely or along compatible ways.
Follow route
Starts an existing route as active guidance or quiet route monitoring.
AR mode
Overlays existing target and direction data on the camera view; it does not choose a safe route.
- AR navigation
- LiveView bearing

Live4 entries in default order

Live functions process current radio, GPS or group information while you work.

Open the complete Live menu guide

Astronomy
Calculate Sun and Moon events, twilight and the position of bright celestial objects for a selected place and time, entirely offline.
Drones
Receives public Remote ID broadcasts where the phone, Android and radio environment support them.
- Reception and device limits
- History and export
Search grid
Builds a grid from an area or circle and marks visited cells from GPS movement.
Groups
Opens local group functions for sharing nearby position and status information.
- Create / join a group
- Device and range limits

Data3 entries in default order

Data combines exchange, project switching and undo for supported recent actions.

Open the complete Data menu guide

Data Centre
Central view for coordinate conversion, export, QR, import, backup, restore, storage and resources.
Projects
Selects, creates, renames and switches projects while keeping work contexts separate.
- Project browser
- Import mode and provenance
Undo
Reverts the last supported edit. It does not replace a project or app backup.
- Undo last action
- Understand backups

Prepare

Maps, Data & Exchange

Everything around map material, offline data, projects and data exchange.

Data MenuUse the data center, projects and undo for import, export and project work.Map PresetsPrepare offline maps, map presets, map styles and layers.Online object services and InfoTapConfigure OGC API Features and WFS as queryable object layers and use them per map slot.Object alarmsConfigure area alarms for markers, circles, areas and routes and understand their background behaviour.Offline DataImport maps, POI, raster overlays and elevation data.QR Code & SharingExchange coordinates, objects and projects deliberately.Project ManagementOrganize objects, layers, tracks and imports within the project.

Orient

Orientation & Navigation

Tools for position, direction, bearings, coordinates and movement outdoors.

Navigation MenuUnderstand target navigation, tracking, routes, route following and AR mode from the navigation menu.CompassCheck map orientation, course and fixed bearing direction in the live menu.Average GPS positionRobustly determine a marker from multiple GPS fixes and remeasure it later in independent sessions.Bearings & RadiusCombine bearings, circles, distances and markers for orientation.Cross BearingCombine several bearings to narrow down a target area.CoordinatesCombine coordinates, point details, terrain and target navigation.Routes & TracksUse route, track, elevation profile, terrain and report export together.Target NavigationNavigate to markers, POI, coordinates or imported points.

Analyze

Search, Areas & Terrain

Examples for POI, areas, systematic search, view range and elevation profiles.

Tools MenuUse markers, distance, bearings, areas, circles and visibility tools from the tools menu.POI SearchSearch POI offline, inspect them on the map and use them as targets.Mark AreasCapture areas by GPS, map point or coordinate.Search GridsUse search grids, coverage and visited cells for systematic field or object work.View RangeUse available elevation data to estimate which areas may be visible from an observation point.Elevation Data & ProfileUse HGT, DEM GeoTIFF, ASC or DTED to check terrain, elevation profiles and plausibility.

Live

Live Features & Device Sensors

Features that may depend on the device, Android version, sensors and environment.

Live MenuUse drone Remote ID, search grids and live groups from the live menu.

Nearby GroupsShow participants nearby via Bluetooth Low Energy without requiring an app server.

Drone Remote IDReceive Remote ID signals, place them on the map and use them for documentation or export.

AR / LiveViewUse targets, POI or bearing directions in the camera view when device and sensors support it.

Release notes

App changelog

The app changelog lists app releases available through Google Play, including their release notes.

Open changelog

Settings

Connections and offline operation

Settings > Connections and offline operation provides four slider switches.

Offline mode

Blocks every internet request initiated by MapTools, including custom WMS, WMTS, OGC, XYZ and WFS services and external web links. Android, system services and other apps are not covered. Imported offline maps, stored data, GNSS and offline tools remain available.

Radio silence

Also pauses BLE and Wi-Fi functions initiated by MapTools. It does not switch Android radios, telephony or other apps.

Block Google

Pauses Google Maps, update and purchase queries, and Google location services used by MapTools. Custom WMS, WMTS and OGC services remain online.

Block OpenStreetMap

Pauses only the built-in OSM online service. Imported OSM data and custom map services remain available.

Search

Use geodata search

Open Search from the map view. Local searches imported POI data on the device. Active slot adds visible, enabled and searchable OGC API Features or WFS layers; Selection lets you choose sources yourself. You can optionally use the visible map extent, a reference point or a radius and filter attributes declared by the service. Local results react as you type, while remote requests start only from the search key or search command. A result identifies its source and layer; tapping it focuses and highlights its geometry and opens the already loaded details without a second feature request. Offline mode and radio silence block remote requests. Services must first be configured as feature layers. They may require registration, fees or separate licence terms and are not part of MapTools.

Online object data

Test OGC/WFS search step by step

The object-services guide provides two ready-to-use public demo sources, the exact MapTools entries and help with source selection, the radius filter, map slots and common errors.

Open the test guide

Current workflows

Projects, searches, groups and map sources

The current interfaces keep extensive work states understandable and usable on compact displays.

Import and backup

The file picker narrows the selected format and the content is still validated. Backup choices are requested only for real conflicts with object context. An empty automatically created default project does not block restore.

Resume a search grid

Pause and Finish close a session deliberately. Resuming keeps visited cells and earlier route segments; separate sessions are not joined artificially. History can be shown or hidden independently.

BLE group mode

Select the outgoing message from a compact dropdown. “Mark here” is a temporary location message and does not replace the persistent selection.

Online overlays

WMS, WMTS, XYZ and OGC layers are initially collapsed and grouped by stable source. “Active overlays” independently shows the actual global drawing order.

ViewRange

The calculation uses one consistent, device-independent precision policy. Terrain resolution, data coverage, observer height and distance still determine the result’s significance.

Detailed guides

New detailed manual pages

Open the translated guides for systematic area work, terrain visibility and camera-assisted functions.

Search grid

Create a grid from an area or circle and record GPS coverage.

ViewRange and AR

Calculate terrain visibility or use AR and LiveView with clear accuracy limits.

Search grid and Area Search AR mode and LiveView

Manual

Detailed guides

These detailed guides explain distance, bearings, circles, drone Remote ID and Live Groups step by step.

Distance measurementMeasure the direct distance between two points, inspect the bearing and terrain profile, and use the result as a map object.BearingCreate a bearing from a start point, direction and line options, then intersect it with another bearing or circle.Circle and radiusCreate a circle from a centre point and radius, style it and combine it with bearings, circles or a search grid.Drone Remote IDPassively receive public Direct Remote ID, display it locally, understand reception limits and export KML, GeoJSON or CSV.Live GroupsUse Live Groups over Bluetooth Low Energy nearby, understand participant status and respect privacy limits.