Start

Quickstart

A quick introduction to the standard screen, tools, layers, maps, objects, search and live features.

App profile

Choose your layout

Both profiles contain the same MapTools functions. Compare how the controls will look on this device, then choose a starting layout.

Standard

The complete tool menu is always directly available. Suitable when you regularly use many different MapTools functions.

Tools, Navigation, Live and Data keep all MapTools functions directly accessible. Open a section to see its actions.

Use Settings to manage map presets, repeat this introduction or open the feature overview, and switch the app profile. A profile changes only the arrangement of controls.

Hiking

Track, route, marker and telemetry are prominent. Photo, note and audio are quickly available from the Marker submenu; all other tools remain available via More.

The telemetry bar shows the values relevant to the current activity and opens details when tapped. More options contains the complete tool menu. Map presets and profile switching remain in Settings.

Start and stop a track safely

Track opens the recording controls. Starting and stopping require a long press until the progress indicator is full, followed by a confirmation.

Route opens route creation, editing and selection. Ending active guidance uses the same deliberate long press and confirmation as track recording.

Marker, photo, note and audio

Open Marker to choose a position. To the right of the position options, the same submenu contains Photo, Note and Audio. These actions create a geotagged marker without permanently occupying space on the main screen.

Search, map switching, object browser, settings, GPS/InfoTap and hiding map controls remain available in both profiles.

Map presets Correct track end

Interface

Standard View

The standard screen is the map as your workspace. Numbered markers sit next to the visible controls; the legend explains the areas. Only Details links open additional manual pages.

1 Compass & FixMap orientation and fixed bearing direction. Tap: Fix toggles the fixed bearing on or off.
Long press: opens the compass view.
Double tap: aligns the map to north. Details

2 EnergyShows battery level, estimated runtime and GPS/battery strategy hints. Opens GPS, battery and GNSS details.

3 GPS/BLEShows GPS accuracy, radio status and active live functions such as tracking, groups, drones, navigation or search grid. Opens status details.

4 Telemetry displayShows speed, altitude and heading angle directly on the map while you are working.

5 Own positionMarks your current GPS position and viewing direction on the map.

6 SearchSearch combines coordinate input and POI search. Project objects are available in the object browser. Tap: opens coordinate input.
Long press: opens POI search.

7 LayersManages map slots, the active map, vector layers and raster overlays. Tap: switches to the next active map slot.
Long press: opens the map browser.

8 Object browserHere you find markers, waypoints, tracks, routes, areas, circles, distances, bearings, viewranges and search grids. You can search, filter, show or hide items, create collections, open details, edit, copy, move, export or delete objects.

9 SettingsApp profile: Changes the arrangement of controls, but not maps, layers, projects or recorded data. Map presets: A map preset saves all four map slots, their order and active slot, including map sources, styles, layers, terrain, overlays, routing preferences and map-object visibility. UI profile, coordinates, colors, icon favorites and menu order remain global settings.

10 GPS & map infoCenters the map on your position and shows the current accuracy. Short tap: centers on GPS from the free map position. It does nothing while auto-center is active; in InfoTap mode it opens point details at the current position.
Long press: switches between InfoTap and GPS mode. Returning to GPS mode centers the map on the GPS position again.
Double tap: no separate action is assigned to this button; double-tap the compass at item 1 to align the map north.Free position: The map is freely movable; a short tap centers on GPS.Auto-center active: The map follows the GPS position; another short tap does nothing.Map info active: A button tap opens the current GPS position; a map tap opens the selected point.

11 Show or hide map controlsHides or restores the side map buttons. The toggle itself stays visible so you can bring the controls back at any time.

12 ToolsHere you find tools for Marker, Distance, Bearing, Area, Circle, Visible area. More details

13 NavigateEverything around navigation: Target, Tracking, Route, Follow route, AR Mode. More details

14 LiveHere you find live functions for Drones, Search Grid, Groups. More details

15 DataHere you find Data Center, Projects, Undo. In the Data Center you manage Projects and exchange, Load and Import, Export and Share, Create app backup, Restore app backup, Resources. More details

Screen Areas

What You See on the Standard Screen

The key controls are available directly from the map view.

Tools

The toolbar starts map actions directly on the workspace.

Add markers and document points
Create distances, bearings, areas and circles
Set route points and calculate viewranges
Cancel active tools or undo inputs step by step

Settings

Changes the arrangement of controls, but not maps, layers, projects or recorded data.

App profile: Standard · Hiking
Map presets: A map preset saves all four map slots, their order and active slot, including map sources, styles, layers, terrain, overlays, routing preferences and map-object visibility. UI profile, coordinates, colors, icon favorites and menu order remain global settings.
Use Settings to manage map presets, repeat this introduction or open the feature overview, and switch the app profile. A profile changes only the arrangement of controls.

Layers & Visibility

Control which map and data layers are visible.

Switch the base map or use map slots
Show or hide imported layers, raster overlays and POI layers
Keep opacity, active status and layer order in view
Use elevation data for elevation, hillshade and contour lines

Map Browser

The map browser manages map sources and local data on the device.

Select online maps and imported offline maps
Manage Mapsforge, MBTiles and GeoPackage map sources
Import POI files, terrain files and raster overlays
Check conflicts, status and available map coverage

Object Browser

The object browser shows the contents of the current project.

Search markers, POIs, routes, tracks, areas, circles and bearings
Filter, select, show and edit objects on the map
Organize projects and open detail views
Export or share selected objects

Search

Search combines coordinate input and POI search. Project objects are available in the object browser.

Search offline POI data by name or category
Choose GPS position, marker or map extent as reference
Show results on the map and use them as target or object
Enable the POI layer when needed

Live Menu

The live menu shows running features and quick actions.

Start, pause and summarize GPS tracking
Monitor target or route navigation
Manage search grid, group mode and live positions
Use Remote ID, AR and LiveView depending on device and permission

First Steps

Ready in a Few Steps

The most important steps for first use.

Open a mapUse an online map or import offline data in the map browser.
App profileChanges the arrangement of controls, but not maps, layers, projects or recorded data. Standard · Hiking
Map presetsA map preset saves all four map slots, their order and active slot, including map sources, styles, layers, terrain, overlays, routing preferences and map-object visibility. UI profile, coordinates, colors, icon favorites and menu order remain global settings.
Create a projectSave markers, routes, areas, search grids, tracks and viewranges in the project.
Import dataImport GPX, KML/KMZ, GeoJSON/JSON, CSV/TSV/TXT, POI, maps, overlays or terrain.
ExportUse .asmaps, GPX, KML/KMZ, GeoJSON, JSON, CSV, ZIP or PDF for exchange.
Create a backupSave projects, settings, profiles and local data as .asmaps.backup; add password protection when needed.

Offline data

Prepare offline data before the trip

If you want to work without mobile coverage, download maps, POI, elevation models or overlays from a suitable provider first and import them into ArxSilex MapTools.

Download sources for offline data

Short introduction

Welcome to ArxSilex MapTools

Thank you for using MapTools. On the next few pages, I’ll introduce the most important parts of the app and show you how to place a marker and record a track.

Search and map slots

Tap: enter coordinates. Press and hold: search for POIs.

Tap: switch to the next configured map slot. Press and hold: open maps and layers.

Objects, settings and GPS

Tap: centre the map on your position. Press and hold: enable InfoTap.

The status fields at the top show battery/GPS strategy and radio/live status. Tap the battery field for GPS signal details, satellites, accuracy and sensor status. The right field opens the same details, or the group when group mode is active.

Choose a position

Marker is available in the open Tools menu. Its position can come from the map or one of the available position sources; name, symbol and colour are chosen before saving.

Depending on the tool, you can tap the map, enter coordinates, reuse an object position, use your current GPS position or place the point with the crosshair. Position averaging combines several GPS fixes and is a Pro feature.

Compass

The compass shows north relative to the rotated map. Double-tap to orient the map north. Tap Fix to hold a bearing; press and hold to open the outdoor compass.

Use map objects

Tap a map object (marker, route, area, ...) to open its details. Press and hold it to edit it. If objects overlap, MapTools first shows a selection.

Opens the object browser. There you can access the map objects you have created.

GPS Tracking

Navigation → Recording contains the recording mode and the controls for starting, pausing, resuming and stopping a track. After stopping, the recording is saved as a track. Required permissions are requested when recording starts.

Open feature overview

Create map objects and take measurements here. · Set destinations, record tracks and work with routes here. · Find functions for current data and teamwork here. · Manage your projects, map content, imports, exports and backups here.

You can repeat the short introduction at any time under Settings → Help and information.