Layer data file - Background MBTiles

domgusah · November 24, 2020, 7:43pm

Hello, I created MBTiles using QGIS and have loaded them onto my phone (SDcard/Android/data/org.odk.collect.android/files/layers)
but KoboCollect can’t locate them and comes up with this message when I attempt to reference them in General Settings/Maps
"There are no layer files in… "
Can anyone assist?

Regards

Kal_Lam · November 25, 2020, 6:57am

Have you tried this with ODK Collect android app? Does it work with ODK Collect android app?

domgusah · November 25, 2020, 7:29am

Doesn’t work with ODK Collect also

Kal_Lam · November 25, 2020, 11:47am

Try configuring your Collect android app as follows and you should be able to view the MBTILES File as layers while collecting data with Collect android app.

Step 1: Copying MBTILES File to your device.

Copy your desired MBTILES File to SDcard/Android/data/org.koboc.collect.android/files/layers if you are using KoBoCollect android app or to SDcard/Android/data/org.odk.collect.android/files/layers if you are using ODK Collect android app depending upon the Collect android app you are using. Note: you could also change the the SDcard to Internal storage depending upon the storage your device uses.

Step 2: Configuring the settings in Collect android app.

Open Collect android app
Select General Settings
Select Maps
Change Source to Mapbox and then also change Layer data file from None to the recently added file that you should see something like /sdcard/Android/data/org.koboc.collect.android/files/layers/xxxxx.mbtiles if you are using KoBoCollect android app or to /sdcard/Android/data/org.odk.collect.android/files/layers/xxxxx.mbtiles if you are using ODK Collect android app. Note: xxxxx.mbtiles is the file that you copied to your device.

Doing so, you should be able to use the layer file while collecting gps data.

domgusah · November 25, 2020, 3:07pm

Thank you.

I didn’t realise there was a similar ‘Layer’ folder in Internal storage. I was using the one in the SDcard. When I saved the files to the internal folder it worked. This is despite the Reference setting saying “SDcard/…”
How do I now change Collect to look for the MBTiles in the SDcard and not on the internal storage? (As there is usually more space there)

Regards

Kal_Lam · November 25, 2020, 3:18pm

Does your SDcard have the following path:

SDcard/Android/data/org.koboc.collect.android/files/layers

i.e. … /Android/data/org.koboc.collect.android/files/layers

If yes, it should work.

domgusah · November 25, 2020, 4:29pm

The path is the same although is shows as “SD card” not SDcard. But it still doesn’t recognize the MBTiles I put there.

Also, the “/layers” folder on the sdcard was not created automatically. I had to create myself. However, the “/layers” folder in the internal storage was automatically created when I installed Collect.

Regards

paani · January 1, 2021, 3:53pm

Hello @Kal_Lam, I was wondering if it is possible to add these files as “Media” on kobocollect as we do with CSV upload for pulldata function.

Kal_Lam · January 4, 2021, 1:51pm

@paani as it is a map file it should be kept in the said map directory.

sara_7500 · January 20, 2021, 2:38pm

Hi,
How do you create the MBTiles on the QGIS i try plugin on the QGIS but does not work.
help please

stephanealoo · January 21, 2021, 8:44am

Hi @sara_7500

This would be beyond the scope of what the community would be able to cover. However, by just searching the same parameters online, you can find the some resources such as this.

Regards,
Stephane

rmthomas · August 11, 2021, 11:29am

I have a fresh install of Android 11 and ODK Collect v2021.2. After reading a bit on the forums it seems Android 11 does not allow me to copy my mbtiles layer to the sdcard/android/data directory. When I go there to paste (“copy here”) my mbtiles file, the screen (within the My files app) says “No files”. When I try to create the directory org.odk.collect.android, the name is already in use. Help?

Kal_Lam · August 12, 2021, 7:35am

Welcome to the community, @rmthomas! It could be the issue with the location of your folder.

rmthomas · August 12, 2021, 7:43pm

Thanks @Kal_Lam I agree. The problem seems to be that I dont have read/write access to the folder the ODK Collect searches for my mbtiles layer. Can I change the locations ODK Collect searches for mbtiles layers? If not, is there documentation specific to Android 11?

Kal_Lam · August 13, 2021, 4:59am

@rmthomas, would you mind giving a try with another device?

rmthomas · August 13, 2021, 5:05pm

Thanks for ths suggestion. I only have the one android phone. Is Kobotoolbox not supporting this issue or never heard of it? I assumed this would have come up because I am a noobie.

Jummy · December 6, 2022, 9:48am

Hello @Kal_Lam @domgusah @stephanealoo

I am trying to input the .MBtiles into team member’s phone. While my phone I can find the path as following: Andriod → data → org.odk… ->file → layers to paste the MBtiles
But another phone doesn’t have the ‘layers’ folder in the ‘file’ folder. It has only ‘project’ folder in the ‘file’ folder.

Do you know how can we deal with this to be able to input the MBtiles ? or can we just create the ‘layers’ folder by ourself is that possible ?

Thank you!

jupgiraldoqu · July 11, 2023, 8:16pm

Hi Kal, I have used ODK and all work well, but now I change to Kobo, and not is posible for my open the map, given that in Kobo when I go to the Settings/ maps/ change source there is not posible the Mapbox option, just there are the options that attach in the imagen.

Tank you