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Manage Layers

Layers are the building blocks of your GIS data. Each layer stores geographic features of a specific geometry type (points, lines, or polygons) along with their attribute data.

Accessing Layer Management​

  1. Tap the Menu tab to open the Main Menu
  2. Select Manage Layers from the Data Management section
tip

On Android, you can also access layers from Manage Projects by tapping the Layers icon on the active project.

Layer Types​

Feature Layers​

Store vector geographic data with attributes:

Geometry TypeUse Case
PointIndividual locations (trees, poles, manholes)
LineLinear features (paths, pipes, cables)
PolygonAreas (parcels, zones, buildings)

Tiled Layers​

Read-only layers containing cached map tiles for offline use.

Creating a New Layer​

  1. Tap the + button
  2. Select Create New Layer
  3. Enter a Layer Name (letters, numbers, underscores only)
  4. Select Geometry Type: Point, Line, or Polygon
  5. Tap Create
tip

Enable Mapit fields when creating a layer to automatically track creation and modification timestamps for each feature. See Configure Survey for best practices on setting up layers for data collection.

Layer Actions​

Select a layer to access these actions:

Set Active / Deactivate​

Only one layer can be active at a time. The active layer receives new features when you add points, lines, or polygons on the map.

Show / Hide​

Toggle layer visibility on the map. Hidden layers remain in the project but don't display.

Edit​

Opens the layer editor where you can modify:

  • Layer properties (name, selectability)
  • Styling (colours, line width, marker size) - see Layer Styling
  • Fields (add, edit, delete attributes)
  • Field linking (connect to Attribute Sets)

View Features​

Opens the feature list showing all records in the layer. From here you can view, edit, or delete individual features.

Zoom to Extent​

Centres and zooms the map to show all features in the layer.

Copy as Empty​

Creates a duplicate layer with the same structure (fields and settings) but no features. Useful for creating similar layers.

Index Features​

Creates a spatial index for faster queries. Recommended for layers with many features.

Import Features​

Adds features from a file into the existing layer. Useful for appending data.

Export​

Export the layer in various formats:

  • GeoJSON - Universal JSON format
  • Shapefile - Classic GIS format (.shp)
  • KML - Google Earth format
  • CSV - Spreadsheet format
  • GPX - GPS exchange format
  • DXF - CAD format (geometry only)

Clear Layer​

Removes all features but keeps the layer structure. Requires confirmation.

Delete​

Permanently removes the layer and all its features. Requires confirmation.

Layer Properties​

Basic Settings​

PropertyDescription
NameLayer identifier (shown in list and legend)
Geometry TypePoint, Line, or Polygon (set at creation)
Is SelectableWhether features can be tapped to select
Show LabelsDisplay field values as labels on the map
Label FieldWhich field to use for labels

Styling​

PropertyApplies ToDescription
Stroke ColourAllOutline colour for features
Fill ColourPoint, PolygonInterior colour
Line WidthLine, PolygonStroke thickness
Marker SizePointRadius of point markers
Point ClusteringPointGroup nearby points at low zoom

Managing Fields​

Fields define the attributes (columns) for your layer data. For detailed guidance on planning your field structure, see Configure Survey.

Adding a Field​

  1. Edit the layer
  2. Tap Add Field
  3. Enter Field Name (letters, numbers, underscores)
  4. Select Field Type:
    • TEXT - Free text or dropdowns
    • INTEGER - Whole numbers
    • DOUBLE - Decimal numbers
    • BOOLEAN - Yes/No values
    • DATE - Date only
    • DATETIME - Date and time
  5. Optionally set a Default Value
  6. Toggle Required if the field must have a value

Linking Fields to Attribute Sets​

Connect a field to an Attribute Set to enable:

  • Dropdown lists - Select from predefined values
  • Multi-select lists - Choose multiple values
  • Barcode scanning - Camera-based input

See Linking Layer Fields to Attribute Sets for details.

Sorting Layers​

Use the sort menu to organise your layer list:

  • Active First - Active layer at top
  • Name A-Z - Alphabetical ascending
  • Name Z-A - Alphabetical descending
  • Date Created - Oldest or newest first
  • Geometry Type - Group by point/line/polygon

Importing Layers​

Import existing data files as new layers:

  1. Tap the + button
  2. Select Import Layer
  3. Choose a file in one of these formats:
    • GeoJSON (.geojson, .json)
    • KML (.kml)
    • CSV (.csv) - with coordinates
    • Shapefile (.shp as ZIP archive)

Layer List Display​

Each layer card shows:

  • Geometry icon - Colour-coded by type
  • Layer name - Bold if active
  • Geometry type - Point, Line, or Polygon
  • Feature count - Number of records
  • Active indicator - Checkmark for active layer
  • Visibility toggle - Eye icon to show/hide

Best Practices​

  • One layer per feature type - Keep trees in one layer, fences in another
  • Meaningful names - Use descriptive names like Survey_Trees not Layer1
  • Set active layer - Always verify the correct layer is active before collecting data
  • Index large layers - Use spatial indexing for layers with hundreds of features
  • Regular exports - Back up important layers by exporting periodically