General Settings
The General Settings control core app behaviour such as map interaction, screen management, and editing defaults. These options affect your day-to-day workflow across the entire app.
- Android
- iOS
Go to Settings > General Settings to access these options.
Map rotation
Default: Off
When enabled, you can rotate the map using a two-finger rotation gesture. A compass indicator appears on the map showing the current bearing. When disabled, the map is locked to north-up orientation and any existing rotation is reset.
This is useful in the field when you want to align the map with your direction of travel or the orientation of a site you are surveying.
Save feature on 'Back' pressed
Default: On
Controls what happens when you press the device back button while editing or creating a feature.
- On - the feature is saved automatically when you navigate away. This prevents accidental data loss during fieldwork.
- Off - you are prompted to confirm whether to save or discard changes before leaving the edit screen.
If you frequently edit features and want a safety net against accidental saves, turn this off to get a confirmation prompt each time.
Force 'Center on GPS' mode
Default: Off
When enabled, the map automatically stays centred on your current GPS position at all times. The map follows your location continuously and you cannot pan away from it.
When disabled (the default), you can freely pan the map. The "Center on GPS" button is still available to manually re-centre the map on your position, but the map does not follow you automatically.
This setting is helpful during GPS tracking sessions or when walking a survey route, as it keeps your current position always visible without manual interaction.
Show measurement button
Default: On
Controls whether the measurement mode button is visible in the main map toolbar.
- On - the measurement button is shown, giving you quick access to measure distances and areas directly on the map.
- Off - the button is hidden, freeing up toolbar space if you do not use the measurement tool.
Hiding the button does not remove the measurement functionality - it only removes the quick-access button from the toolbar.
Distance labels
Default: Off
When enabled, intermediate distance labels are displayed along line and polygon edges while you are drawing or measuring geometry. Each segment shows its individual length, making it easy to see the distance between consecutive vertices at a glance.
When disabled, only the total distance or perimeter is shown.
This is particularly useful when surveying boundaries or laying out features where individual segment lengths matter.
Keep screen on
Default: Off
Prevents the device screen from dimming or turning off while the app is in the foreground. The standard Android screen timeout is overridden and the display stays on indefinitely.
Enable this during fieldwork to avoid having to repeatedly wake your device while surveying. Be aware that keeping the screen on will increase battery consumption, so consider carrying a power bank for extended sessions.
Go to Settings to find the general options at the top of the settings screen.
Language
Default: System
Override the app display language independently of your device language. The app supports 19 languages including English, Czech, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swahili, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
After changing the language, the app restarts to apply the new setting. Selecting System follows whatever language your device is set to.
Map rotation
Default: Off
When enabled, you can rotate the map using a two-finger rotation gesture. A compass indicator appears showing the current bearing. When disabled, the map is locked to north-up orientation.
This is useful in the field when you want to align the map with your direction of travel or the orientation of a site you are surveying.
Keep screen on
Default: Off
Prevents the device screen from dimming or turning off while the app is active. The standard iOS auto-lock timer is overridden and the display stays on indefinitely.
Enable this during fieldwork to avoid having to repeatedly wake your device while surveying. Be aware that keeping the screen on will increase battery consumption, so consider carrying a power bank for extended sessions.
Platform comparison
Not all general settings appear on both platforms. Some settings are located in different sections or are platform-specific.
| Setting | Android | iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Map rotation | General Settings | Settings (top) |
| Keep screen on | General Settings | Settings (top) |
| Language | Language settings | Settings (top) |
| Save feature on Back pressed | General Settings | - |
| Force Center on GPS mode | General Settings | - |
| Show measurement button | General Settings | - |
| Distance labels | General Settings | Map Display settings |