Offline search

[devemux86]

Cruiser can now search for:

• Locations
• Coordinates: lat,lon and lon,lat
• Plus codes
• what3words

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Also it can search offline in:

• Favorites
• Points of interest

Bonus with offline points of interest? Search offline for:

• Fuel stations / Charging stations
• Speed cameras
  Note: Speed cameras alerts in some countries is prohibited by the law.
• Anything you can imagine that exists in the OpenStreetMap database

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Cruiser will be significantly improved in many areas.
Everything: maps, routing, search must be available offline!

[devemux86]

If you have ideas or suggestions for the Search
please write them here so we can discuss them.

[devemux86]

I am testing a universal search that uses the search button and interface.
(the search screen in menu "Data | Search" will no longer be necessary)

Also, we can probably collect some more commonly used poi categories,
in order to make their search easier.

[devemux86]

Search results will also show:

• Their distance from your location
• Their direction relative to your location

[MotoUKRider]

This sounds exciting - looking forward to being able to finally use that search button in the wilds of nowhere :)

Offered as a starting-point, this is the list of POIs from CoPilot. The "Basecamp" group is my own, fed from an OV2 file converted (using ITNConv) from the usual GPX that I use within Cruiser.

I've lengthened the image to show all items in a complete list

Here's a result when you type:

You can just start typing or select a particular group to search within. The right-hand "map" button lets you plot those results on the map.

No opinions either way about how Cruiser should do it, but perhaps a starting point for discussion?

[devemux86]

Preview of the new global offline search coming to Cruiser:

• Select what to search in settings
• Results show distance with direction
• Colors may change with favorite categories
• Categorized search is in progress

The image shows the search results from:

• 3 favorites (star icon)
• 5 offline points of interest (place icon)
• Online results (earth icon)

[DolomitesTom]

Exciting development

[devemux86]

Cruiser 3.0.13 contains the first edition of the new global (offline) search, as described above,
with offline search in favorites and points of interest, all conveniently in one place of the app.

You can select the search sources in "Settings | Routing | Search" or search settings for "search".

Please let me know how you see it, many improvements are already planned.

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Additional search features are in progress, such as categorized search, integration with navigation, etc.

[MotoUKRider]

The POI, when selected, puts a little blue circle on the map and I find it a pain to get rid of (I tried looking for a Starbucks). Perhaps I'm missing something but the only way to clear it is a long-press and then find the option in the menu. I will say that the result list makes a lot of sense, is easy to read/understand :)

[devemux86]

The POI, when selected, puts a little blue circle on the map

It is because they do not exist on the map, like the favorites.
So we must show the poi search result on the map.

Perhaps I'm missing something but the only way to clear it is a long-press and then find the option in the menu.

Or use the menu "Routing | Clear | Overlays", however it clears all overlays.
Search results are not permanent, they do not return when restart the app.

Some of the things we can improve in the future are:

• The menu "Routing | Clear" to split into more options
• The menu with long press on the various map layers:
  • 1st screen shows routing actions on the layer
  • 2nd "More..." screen shows the layer actions

We could probably organize them better so you can find what you're looking for faster.

[MotoUKRider]

Trying this again, the process to remove the blue circle (using the "More" option in the dialog) is tedious IMHO. As an aside, the entries in the POI results vary: Some (such as a major coffee chain) just have the name, others have a street+post-code. This is, I guess, the community-driven POI data's "fault"?! When you are presented with just the name, you have to take a chance that the coffee place 8mi away to the south is the one you looking for.

With the search result list, is there a plan to "long press" an item to immediately perform a "Navigate" ... "Add to Route/Via Point" etc?

[devemux86]

the process to remove the blue circle (using the "More" option in the dialog) is tedious IMHO

We will improve the user experience on the search, it is just the 1st edition, more work is in progress.

Everyone please write your ideas and requests, so we can see how all these can be better provided.

With the search result list, is there a plan to "long press" an item to immediately perform a "Navigate" ... "Add to Route/Via Point" etc?

Thanks nice idea! I will put it in my list to examine it. 👍

the entries in the POI results vary

Offline search in points of interest is performed on OpenStreetMap data,
so indeed the results come from what exists in OpenStreetMap database.

For example, see a list of offline poi with all their tags (random location).
Image is from desktop Cruiser. Some poi are more detailed than others:

[MotoUKRider]

Yes, I gathered that POI fields would vary (or be missing) between entries. I had the same issue with level-crossings on the map, 2 identical crossings but 1 wouldn't route through (BRouter) due to the "barrier" attribute being active on one of the crossings.

A little frustrating when you have, say, 4 Startbucks nearby and none have the address/town - Not your fault, just poor data. We are used to being spoilt with the G-app that tells us the opening time, today's special, the name of the server and ambient temperature in the dining room :)

[ramondevic]

I'm trying, I don't know yet if it's better to just search inside the visible screen or everywhere.
For me, I would have to look for the "favorites" everywhere, the "poi" and "online" ones I wouldn't know, you have to play with them to see how it works.

[devemux86]

I would have to look for the "favorites" everywhere

Usually we have less favorites, so it makes sense to search everywhere?

the "poi" and "online" ones I wouldn't know, you have to play with them to see how it works.

Online search engines usually suggest setting map limits for more relevant results.

And we could use a max results number, max 50 results or something?

[ramondevic]

One thing I don't like is that the option to sort the "favorites" by distance has been lost, sometimes you don't know the name you put in one of them and it's good to see what you have nearby.

[devemux86]

Let's discuss this here:

• Sort favorites #92

[ramondevic]

In the search box, it would be good to be able to choose what to search for "favorites, poi, online" just as it is done in settings but only for this specific case.

[devemux86]

We can see how to improve this workflow. 👍

When categorized search arrives (i.e. search / display all fuel stations),
we will need a convenient way to complete such searches.

[DolomitesTom]

how do I start with the universal search? When I open the favorite list for example, I don't find a search button.

[devemux86]

All search actions now work with the search button at the bottom-left of the screen.

[DolomitesTom]

Hmm, it sometimes seems to work and sometimes not.

For example when I start with the map near my home and enter Donon, it doesn't find anything, even if this is one of my favorites "Col du Donon". When I tap on this favorite or on another favorite in France, then it finds it.

...
when I close Cruiser and start again, then start searching again, it finds it directly... it seems that search function sometimes is stuck in the cache somewhere, maybe when searched too often?

[devemux86]

For example when I start with the map near my home and enter Donon

Is the Donon favorite inside your visible map area when doing the search?

Currently the search in favorites works in the map area on the screen (see also the discussion: #74 (reply in thread)).
We will change this and the search (at least in favorites) will search everywhere, regardless of the visible map area.
Do you mean this case?

Or does the favorite name has an accent? Does the search text has accent too?
e.g. côté vs cote

[DolomitesTom]

Currently the search in favorites works in the map area on the screen (see also the discussion: #74 (reply in thread)).
We will change this and the search (at least in favorites) will search everywhere, regardless of the visible map area.
Do you mean this case?

Yes, this explains it. The "Col du Donon", written in my favorites without accent, was not in the visible favorites when started the search.

[devemux86]

The "Col du Donon", written in my favorites without accent, was not in the visible favorites when started the search.

We will change this in the next Cruiser update, the search in favorites will work everywhere without visible map limits.

[DolomitesTom]

Thank you👍

[devemux86]

We need bounds for the search in the offline POI.

100 km radius around user location / map center?
Do we need a setting for the distance?

(OpenRouteService online search uses 100 km)

[DolomitesTom]

Do we need a setting for the distance?

don't think so, 100 km should be enough

[devemux86]

Cruiser 3.0.14 is available:

• Favorites: search does not have limits
• Points of interest: search has a 100 km radius

Please let me know how you see them and what other functions / settings we might need.
(as the offline search development is in progress)

[0709wiwiwi]

As described by "power" user MotoUKRider all downloaded data should be located into a SINGLE location or in data or in media.
If you prefer to share your large Vector maps with other capable gps apps the Android media location is less restrictive than data.
Transfer Android data to Android media

[MotoUKRider]

Ha, "power" user. I obtained that status by working with CoPilot GPS for 2yrs and having to do its merry dance of ITN route conversions, Favorite/Waypoint OV2 convert+import whilst navigating to a 12-level deep folder just to ingest them into the app.

Now, I just put my routes (and Favorites) as GPX directly from BaseCamp into the phone's root \GPX and load - with the route exactly as planned, with the stops (Via Point) pre-marked. There is very little not to like about Cruiser :)

[0709wiwiwi]

Android>data or Android>media ?

• Android>data: Acces to subfolders is with more obstacles.
• Android>media: Acces to subfolders is with fewer hurdles.

@MotoUKRider ;-)
The road to Android data is one with more 'cattlegrids'.
How will Android evolve in the future ? I have no idea.
An Android version with the functionality of a brick ?

[MotoUKRider]

Yes, many grids/gates/barriers! I do not mind so much where the app files are kept, just the change with today's update may have caused issues for those not familiar with the storage options. (eg: "it worked before, then I updated it and now it doesn't").

The good thing with Cruiser is that you don't need to go digging into deep-level folders unless you want to grab the map/data files for backup purposes or are pushing a custom theme into the app.

[devemux86]

the change with today's update may have caused issues for those not familiar with the storage options

I will make a new release soon to improve this and a navigation report by @DolomitesTom.

[ToToGSARider]

@devemux86 greift die Offline Suche genau auf die gleichen Ziele wie OpenStreetMaps zu? Ich finde zum Beispiel bei uns in der Region den Aartal-Grill nicht. Muss ich erst die POIS importieren für Deutschland? Entschuldigung wenn ich gerade so viel Frage, aber ich muss mich jetzt erstmal zurecht finden im Cruiser

@devemux86 does the offline search access exactly the same destinations as OpenStreetMaps? For example, I can't find the Aartal Grill in our region. Do I have to import the POIS for Germany first? Sorry if I ask so much, but I have to find my way around the Cruiser now

[devemux86]

@ToToGSARider

Offline search uses the same OpenStreetMap content that exists online.
The included POI categories can be seen here and we can update them if you need more!

Use the menu "Tools | Download poi" to download offline poi for your area (with the default "Mapsforge" selection).

(downloads of offline poi will be more automated in the future as offline search development progresses further)

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Die Offline-Suche verwendet dieselben OpenStreetMap-Inhalte, die auch online verfügbar sind.
Die enthaltenen POI-Kategorien können hier eingesehen werden und wir können sie aktualisieren, wenn Sie mehr benötigen!

Verwenden Sie das Menü "Tools | Poi herunterladen", um Offline-Poi für Ihr Gebiet herunterzuladen (mit der Standardauswahl "Mapsforge").

(Das Herunterladen von Offline-Poi wird in Zukunft stärker automatisiert werden, wenn die Entwicklung der Offline-Suche weiter voranschreitet)

[ToToGSARider]

@devemux86 alles klar, ich teste es direkt und melde mich. Dankeschön für die Hilfe.

@devemux86 all right, I'll test it directly and get back to you. Thanks for the help.

[ToToGSARider]

Die Offlinesuche funktioniert nicht. Liegt das am fehlenden ABO? In der K2 legt die Suche direkt los.

The offline search does not work. Is this due to the missing subscription? In K2, the search starts directly.

[devemux86]

@ToToGSARider

Thanks for the videos. You are searching for Hoherodskopf?
And your location / map center is > 100 km from the search item.

Please move the map closer or search something within 100 km, then it will work.

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Vielen Dank für die Videos. Sie suchen nach Hoherodskopf?
Und Ihr Standort / Kartenzentrum ist > 100 km vom Suchbegriff entfernt.

Bitte verschieben Sie die Karte näher oder suchen Sie etwas im Umkreis von 100 km, dann klappt es.

[devemux86]

Why is K2 faster in the search?

K2 search is only online. Offline search is done locally on the phone.
And it waits around 1 sec after each typed letter to update the results.

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Die K2-Suche ist nur online möglich. Die Offline-Suche wird lokal auf dem Telefon durchgeführt.
Und es wartet etwa 1 Sekunde nach jedem getippten Buchstaben, um die Ergebnisse zu aktualisieren.

[ToToGSARider]

Man müsste hier ein Signal sehen ob die Suche läuft oder nicht. Ich habe jetzt einfach nur Tankstelle eingegeben und es passiert nichts. Ich glaube ich bin verwöhnt durch die kurviger 2 Suche.

You should see a signal here whether the search is running or not. I have now just entered gas station and nothing happens. I think I am spoiled by the curvy 2 search.

[devemux86]

You should see a signal here whether the search is running or not.

Thanks for the suggestion, it is a new implementation so such improvements are planned. 🙂

Danke für die Anregung, es ist eine neue Implementierung, so dass solche Verbesserungen geplant sind. 🙂

[devemux86]

You should see a signal here whether the search is running or not.

Search progress indicator will be available again in the next Cruiser update (after 3.0.15).

Die Suchfortschrittsanzeige wird mit dem nächsten Cruiser-Update (nach 3.0.15) wieder verfügbar sein.

[devemux86]

Offline search will work without distance limits in the next Cruiser update:

[devemux86]

Offline search will work without distance limits in the next Cruiser update

Implemented in Cruiser 3.0.15.

[DolomitesTom]

Hmm, am I doing something wrong? I use the search button and enter my example "Donon" and nothing happens, the search doesn't start. Also if I enter "Col..." or "Col du..." a lot of Cols should be found in my favorites.

[ToToGSARider]

POI Deutschland ist geladen und aktiviert. Online Suche habe ich auch umgestellt aber er findet nichts.

POI Germany is loaded and activated. Online search I have also changed but he finds nothing.

[devemux86]

@ToToGSARider

Can you download / activate poi for sub-regions in Germany from Mapsforge?

Können Sie Poi für Teilregionen in Deutschland von Mapsforge herunterladen / aktivieren?

[ToToGSARider]

Ich habe nur Deutschland komplett als Vorschlag

I have only Germany complete as a suggestion

[WolfgangZ42]

[ToToGSARider]

@WolfgangZ42 Danke für den Hinweis @devemux86 haben nur Hessen importiert und jetzt startet die Suche sofort und ich habe jetzt auch Ergebnisse. Hilft Dir der Hinweis?

@WolfgangZ42 Thanks for the tip @devemux86 have imported only Hesse and now the search starts immediately and I now also have results. Does the hint help you?

[DolomitesTom]

I had activated Germany, but also when I switch to France, the search does not start. I am tapping on the search button (first of the 3 at the bottom left), then enter Donon or Col and press the search button on the virtual keyboard and nothing happens.

I thought the search in the own favorites works independent from the activated POIs. My problem is that the search doesn't start at all, not for location, not for cities and not for streets.
All 3 search options are selected and OpenrouteService is selected.

Also the search for plus.codes is not working any more when insert this from the clipboard. Before this was working fine.

[devemux86]

Maybe because France and Germany have very large POI databases, the search is slow?

• Can you try disabling the search in POI and then search only in the favorites?
• Can you try with a smaller POI area, like a sub-region in France or Germany?

This way we can find what is working slowly or not and look for improvements.
Also what device do you use and where are the poi files are stored?

[0709wiwiwi]

Maybe because France and Germany have very large POI databases, the search is slow?
No distance limit also could be an addiitional  problem ?

[devemux86]

No distance limit also could be an additional problem ?

Correctly, Germany has a poi database of 1 GB.
Without a distance limit the search is performed everywhere in the country.

We have to think for improvements here.

[DolomitesTom]

Right, when I disable the POI search, then it is working again and also the plus.code search works again. POI search seems to be the problem.

[devemux86]

when I disable the POI search, then it is working again

Do you mean the search in favorites?

[DolomitesTom]

Yes and plus.codes

[MotoUKRider]

No issues here with UK POI and my own (~780) Favorite search. It's a little sluggish to begin with, but doesn't seem too bad. Deactivating the POI makes it faster. It's possibly the lag between end of input and the search routine starting, plus the size of the POI file making live-typing seem slow?

Assuming that road names in the POI have a Post/Zip Code, could these be displayed (perhaps as a small font) in the search list, so when you find "Avenue Road" you know that it's in "AA1 1AA". Looking for a common road name without any obvious indication of which town/area its in unless you know it's 26.3 miles to the west of you :)

[DolomitesTom]

Nothing is working with searching, example Zugspitzstraße. No Street or location in my Surroundings. Only favourites at the moment and plus.codes

[DolomitesTom]

When I activate the Alps POI, then the Zugspitzstraße is found... It seems that online search is completely not working.

[devemux86]

@DolomitesTom

Can you provide more details, what is the visible map area during the search?

Searching online in OpenRouteService for "Zugspitzstraße" seems to work.
(map is above Germany)

Online search now has limit the visible map screen, so move the map in Germany.
Also try without activating the large German poi as it can slow down the results.

Anyway we try to find the best balance with map limit in search, Offline + Online.
Suggestions are welcome! 🙂

[MotoUKRider]

So in this example, the missing address details are because they are not in the POI database rather than any kind of formatting in Cruiser? Same with roads, too - if there's a city/town/post-code attached to it, it would be helpful to have it displayed.

Searching for an obvious result, most have no address info:

Poor housekeeping on the part of the "community" ?!

[devemux86]

It really depends on what is available in OpenStreetMap.

For example, see the images in the posts above, some POI have a full address with postcode, some don't.

• Offline search #74 (comment)
• Offline search #74 (reply in thread)

[devemux86]

Online search is limited to the visible map area!
In the K apps we did not have this limit. 🤔

Online search limit will be removed with the next Cruiser update.

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Die Online-Suche ist auf den sichtbaren Kartenbereich beschränkt!
In den K Apps hatten wir diese Begrenzung nicht. 🤔

Die Begrenzung der Online-Suche wird mit dem nächsten Cruiser-Update entfernt werden.

[devemux86]

Online search limit will be removed with the next Cruiser update.

Available in Cruiser 3.0.16.

[devemux86]

Offline search is currently unlimited with no map limit and no max number of results!
(online search has max number of results = 20)

This is not efficient, we should set a max number of results in offline search as well.
Then offline search speed will increase. It will be available in the next Cruiser update.

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Die Offline Suche ist derzeit unbegrenzt, ohne Kartenlimit und ohne maximale Anzahl von Ergebnissen!
(die Online-Suche hat eine maximale Anzahl von Ergebnissen = 20)

Dies ist nicht effizient, wir sollten auch für die Offline-Suche eine maximale Anzahl von Ergebnissen festlegen.
Dann wird sich die Offline-Suchgeschwindigkeit erhöhen. Dies wird im nächsten Cruiser-Update verfügbar sein.

[DolomitesTom]

Yes offline POI search could be restricted to a certain radius arround the GPS position of possible.

[devemux86]

Apparently the above settings can be offered as options so users can change them?

[DolomitesTom]

Sounds good, I guess then it is more pursuable.

[devemux86]

To understand the amount of data contained in the offline poi:

• France (669 MB) has over 3.2 million points of interest
• Germany (1 GB) has over 4.5 million points of interest

[ToToGSARider]

Okay, dann sollte man sich bei der Planung die POI's einfach setzen und ggf. in dem Bundesland wo man unterwegs ist nachladen.

Okay, then you should simply set the POI's when planning and if necessary reload in the state where you are traveling.

[devemux86]

Currently the poi files are only used in the offline search.
In the future we could have map layers with offline poi categories: fuel, cameras, restaurants, etc.

Derzeit werden Poi-Dateien nur in der Offline-Suche verwendet.
In Zukunft könnten wir Kartenebenen mit Offline-POI-Kategorien haben: Kraftstoff, Kameras, Restaurants usw.

[DolomitesTom]

In the future we could have map layers with offline poi categories: fuel, cameras, restaurants, etc.

I guess this works better

[DolomitesTom]

works perfect: online search is not limited now

[devemux86]

When I use the search function for fuel stations, in the old search routine all those were shown with blue dots. This is something that I am missing, because one can see the search results only in a list and you don't see in which direction from you actual position these are. Can there be something like "show the results on the map"?

Originally posted by @DolomitesTom in #159 (comment).

[devemux86]

Can there be something like "show the results on the map"?

I have yet to enable the offline search with categories, e.g.:

• Fuel stations
• Speed cameras
• ...

We could make them to show all results on the map?

one can see the search results only in a list and you don't see in which direction from you actual position these are.

There is direction + distance from user location / map center below the search results (in blue).
Or do you mean something else?

[DolomitesTom]

What I mean is show all results on the map as blue dots, so that I can decide wish to take there. When I select one from the list, it is seldemly the right one and I have to start the search again. This costs time.

[devemux86]

What I mean is show all results on the map as blue dots, so that I can decide wish to take there.

I understand, this is already in my implementation list.
That's why the topic is still open, the work is not yet complete! 🙂

[MotoUKRider]

This is what I alluded to in my post earlier #74 (comment) where any filtered result can be plotted (in CoPilot GPS). It temporarily removes all existing map objects (in this case, any "acitve" Favorite Groups) and simply plots the search results for review - quite useful.

[Ciutnik]

If I'm not mistaken, the word language of what3words is consistent with the language of the application. The address is also given in that language. That's cool, but if it's possible and hassle-free, wouldn't it be better if it was the language of the system? Or possibly TTS, because there are more of them than UI languages.

[devemux86]

App language can be the system language (default) or a selected language.

Better to not connect it with voice language, it is a feature not related with navigation.
Users usually expect search results to be in the language used everywhere in an app.

---

By the way if someone wants to translate Cruiser to a new language,
please contact me to discuss and I can send you the texts for translation. 🙂

[Ciutnik]

Better to not connect it with voice language, it is a feature not related with navigation.

Yes it's true. But if you can't choose your language, it would be nice to have the addresses in your language anyway. At least i think so...

I've been thinking about helping to translate Cruiser into Polish for a long time, so I will write to you soon about this 🙂

[devemux86]

what3words appears to be currently available in over 50 languages:
https://support.what3words.com/en/articles/3624885-how-many-languages-is-what3words-available-in

If there is interest, perhaps it's better to have a setting with their languages (+ app language as default).