This object is in archive! 

Locus Map not recognising .gpx files on Samsung Galaxy Note 4 device.

Stephan Lourens shared this question 5 years ago
Answered

I have used Locus Map for years and it worked perfectly on my Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Recently I got a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and after installing Locus Map, the app recognized the gpx file just ONCE. The next time I opened it, it did not want to recognize the gpx file at all. Any other gpx files also did not work.


I have uninstalled and reinstalled the app several times and gave all permissions to the app to access my device. Still not recognizing any gpx files. I have tried with kml files as well, and still it does not recognize any of the files. I have also tried all the advice on the site I could find and still no luck.


What could be the problem? Please please help, as I leave for 14 days on a 4000km off road trip on Sunday (with paying clients) and hope you can get back to me as soon as possible. It would really be appreciated.


Thank you in advance.

Replies (10)

photo
1

Good day Stephan,

you will have to provide us more information. What exactly are your steps and also what means "not recognize" (screenshot that shows the problem may be useful).

Also if you may share any small sample file, it may be useful as well.

Thanks, Menion

photo
1

Hi Menion.


I do the same steps as before when it used to work on my Galaxy Note 2:

1. Design a route on Mapsource and Basecamp with tracks and routes, and saved as a gpx file

2. Save the gpx file on my phone on the sd card memory.

3. I then go to my sd card folder with the gpx file (My Files) and click on the gpx file, as I used to do before.

Previously (Galaxy Note 2), the file would directly open up in Locus Map. Ever since I have the Galaxy Note 4, it shows "No apps can perform this action"


If I open Locus Map and try to import the gpx from there, it shows that there are no files to open. The folder I saved the files in, are also not under the list of folders (in Locus Map)

The files are definitely there, as you can see by my screenshot.


The funny thing is this: The very first time I used the app on my new Galaxy Note 4, it opened and loaded. I then tried to load a second route to see if it will load, but it did not want to. Ever since that second time, the app does not recognise gpx files at all. I have also tried it with kml files and many other gpx files I know for a fact did work on the old Galaxy Note 2, as I used the old phone to guide during those tours, but now nothing works.

I do not understand why this is suddenly happening now. The new phone is much faster with more memory and my Android software is updated to the maximum it can be. (Android 6.0.1)


I have also tried to save the gpx file on the internal phone memory, because I thought that could be the problem, but the result is the same.

photo
1

Thank you very much for the speedy response. I hope we can sort this out.

photo
1

Good day Stephan,

I'm sure we will.

I see two potential problems here. You may test both: file-browser application you use on your device and incorrect place where you look for files over Locus Map.

  • File browser: I personally use Solid explorer application and may only recommend. Or give a try to any other, just to test.
  • Locus Map file-browser: menu > more > import: tap on the menu icon in the top right corner and choose "Local drives". You should get top level directories for internal memory and SD card so try to find your files from here.

Hope this helps. Why it worked once? I have no idea :). anyway, it looks more on the problem of your File-browser then app because Locus Map cannot change it's "file preferences" once installed and your browser simply report that no app that may handle such files exists.

photo
1

c.s.g says this:

"Hi Stephan,me again .....

The first problem seems to be that there is no assignment between gpx files and Locus Pro. I. e. Android does not know which app should open / handle gpx files. Similar in Windows when you click a doc-file Winword is automatically opened.

But I do not know how this connection gpx file <--> Locus Pro could be created in Android 6.0.1."


Is there a way to force Locus to read gpx files? Or some way to make the connection for Locus?

photo
1

Hi Stephan,

I am using Locus Pro on a Galaxy Note 4 running Android Stock ROM 6.0.1 too and discovered the following:

The internal file explorer in your screenshot shows the path Local storage > SD card > Routes and Tracks .

But this is not the internal SD Card!!!

In Locus you should find the folder Routes and Tracks in the folder /storage/0000-0000/. Where 0000-0000 is your external SD card.

Stefan

photo
1

Hi Stefan,


the "Routes and Tracks" is a folder I created myself on the external SD card as I did it this way before on my other phone. On my new phone is does not work anymore.

photo
1

Correct ..... and if you want to import gpx files from that folder you have to select /storage/0000-0000/Routes and Tracks on the import dialog of Locus Pro in order to find the gpx files.

photo
1

Hi Stephan,

me again .....

The first problem seems to be that there is no assignment between gpx files and Locus Pro. I. e. Android does not know which app should open / handle gpx files. Similar in Windows when you click a doc file Winword is automatically opened.

But I do not know how this connection gpx file <--> Locus Pro could be created in Android 6.0.1.

Stefan

BTW: I am not able to open the gpx file in Locus Pro via internal file explorer too because I get a similar error message as you only in german. So on my Smartphone the link gpx file <--> Locus Pro is missing too. But this is not so important for me because I do not use this feature so far.

photo
1

I think this is the problem as well. I have no idea myself how to force Locus to read gpx files.

photo
1

I have found a solution for myself.

I am using Solid Explorer as my favourite file explorer on Android devices. And I just saw menion does too ;-).

When I long tab on a gpx file within Solid Explorer there is a "three point menu" on the right upper corner. And there I find an option "Öffnen mit / Open with" where I can select Locus Pro as the app to do so.

photo
1

I will try that, but Solid Eplorer is a 14 day trail. Will using it force Locus to read it in the future if I uninstall Solid Explorer after using it?

photo
1

I see there is a Solid Explorer Classic as well which is free. I can try that one as well?

photo
1

I think once the connection gpx file <--> Locus Pro is established you do not need Solid Explorer anymore. But you have to be sure that you do not delete this connection in the app manager of Android 6.

photo
1

And maybe other free file explorers offers this possibility of Solid Explorer too .... I do not know.

photo
1

Solid Explorer has worked and the older Classic version has worked as well. The Classic version is free so I will use that from now on.

Unfortunately it looks like I will have to keep the Solid Explorer Classic as the way I open gpx files for Locus, which is a bit stupid I think. It should have made the connection between Locus and gpx files but it doesn't, so I will continue using Solid Explorer Classic for that.

Is there a way to contact the developer directly? I tour a lot off road as it is my career and business and this app has worked beautifully before but now gives problems.

Thanks a lot for your help.

photo
1

There is false information in your discussion.

Firstly, a connection between app & certain file is made by the application itself. Locus Map has to tell the system that is capable to handle GPX files (which app does for many years). If Solid explorer does any connection, it has to be some kind of "hack" of Solid Explorer.

Secondly, internal file browsers and mostly big sh**, so give a try to different. If not paid Solid Explorer, suggest Total commander for example. Anyway, import definitely should work directly over app, just find files in its correct location ... :).

photo
1

Hi Menion and Stefan,

I have tried Solid Explorer and it worked. I have also found that the updated version of Locus Map does not seem to want to read the external sd card. I had to save my gpx files on the internal memory under My Documents - Tracks.

Also, this process will not work without Solid Explorer, which is a bit stupid in my opinion. Locus Map should look not that. Something is wrong after the last update 2 weeks ago.

I also tried Solid Explorer Classic and it works and is luckily free, so I will use that one. I only need it to open the gpx files anyway.

Is there a way to contact the developer directly? I tour a lot off road as it is my career and business and this app has worked beautifully before but now gives problems.

Thanks for the help so far. :)

photo
1

Hi Menion,


>>There is false information in your discussion.

Absolutely true. I am no Android specialist at all and only see that Solid Explorer offers this possibility. But I did not try if this connection is permanent if I use this option.

photo
1

Hi Stephan,

you wrote

"I have tried Solid Explorer and it worked. I have also found that the updated version of Locus Map does not seem to want to read the external sd card. I had to save my gpx files on the internal memory under My Documents - Tracks.

Also, this process will not work without Solid Explorer, which is a bit stupid in my opinion. Locus Map should look not that. Something is wrong after the last update 2 weeks ago."

This is not true for me at all. I have stored my gpx files for import in Locus Pro on the external SD card without any problems as long as I am using my Galaxy Note 4. This is true for the newest Locus Pro too. If you are searching in the wrong folders within Locus it is clear that Locus can not find the gpx files ;-).

In Android 6 you find the external SD card under /storage/0000-0000/. /sdcard/ is the internal memory / SD card of your device.


You wrote

"Is there a way to contact the developer directly?"

If you mean the developer of Locus Menion is the man you should ask ;-).

photo
1

Oki, so solved :).

Change in Locus Map compare two versions back?

Hmm, there was one serious change in the method how the app is generated. This change maybe may have the effect here, not sure. We were forced by Google to do it and there is no chance to go back.

Anyway: app in which you select a file defines, how an app that will handle file will work and access to this file. So I still think, that if there is any problem, it is in an internal file browser. I tried three browsers now on Android 8 and all works correctly for me.

Menion

photo
1

Well it is kinda solved hehe. I would still like to be able to open the file directly from Locus Map. Maybe there is a fault specifically with Galaxy Note 4 or Android 6 to recognise the file? I'm just throwing it out there.


Otherwise I love this GPS app. It is probably my favourite app on my phone to be honest, so well done. It has saved my ass many times when I have been in the middle of nowhere, and my main GPS on the bike runs out of power.


Thanks so much :)

photo
1

You are welcome Stephan.

For import, please really check my advice (I wrote before): "

  • Locus Map file-browser: menu > more > import: tap on the menu icon in the top right corner and choose "Local drives". You should get top level directories for internal memory and SD card so try to find your files from here."

You will probably see two folders, one with internal memory and one (as c.s.g. mentioned) named as XXXX-XXXX which is your SD card.

photo
1

Maybe the problems of Stephan are also caused by the "new" Android version too. The Galaxy Note 2 latest Stock ROM is Android 4.4 and the Galaxy Note 4 latest Stock ROM is 6.0.1.

And as far as i know there were changes in naming the internal and external sd card in Android 4.4 compared to Android 6.0.1.

Stefan

photo
1

I think the problem is Android 6.0.1 on the Galaxy Note, as I have a Note 4 still with KitKat v4.4 and the GPX files are opened correctly with Locus even when tapping on the file using the "stock" Samsung File Manager.

A feature that Samsung broke on the Android 6 of the Note 4 is the "open with" panel that in the previous OS versions caused a popup to appear when you tapped on a file. You may try to install Better Open With and see if it handles the GPX files too:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aboutmycode.betteropenwith

photo
1

I think this is the problem as well. I now have Solid Explorer Classic and it works to open gpx files on Locus Map. Thanks for the advice.

photo
1

Just for sake of curiosity, can you try and let me know if - apart from Solid Explorer - Better Open With works in your case with the Samsung File Manager?

photo
1

For me the build in file manager does not work on my Galaxy Note 4, Android Stock ROM 6.0.1.

There be an error message saying something like there is no app to open this files installed or the app is deactivated or the app is deinstalled (free translation from german).

Replies have been locked on this page!