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Sharing coordinates to public transport apps doesnt work properly

Lucas Heiss shared this problem 4 years ago
Solved

Good day,


the two most common apps that calculate public transport routes in Austria are "ÖBB Scotty" and "VOR AnachB". Both of them are not able to interprete coordinates shared by locus using the "Share with other map apps" option, neither the "Share as text" option.


In contrast, both apps are able to deal with coordinates shared by OruxMaps. This means Locus is using a different data format for sharing coordinates than OruxMaps.


For people living in Austria using Locus combined with public transport the possibility to share coordinates to these common apps would be very helpful. I would be thankful if you could find out the difference between these two data formats and, if possible, change the Locus format in a way sharing to the apps mentioned above works.


Best,

Lucas

Replies (10)

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Good day Lucas,

hmm interesting. May I involve you little more? There is a very nice app on the Google Play called "Intent intercept" that is able to catch and display the content of most common app communication. Simply install it and share the same location from Locus Map and Orux. Catch this "share" request by this app and post me here a screenshot of Intent intercept screen where is visible "DATA" and "URI" section. Main in "DATA" section should be visible difference send by both apps. Possible? Thanks.

Menion

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Dear Menion,


thanks very much for your answer.


Picture 1 shows the intent sent by Locus, picture 2 the one sent by Orux.


In the public transport app AnachB the one sent by Locus looks like in picture 3, the one sent by Orux like in picture 4.


Best,

Lucas

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Hello Lucas,

if I understand it correctly (I'm still after years not sure why there are these zeros), but based on the documentation here , Uri send by Locus Map is correct. I'm giving here a screenshot of part I talk about. Even in their example is set 0,0 ... this is exactly what Locus Map send and I do not know any other application that has a problem with this to be true.

So if you will agree, it looks more like that app you try to use does not follow this little more advanced syntax and only support most basic "geo intent" which send Orux (really only coordinates).

/d01325c1b422b8d0492404f5047382e3

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Hello Menion,


I see. This means I will contact the developers of these two apps and ask them to implement the (standard) syntax Locus uses.


Thanks for your help, have a nice weekend!


Best,

Lucas

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Dear Menion,


I tried some other common Austrian public transport apps but neither can handle the data format Locus Map sends:


AnachB

ÖBB Scotty

Quando

Wegfinder

Wien Mobil


(Google Maps can, Here Maps can, too.)


Today I recognised also Orux can't interprete a sent location from Locus – a location in the center of Vienna is shown somewhere near West Africa (see screenshot).


So are you shure this is not a Locus issue? Would it be possible to implement the sharing of locations in the simple geo:48.000,16.000 format, maybe by switching between the two formats in the config.cfg file?


Best, Lucas

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Hello Lucas,

complicated task to be true :).

I just tried to change this value to "geo:lat,lon" value.

Result? Most of the app maps I tried works the same except two major:

  • Waze: here is result positive, the app starts navigation immediately
  • Google Maps: big problem, app just center map on defined location and nothing more. So to start any activity, you have to long-click on the place in the middle of the screen

Because of Google Maps, I can't simply change it, sorry.

Location visible in Orux is equal lon = 0.0, lat = 0.0 => incorrectly handled on Orux side.

---

So how to solve it ... there is definitely a need for two formats, but

  • two options in the app do not make sense because most users won't know what to do (what is the difference)
  • Locus Map can't know which app is able to handle correctly which format
  • also Locus Map send "geo intent" to system and Android system itself search for the usable application and offer them, so it complicates the situation even more

---


I think I've found usable solution (if no one come with the better, more simple, solution).

You will have to wait for the next version (probably 3.39.4 next week) because I had to make a small update, but what will work:

  • Start "Quick www bookmark" feature
  • Add new profile into defined as
  • /b1b25409741330be97c9221cc77d1de2

For me, it now works perfectly. The nice improvement I think :). You may add this "Quick www bookmark" to the right panel then, so access may be quick fast.


Menion

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Dear Menion,


I just saw my answer I wrote a few days ago disappeared... I seem to have made some mistike submitting it.


I wanted to say thank you for your detailed answer and for the new possibility you will be implementing in the "Quick www bookmark" feature. This will be a really great improvement for usability here in Austria :)


Looking forward to testing it!


Best regards

Lucas

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Wow, Menion,


this is REALLY great!! Works like a charm with „AnachB“ and „ÖBB Scotty“. Thank you very much!


Is there a way to donate to the Locus project?


Best, Lucas

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Hello Lucas,

works, perfect!

And donate? Sorry, but don't be crazy :). You helped to make Locus Map better, that's more than some "donate".

Thanks too and have a nice evening!

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Haha, thank you so much! :)

By the way, sharing coordinates with Orux works now, too!

Best, Lucas

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