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Quick Action (Custom buttons)

This article was last updated in August 2024.

Overview​

Quick Action widget is an interactive user interface element that provides quick access to key functions or actions without having to open additional settings. This widget is placed on the main map screen and allows you to simplify and speed up interaction with the application, making it more convenient and efficient.

Quick action widget

Quick Action Widget​

Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Custom buttons β†’ Quick action

Quick action widget_android

In order to use the Quick Action button you need to enable this widget first.

Add and Delete Actions​

Android Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Custom buttons β†’ Quick action β†’ Tap Delete (Bin icon on the right top corner) β†’ Select actions

Quick action widget_android_add Custom button Android

All actions are organized in the Add Action menu and grouped by type. A complete list with actions and their descriptions can be found in the Action types section.

You can assign one or more actions to the quick action button. There are 2 ways to add actions.

  • In the Configure screen - Select a button from the list, tap theΒ  "οΌ‹" Β button. You need to select the action type first, and then change its name and parameters.
  • In the quick action button panel - Tap the Quick Action button on the map screen. At the end of the list, on the latest screen in the panel, is the "οΌ‹" Β Add Action box. Tap it and select an action from the list of types.
note
  • Each action must have a unique name.
  • Screens 1, 2, and others are created automatically when the number of actions in the list increases to 6 items.

Action Parameters​

Quick action widget_android_order

The actions assigned to a button are divided into Screens. These screens, 1, 2 and others, are created automatically when the number of actions in the list increases to 6 items. You can group the actions in an order that is convenient for you. To change the order of items, you need to:

  • Android. Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Custom buttons β†’ Quick action β†’ Hold & Drag
    Select an up or down action using the icon (three vertical lines) in the list.

  • Android. Open Quick action menu β†’ long tap Add action β†’ Hold & Drag
    Select an up or down action using the icon (three vertical lines) in the list.

  • iOS. Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Quick action β†’ Click Edit (Pencil icon) β†’ Hold & Drag
    Select an up or down action using the icon (three vertical lines) in the list β†’ Done.

Actions in Loop​

Custom button Android

For some actions, you can assign a list of layers that will change in a circle with each tap.

  • Map source
  • Map style
  • Overlay
  • Underlay
  • Terrain color scheme
  • Add profile

The button allows you to assign a single layer or a list of layers that change circularly when tapped or with an interim dialog.

  • Show an interim dialog: displays dialog with maps list
  • Do not show an interim dialog: map sources will be changed by defined order.

Change Position on the Map​

When enabled, the quick action widget is located in the lower right corner above the zoom buttons. It can be moved to any part of the screen with a long press and drag.

First appearingQuick action widget_view
Long tap and movingQuick action widget_tap
New placeQuick action widget_move
Several Custom buttons on the map screenQuick action widget_move

Custom buttons​

Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Buttons β†’ Custom buttons β†’Β  "οΌ‹" Β β†’ Add button

Custom button Android

Custom buttons are additional buttons on the map that act the same as Quick Action button. You can create a button with one or more actions and display it on the map screen. Custom buttons are located in the Configure screen β†’ Buttons β†’ Custom buttons list. Each button has a profile independent actions list and should have a unique Name, however button could be switched on/off individually for each profile.

All available actions are identical to those that can be applied to the default quick action. Custom buttons could be a special Single-action button, so they will apply immediately once clicked without extra menu.

Action Types​

Configure Map​

ActionDescription
Show / Hide
Routes		You can select route types to enable or disable their display.
Some routes have additional settings. By default, if you have not selected anything in the Configure Map menu, the first route type from the list will be assigned, otherwise a type of your choice will be assigned. You can read more in the Routes article.
- Cycle routes Β (Route, Node networks)
- Mountain bike routes Β (MTB scale, IMBA)
- Hiking routes Β (OSMC, Network affiliation, Node networks)
- Hiking trails difficulty grade Β (SAC scale, CAI scale)
- Ski slopes
- Horse routes
- Whitewater sports
- Running routes
- Fitness trails
- Travel routes Β (Tracks, Travelbooks, Points)
Show / Hide
Topography layers		All topography data is presented as separate map layers. You can quickly switch the visibility of these layers with Quick Action.
- Contour lines
- Terrain. Β (Depending on the layer selected in the Configure Map menu, Hillshade, Slope, or Altitude will be displayed.)
Change
Terrain color scheme		Allows you to select one or more palettes from a list of existing ones, which will change when you tap the button.
Show / Hide
Weather layers		All weather data is presented as separate map layers. With Quick Action you can get quick access to switch the visibility of these layers on the map.
- Precipitation layer
- Cloud layer
- Pressure layer
- Wind layer
- Temperature layer
Open
Weather screen
Android only		Opens the Weather forecast screen with the detailed information.
Show / Hide
Favourites		Show or hide the favourite points on the map.
Show / Hide
Tracks		Show or hide the last visible tracks on the map.
Show / Hide
POIs		Enable or disable POI layer with selected categories.
- POI Categories: allows to select multiple categories
Note: Action will replace previously selected categories, if POI layer was active before.
Change
Map mode		Quick access to switch between day and night modes.
Change
Map sources		The button allows you to assign a single map source or a list of source that change circularly when tapped or with an interim dialog.
- Show an interim dialog. displays dialog with maps list
- Do not show an interim dialog: map sources will be changed by defined order.
- Displayed Name - 'Map source >'. '>' after the map name indicates what is current selected map source.
- Displayed Name - '> Next map source'. '>' before the map name indciates what is next selected map source if action is executed.
- Note: you could have 1 action to change source and select multiple map sources or many quick actions with 1 map source selected, so you could quickly select the map source just from quick aciton list.
Show / Hide
Public transport		Enable or disable public transport map layer.
- Transport type (on first tap): select one or many options from Transport stops, Bus, trolleybus, and shuttle routes, Tram and train routes, Subway routes.
Change
Overlay		Create a list of map sources as map overlay and cycle through them.
Note, works similar to Change Map sources
Change
Underlay		Create a list of map sources as map underlay and cycle through them.
Note, works similar to Change Map sources
Change
Map style		Create a list of map styles for vector maps and cycle through them.
Note: works similar to Map sources (see above)
Show / Hide
Mapillary layer		Allows you to view map layers with street-level imagery provided by Mapillary.
Show / Hide
OSM notes		You can select to display or hide all OSM notes on the map with a single tap on the button.

Map Interactions​

ActionDescription
Map
Zoom in		Zooming in the map with simultaneously increasing the amount of data displayed.
Map
Zoom out		Downscaling the map. It is convenient to use with Developer widget - Zoom level.
Move
Map down		You can use the quick action button to move the map down.
Move
Map up		When tapped, the map screen moves up.
Move
Map to the left		When you tap button map screen moves to the left
Move
Map to the right		Whith quick action button you can move the map to the right.
Move
To My location		Moves the map to the My location position.

My Places​

ActionDescription
Add
Favorite		Adds favorite to a selected (center) map location.
- Show an interim dialog: displays confirmation dialog
- Group: adds favorite to a selected group
- Color: adds favorite with a preselected color
- Name: adds favorite with a given name prefix
Add
Track waypoint		Adds a new Track waypoint to currently recording track or to any track from My Places.
- Show an interim dialog: displays confirmation dialog
- Group: adds favorite to a selected group
- Color: adds favorite with a preselected color
- Name: adds favorite with a given name prefix
Add
Map marker		Adds marker to a selected (center) map location.
Add
Parking place		Adds parking to a selected (center) map location. Old parking position is deleted.
Add
POI		Adds POI to a selected (center) map location map (same as context menu action).
- Show an interim dialog: displays confirmation dialog
- POI type (optional): preselect OSM type
- Tag/Value (multiple): add OpenStreetMap tags / values
Add
OSM Note		Adds OSM note
- Show an interim dialog: displays confirmation dialog
- Message: adds default message to the note
Add
Media notes		Starts audio / photo / video note recording for a selected (center) map location.
Create
New route
Android only		Opening of Plan a route tool and creation a route for a selected (center) map location.
ActionDescription
Add
First intermediate		You can select the center of the map screen as the first intermediate point. The previous destination remains the same.
Turn On / Off
Voice prompts		Mute or unmute voice guidance during navigation.
Set
Start point		Mark a selected (center) map location as a point of departure.
Set
Destination		Add a selected (center) map location as a destination. Previous destination becomes last intermediate point.
Replace
Destination		Set / Replace a selected (center) map location as a destination. Previous destination is deleted.
Turn On /Off
Auto-zoom map		Enable or disable map auto zoom during navigation.
Start/stop
Navigation		Start navigation (if there is a destination point present) or stop navigation.
Pause / Resume
Navigation		Pause / Resume navigation.
Remote
Next destination point		Removes next intermediate point, if present, otherwise removes destination and displays finish navigation dialog. Action is inactive if you don't have any destination.
Simulate
Location by GPX		Simulates the location and movement of your device using a GPX track.

Settings​

ActionDescription
Change
App profile		Create a list of application profiles and cycle through them.
- Show an interim dialog: displays dialog with profiles list
- Do not show an interim dialog: profiles will be changed by defined order.
- Note: you could have 1 action with multiple profiles or many actions with 1 profile.
Change
App profile to next		-
Change
App profile to previous		-
Change
Display position always in center		Allows you to set the placement of the My Location cursor on the map. Enables or disables the cursor to always be in the center of the screen.

Use Keyboard for Actions​

⚠️ Android only
This feature is currently not available for the iOS version of the OsmAnd app.

Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ General settings β†’ External input devices β†’ Type β†’ +

External devices

Using the Quick Action tool's functionality, you can assign required actions to the keys of your external input device. A description can be found in the Interact with Map article.

This article was last updated in August 2024