Mapeo Support Materials
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  • Introduction
  • Overview
    • About Mapeo
      • Mapeo tools
      • Peer-to-peer & Mapeo sync
      • How Mapeo is being used
    • Is Mapeo right for me?
    • FAQs
  • Quick start guide
    • Getting started
    • Mapeo Mobile
    • Mapeo Desktop
  • Complete Reference guide
    • Welcome – Introduction
    • 🗒️Essentials for a successful Mapeo project
      • Planning a Mapeo project
        • What is the project goal?
        • What outputs do you want?
        • What information to collect?
          • Data types within Mapeo
        • Who should be involved and how?
        • What are the parameters?
      • Security & risk assessment
      • Creating user protocols
    • ✔️Will Mapeo work out-of-the-box for me?
      • Default configuration
      • Default background map
    • ⚙️Customization options
      • Translating Mapeo & default configurations
      • Custom configurations
        • Creating custom configurations
          • Planning configuration & data structure
            • Categories
            • Icons
            • Details fields
          • Coding configuration
            • Adding icon files
              • Creating and exporting SVG files using Adobe Illustrator
              • Creating and exporting SVG files using Inkscape
            • Creating details fields
            • Creating categories
            • Defining geometry defaults
            • Adding a project key
            • Adding project name and version
            • Building configuration file
              • Via the command line
              • Using GitHub Actions
          • Testing and iterating
      • Custom background maps
        • Creating custom background maps
          • Generating map files in .mbtiles format for the experimental Background Maps feature
    • 📱Mapeo Mobile installation & setup
      • Installing Mapeo Mobile
      • Choosing Mapeo Mobile settings
      • Experiments: Turning on experimental features
        • Directional Arrow
        • P2P (peer-to-peer) App Updates
        • Background Maps
        • Security
          • App Passcode
          • Obscure Passcode
      • Importing configurations into Mapeo Mobile
      • Adding custom background maps to Mapeo Mobile
      • Updating Mapeo Mobile
    • 📱Mapeo Mobile use
      • Activating GPS and viewing current location
      • Creating observations
      • Viewing observations
      • Editing and deleting observations
      • Sharing data externally
      • Syncing data via Wi-Fi
    • 💻Mapeo Desktop installation & setup
      • Installing Mapeo Desktop
      • Choosing Mapeo Desktop language
      • Importing configurations to Mapeo Desktop
      • Adding custom background maps to Mapeo Desktop
      • Updating Mapeo Desktop
    • 💻Mapeo Desktop use
      • Mapeo Desktop for managing Mapeo Mobile data (Observations mode)
        • Synchronizing data
          • Synchronizing via Wi-Fi
          • Synchronizing with a file
        • Viewing observations
        • Editing and deleting observations
        • Exporting data & sharing externally
      • Mapeo Desktop for creating territory data (Territory mode)
        • Navigating around the map
        • Creating and editing territory data
        • Changing background maps in Territory mode
        • Importing and using external geospatial data
        • Exporting and syncing data
      • Synchronizing data with Mapeo Desktop
    • 💡Mapeo trainings
      • Defining goals and format
      • Structuring a training
        • Best practices for planning a training
        • Structuring the agenda, content and activities
          • Suggestions for the different sections of a training event
          • Tips and suggested activities for training key features of Mapeo
          • Materials and resources available for the training event
      • Preparing equipment and supplies for a training
        • Recommended equipment and supplies
        • Tech preparation before doing in-person training
    • 🔧Troubleshooting
      • I can't start Mapeo
      • Mapeo closes automatically
      • I have problems with the GPS in Mapeo
        • GPS is not activated in Mapeo
        • My GPS signal is very weak
      • I have problems with the camera in Mapeo
        • I get a black screen when using the camera
      • I want to update Mapeo Mobile permissions
      • I have sync issues
        • I want to connect to Wi-Fi
        • I want to create local Wi-Fi networks
          • With a portable router
          • With a smartphone
        • The device I want to sync with does not show up on my Synchronize screen
        • I get an error when I try to sync with another device
        • I can't sync with the sync file
        • The person I want to sync with has deleted valuable data
      • Sharing files between devices
      • Saving and printing Mapeo reference materials
      • How do I back up Mapeo Desktop data?
    • Glossary & quick reference sheets
      • Glossary of Mapeo related terms
      • Overview of Mapeo Desktop Territory mode screen
  • For developers
    • Mapeo architecture overview
    • Mapeo repositories
    • Localization
  • Support
  • Additional references
  • Digital Democracy website
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On this page
  • Sharing files between devices with an internet connection
  • FROM A SMARTPHONE
  • FROM A COMPUTER
  • Sharing files between devices with no internet connection
  • USING A USB CABLE/DRIVE
  • USING BLUETOOTH
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  1. Complete Reference guide
  2. Troubleshooting

Sharing files between devices

PreviousThe person I want to sync with has deleted valuable dataNextSaving and printing Mapeo reference materials

Last updated 3 years ago

See the sections below for different file sharing options:

Sharing files between devices with an internet connection

If you have access to an internet connection, you can share files in multiple ways. The optimal way depends on the size and type of the file. Below are our recommendations:

FROM A SMARTPHONE

Some Mapeo files can be tricky to share from a Mapeo Mobile smartphone, because of their special formats. We recommend using Telegram app, email, or Google Drive to share the following files:

  • Configuration files (.mapeosettings)

  • Installation files for Mapeo Mobile (.apk)

  • Base maps (folder .zip)

To share and add base maps to Mapeo Mobile, we recommend using a computer and a USB cable, because it requires navigation inside the file system of the smartphone and pasting the base map elements in a specific location. For instructions on that process, see Adding custom background maps to Mapeo Mobile You can also share larger files (up to 2GB) for free via Dropbox, WeTransfer, or other online platforms.

Sending installation (.apk) and configuration (.mapeosettings) files with other apps encounter problems with the size and type of the files.

FROM A COMPUTER

These are the most common Mapeo files that you will want to share from a Mapeo Desktop computer:

  • Configuration files (.mapeosettings)

  • Installation files for Mapeo Desktop (.exe, .dmg , .zip , .AppImage)

  • Base map folders

  • Sync files (.mapeodata)

You can use multiple platforms to share files.

Sharing files between devices with no internet connection

  • Configuration files (.mapeosettings)

  • Installation files for Mapeo Mobile (.apk)

To transfer files using Android's Bluetooth:

  1. On the Bluetooth settings screen, tap Pair new device and wait for the list of AVAILABLE DEVICES to populate. The screen of both devices should be open and unlocked to appear available for syncing.

  2. Once you see the device you would like to share files with and confirm its identity, tap on the device name to pair.

  3. Confirm the code and the pair request on both devices.

We recommend using email apps such as Gmail or Hotmail for sharing lightweight files (smaller than 10MB).

We recommend using Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer to share heavier files as they allow you to send up to 2GB for free. You can use the Telegram Desktop app to send up to 1.5GB.

If you do not have access to an internet connection, there are multiple ways to share files between devices.

USING A USB CABLE/DRIVE

For transferring files between computers without an internet connection, we recommend using a USB drive or a cable. Although most computers can also share files with other devices that are nearby, commonly shared files for Mapeo Desktop can be very heavy (e.g. Sync files (.mapeodata)) and Bluetooth could take much longer than using a USB cable or drive.

Example: In this example, we will share a Mapeo installation file from one computer to another one completely offline, using a USB drive.

1. Connect a ​USB stick to the ​computer where you already have the installation file and open it.

2. Localize the ​installation file on the ​computer, click on it with the right button of the mouse, select Copy.

3. Use the right button of the mouse to Paste the previously copied installation file into your ​USB stick folder.

4. Disconnect the ​USB stick from ​the computer and connect it to the ​computer in which you want to install Mapeo Desktop.

6. Open the USB stick folder and localize the previously pasted ​installation file. Click on it with the right button of the mouse and select Copy.

7. On the desktop screen of the ​computer in which you want to install Mapeo Desktop, click on an empty space with the right button of the mouse and select Paste.

USING BLUETOOTH

Android devices that are near each other can use Bluetooth to transfer files without an internet connection. The Bluetooth transfer will be quicker for lighter weight files, such as:

Activate Bluetooth on both devices. Bluetooth settings can generally be found in the Quick Settings menu, accessed by swiping down from the top of your screen.

Locate and select the file you wish to send and tap Share. Select Bluetooth in the share options and tap the name of the other device in the list.

You can also use Android apps for Bluetooth sharing, including SHAREit or others.

For transferring larger files (bigger than 10MB) such as base map folders, we recommend connecting to a computer and transferring via cable if possible. For more on adding base maps to Mapeo Mobile, see .

🔧
Sharing files between devices with an internet connection
Sharing files between devices with no internet connection
From a smartphone
From a computer
Copy and paste files using a USB drive or cable (this is easier to do if you have a computer)
Send via Bluetooth, SHAREit or other apps
via Bluetooth
#adding-a-base-map-using-a-computer