QField Storage Management

On the QField homescreen, users are presented with two options to open a project.

QFieldCloud projects: The first option is to access a project stored on QFieldCloud How to set up and work with QFieldCloud is explained in the next chapter.

• Open local file: The second option involves copying a working copy of the project file from a laptop or PC (the source device), on to the phone or tablet (the target device). On the target device, users can access and edit this local copy using QField, and eventually copy the new version back to the desktop or to an alternative cloud storage service. How to prepare, store and access these local copies is the topic of this chapter.

There are various possibilities of exporting copies of project files and datasets from the source device runnign QGIS and importing them on to a target device for field-data collection. Below are OS-specific instructions on how to access projects and individual datasets through QField.

Exporting QGIS project files for use in QField

QFieldQField supports a wide range of data formats. There are three ways of preparing and copying a project in QGIS for use in QField.

• Storing files in a designated folder
• Packaging the project as a GeoPackage

Storing files in a designated folder

One way of compiling all necessary parts of a QGIS project is to store them in a folder. This folder can contain individual files such as a * QGIS project file (.qgs or .qgz) * Vector data (shapefiles, GeoJSON or Geopackage) * Raster data (GeoTIFFs, JPEGS and others) * Auxiliary files, which includes additional files used for styling (.qml or .sld) and any other files referenced by the project

Packaging the project as a GeoPackage

The simplest and most efficient way to package a QGIS project and its corresponding geospatial data into one file is to use GeoPackages. We recommend using the GeoPackage file format for projects in QField, since packaging in QGIS is easy and straightforward. To package a project as a GeoPackage, three steps are necessary.

1. Package vector layers to GeoPackage: First, click on the toolbox and search for the tool “package layers”. This tool lets you package selected vector layers in the project file (and elsewhere) into a single GeoPackage containing the geospatial data.

2. Add raster layers to GeoPackage If your project contains raster layers, then these can also be stored in the GeoPackage. Click on the raster layer you want to export, then “export” -> “save as”, and select GeoPackage as the format. Add a filename and select the three dots to browse for the GeoPackage. Select the GeoPackage and change the file format at the bottom of the dialogue window from “GeoTIFF” to “All files (.)”. Now both vector and raster layers are saved in the GeoPackage. To make sure, browse for the GeoPackage in the browser panel and expand it.

3. Add project file (.qgs) to GeoPackage: Next go to Project -> Save to -> GeoPackage, and select the GeoPackage file containing all the vector layers. This saves the project file, with the .qgs extension into the GeoPackage as well.

Package QGIS Project into GeoPackage

For more information, consult the QGIS documentation packaging layers.

Copying project over to the QField target device

On both Android and iOS, installing QField creates a folder called QField, containing three folders; Imported Datasets, Imported Projects and QField. After packaging the project accordingly, the folder or file containing the project has to be copied over to the target device running QField, specifically to the folder called Imported Projects. This folder can be found on the following paths

• Android path: Android/data/ch.opengis.qfield/files/Imported Projects
• iOS path: On My iPhone/QField/Imported Projects

Copying the packaged project over to the corresponding folder of each device can be done in various ways.

Android

Transfer via USB-cable

If you want to use a cable connection to import the project on to your android device, simply connect both devices using a USB cable and follow the instructions on how to transfer files between your computer and the android device. On most devices plugged into a computer via USB cable connection, the path will be <drive>:/Android/data/ch.opengis.qfield/files/. Users will find both the Imported Datasets and Imported Projects folders within which the imported projects and datasets will be located. Changes done to the project content and datasets are saved in the files found in this location.

Send via Bluetooth

Wireless transfer of files is also possible by sharing files via a Bluetooth connection.

Google Drive (and other cloud storage services)

The advantage of using Google Drive is that both the source device and target device have shared access to a central working directory containing the current project files. A possible workflow may look like this

• Prepare and package a QGIS project on the source device
• Upload the project to a cloud (For instance Google Drive)
• Download the project to the target devices and collect data
• Upload the changed project (or parts of the project) from the target devices back to the cloud and replace the old files with the new ones
• Download the project back on to the source device

Note

When working with Google Drive, it may be helpful to create a dedicated folder in the cloud containing all the projects. A parallel of this folder can then also be created on the target device, to which the QGIS projects can be downloaded and save in.

iOS

Transfer via USB-cable

Transfering files from MacBooks or Macs to iPhone using a cable is not straightforward, since it is not possible to access individual files in the QField directory. One workaround could be the following

• copy the entire folder Imported Projects from your iOS target device over to your source device
• copy the packaged QGIS project file into the copied Imported Projectsfolder
• copy back and replace the old Imported Folder with the new one

iCloud (and other cloud storage services)

An efficient way to synchronize projects is to use iCloud as a shared workspace to download and upload project files. It is not possible to import projects from folders inside the iOS QField application. Instead, the new project files have to be saved in the Imported Projects folder so that QField can access them. One possible workflow could be the following:

• On the source device, upload the packaged project to a folder on iCloud (titled e.g. "QField projects")
• On the target device, download the packaged project and move the file to the QField folder Imported Projects
• Open the project file from inside the QField app and collect data
• Upload the project file back to the shared iCloud folder and replace the old project file
• On the source device, download the new project file containing the added data and the changes made

Share via AirDrop

A quick and easy way to exchange files back and forth is using AirDrop. The only requirement is that both source and target device have to be OS and iOS respectively. On the source device, right-click the file and select Share..., choose AirDrop, and then select the target device. On the target device, save the project directly to the QField directory Imported Projects. After accessing and manipulating the project files in QField, use AirDrop on the target device to transfer the project files back to the source device.

Importing projects and datasets

Apart from using QFieldCloud, QField can open projects and datasets in four ways:

• importing a project folder

• importing a compressed project file

• importing from a URL

• importing individual datasets

Mögliche QField Import-Aktionen

On Android all of these actions are available by clicking on the ‘import (+) button‘ located on the bottom-right corner of the project/dataset picker screen, which can be accessed by clicking on the ‘Open local files’ button located in QField‘s welcome screen.

On iOS, the only action available through the 'import (+) button' is import from a URL.

Importing a project folder (Android and iOS)

Android

When importing a project through the "Import project from folder" action, users will be asked to grant permission for QField to read the content of a given folder on the device’s storage. When the folder is selected, QField copies the folder content (including its sub-folders) into its ‘Imported projects’ location. Users can then open and interact with the project from there.

Re-importing a given folder through the drop-down menu action will overwrite preexisting projects given an identical folder name. That allows users to be able to update projects.

Anmerkung

Das Bearbeiten, Hinzufügen und Löschen von Objekten wird in den Datensätzen des importierten Projekts gespeichert, nicht in dem ursprünglichen Ordner, der während des Importvorgangs ausgewählt wurde. Siehe Abschnitte unten: wie du bearbeitete Projekte und Datensätze senden/exportieren kannst.

iOS

On iOS, installing QField creates a folder titled QField in the Files app. Packaged projects prepared on the source device and exported on to the target device must be stored in QField -> Imported Projects folder. To open a local file, press on 'Open local file' on the QField home screen and navigate to QField files directory-> Imported Projects, and choose the project you want to open.

Importing a compressed project (Android only)

On Android, it is possible to import compressed (zipped) projects into QField. When choosing the ‘Import project from ZIP’ action, users will be asked to select a ZIP file on their device‘s storage. QField will then decompress the file into its ‘Imported projects’ location, from which users can open and interact with the project.

Dies kann die Remote-Bereitstellung von Projekten erheblich erleichtern, da eine einzige Datei an die Benutzer gesendet werden kann.

Importing from a URL (Android and iOS)

Wenn du ein Projekt oder einen einzelnen Datensatz über die Aktion "URL importieren" importieren willst, wirst du aufgefordert, einen URL-Adresse zu einer Datei anzugeben. QField liest dann den Inhalt ein und speichert ihn in unter "Importierte Projekte" oder in "Importierte Datensätze" - sofern die URL auf ein in einem ZIP-Archiv komprimiertes Projekt hinweist.

Bildschirmanzeige bei Import über einen Link

QField erkennt ein ZIP-Archiv als ein komprimiertes Projekt, wenn eine oder mehrere .qgs/.qgz Projektdateien vorhanden sind.

Importing individual datasets (Android only)

Mit der Aktion "Datensatz(e) importieren" können Benutzer einen oder mehrere Datensätze über die Dateiauswahl eines Androidsystem auswählen. Nach der Auswahl der Datensätze kopiert QField diese in den Ordner Ordner "Importierte Datensätze", in dem die Benutzer dann den Inhalt öffnen und ändern können.

Note

Users will have to ensure that all sidecar files are selected when importing datasets (e.g. a shapefile would require users to select the .shp, .shx, .dbf, .prj, and .cpg files).

Exporting modified projects and datasets (Android only)

Sobald der Benutzer importierte Projekte und Datensätze geändert hat, bietet QField verschiedene Möglichkeiten, den Inhalt aus dem systemgeschützten Dateispeicher zu senden und zu exportieren:

• by exporting a project folder or an individual dataset;
• by sending a compressed project folder to a {cloud, email, messenger, etc.} app;
• by sending an individual dataset to a {cloud, email, messenger, etc.} app; and
• by accessing imported content directly through USB cable.

QField Exportmöglichkeiten

Nach dem Anklicken von "Lokale Projekte und Datensätze" auf dem Willkommensbildschirm von QField, kann man die oben gezeigten Exportaktionen erreichen, wenn man im Ordner "Importierte Projekte" oder "Importierte Datensätze" hinter dem Projekt/Datensatz die Menüschaltfläche, Drei-Punkte-Symbol, anklickt.

Export eines Projektordners oder eines Datensatzes

Wenn Sie die Aktion "In Ordner exportieren" wählen, erscheint die Aufforderung, einen Speicherort in einem Ordner des Android-Systems auszuwählen, in den der Inhalt eines ausgewählten Projektordners oder eines einzelnen Datensatzes kopiert werden soll.

Diese Aktion kann verwendet werden, um den Inhalt von geänderten Projekten oder Datensätzen in einen Ordner auf dem Gerät zu kopieren. Das kann durch Synchronisierungs-Apps von Drittanbietern wie Syncthing erfolgen oder durch das Kopieren von Dateien direkt in Cloud-Konten von Anbietern, die Scoped Storage von Android unterstützen (zum Zeitpunkt der Erstellung dieses Artikels bietet nur die NextCloud-App eine solche Unterstützung).

Anmerkung

Der Export in einen Dateiordner überschreibt bereits existierende Inhalte.

Verschicken eines ZIP-Archives

Die Aktion "Komprimierten Ordner senden an" komprimiert den Inhalt eines ausgewählten Ordners in ein ZIP-Archiv. Der Benutzer wird dann gefragt, über welche App auf seinem Gerät das entsprechende ZIP-Archiv gesendet werden soll.

Users can compress and send whole projects by selecting root folders in QField‘s ‘Imported projects‘ directory, as well as send selective folders within project folders. This allows for users to narrow down the compressed files to e.g. a /DCIM subfolder.

Verschicken eines Datensatzes

Nutzer können die Option ‘Senden an‘ für individuelle Datensets wählen, die es ermöglicht, die bearbeiteten Datensets direkt an externe Apps wie Gmail, Drive, Dropbox, Nextcloud zu senden. , etc.

Um die Layer aus einem synchronisierten QFieldCloud-Projekt zu exportieren, entweder von Ihrem Gerät oder von einem Cloud-Anbieter, gehen Sie innerhalb Ihres Projekts wie folgt vor:

1. Klicken Sie auf das "Zahnradsymbol", das sich in der Werkzeugleiste befindet.

1. Wählen Sie die Aktion "Projektordner öffnen".

1. In diesem Projektordner finden Sie Ihre Projektdateien. Offline-Layer werden in einer Datei mit dem Namen "data.gpkg" gespeichert. Sie können auch Ihre angehängten Dateien (Fotos, Audio, Video usw.) exportieren.

2. Klicken Sie nun auf die drei Punkte (⋮) auf der rechten Seite der Datei oder des Ordners.

1. Wählen Sie zwischen den Aktionen 'Senden an...' oder 'In Ordner exportieren...' basierend auf Ihren Vorlieben und befolgen Sie die entsprechenden Anweisungen.

Anmerkung

Diese Funktion ist nur auf Android verfügbar.