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.

Versione per 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

QField azioni di import

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.

Nota

La modifica, l'aggiunta e l'eliminazione delle caratteristiche saranno salvate nei set di dati del progetto importato, non nella cartella originale selezionata durante il processo di importazione. Vedi le sezioni seguenti su come inviare/esportare progetti e set di dati modificati.

Versione per 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.

Questo può facilitare enormemente la distribuzione remota dei progetti, essendo in grado di inviare un singolo file agli utenti.

Importing from a URL (Android and iOS)

Quando si importa un progetto o un singolo dataset tramite l'azione "Importa URL", agli utenti viene chiesto di fornire una stringa URL a un file. QField recupererà il contenuto e lo salverà in "Progetti importati" - a condizione che l'URL punti a un progetto compresso in un archivio ZIP - o "Set di dati importati".

QField importa dialog URL

QField considererà l'archivio ZIP come un progetto compresso con uno o più .qgs/.qgz il file di progetto è identificato.

Importing individual datasets (Android only)

L'azione 'Importa set di dati' permette agli utenti di selezionare uno o più set di dati tramite un selettore di file di sistema Android. Dopo aver selezionato i set di dati, QField li copierà nella cartella 'dataset importati', dalla quale gli utenti possono poi aprire e modificarne il contenuto.

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)

Quando gli utenti modificano i progetti e i set di dati importati, QField offre vari mezzi attraverso i quali il contenuto può essere inviato ed esportato dal proprio file di archiviazione protetto dal sistema:

• 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 azioni di export

Queste azioni sono disponibili tramite il menu a tendina delle azioni collegato alle cartelle di progetto e all'elenco dei singoli set di dati nel selezionatore del progetto/set di dati, a cui si può accedere cliccando sul pulsante `Apri file locali' situato nella schermata di benvenuto di QField.

Esportare una cartella di progetto o un singolo set di dati

Quando si sceglie l'azione 'Esporta su una cartella', agli utenti verrà chiesto di scegliere una posizione - utilizzando il selettore di cartelle del sistema Android - all'interno della quale il contenuto della cartella di un progetto selezionato o di un singolo set di dati verrà copiato.

Questa azione può essere usata per copiare il contenuto di progetti o set di dati modificati in una cartella sul dispositivo a cui possono accedere app di sincronizzazione di terze parti come Syncthing, o copiare direttamente il contenuto negli account cloud dei provider che supportano la directory Scoped Storage di Android (nel momento in cui stiamo scrivendo, solo l'app NextCloud dispone di tale supporto).

Note

Esportare in una directory sovrasrive il contenuto esistente

Inviare una cartella di progetto compressa

L'azione 'Invia cartella compressa a' comprime il contenuto di una cartella selezionata in un archivio ZIP. Agli utenti viene poi chiesto attraverso quale app sul loro dispositivo l'archivio ZIP risultante dovrebbe essere inviato.

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.

Invio di un singolo set di dati

Gli utenti possono selezionare l'azione "Invia a" per i singoli set di dati, consentendo l'invio di set di dati modificati direttamente ad applicazioni di terze parti come Gmail, Drive, Dropbox, Nextcloud, , etc.

Per esportare i layer da un progetto QFieldCloud sincronizzato, sul dispositivo o su un provider cloud preferito. Per fare ciò, all'interno del vostro progetto:

1. Clicca sull'icona dell'ingranaggio situata all'interno del tuo progetto.

1. Selezionare l'azione 'Apri cartella progetto'.

1. All'interno di questa cartella del progetto, troverai i file del progetto. I layer offline saranno memorizzati in un file chiamato 'data.gpkg'. È inoltre possibile esportare i file allegati (foto, audio, video, ecc).

2. Ora, clicca sui tre puntini (⋮) situati sul lato destro del file o della cartella.

1. Scegli tra le azioni 'Invia a...' o 'Esporta in cartella...' in base alle tue preferenze e segui le istruzioni di conseguenza.

Nota

Questa funzionalità è disponibile solo su Android.