Appearance of next route sections

[Leeb64]

When riding a motorcycle in the sun, the smartphone display is difficult to see.
The view of the inactive route sektion is often difficult to see (transparent).
Couldn't the inactive part of the route perhaps be displayed as a dashed line?
That would be easier to see.

[devemux86]

@Leeb64

You can enable the option in "Settings | Navigation | Advanced |Show only the active route section".

[devemux86]

@Leeb64 When this option is enabled, the inactive route sections are invisible.
So you obviously can't see them.

If you want to see the inactive route sections, why don't you disable this option?
Then you can see the whole route all the time.

Or do you mean a different appearance?

[Leeb64]

What I mean:
A misplaced waypoint.
I drive there because I can't see the next part of the route clearly.
There, I realize the waypoint is in the wrong place and turn back...

Showing the entire route isn't a good idea either...

I think if the still inactive route section was shown as a dashed line...the whole thing would be easier to see

[devemux86]

@Leeb64 It is not clear from the screenshots what you mean.
Where is your location on each image? What route part do you mean to be different?
Can you point or paint them on the images so we can understand?

Do you mean with each location change the route behind the location to have a different appearance?
This means change the route appearance each and every second.

[devemux86]

I think if the still inactive route section was shown as a dashed line

With the "Show only the active route section" setting, the previous route becomes invisible.
We do this section by section between waypoints for better performance and battery.

@Leeb64 Do you mean instead of invisible to have an option for a different rendering?

[WolfgangZ42]

For my opinion the current solution is clear enough. You are able to distinquish between active and nonactive parts of the route and there is no confusion between route and overlayed track:

EDIT:
now with Beta6:

Here the continuing route can be confused with the overlayed track.

[devemux86]

We need to clarify that "active route section" is the currently traveled segment between 2 waypoints.

Currently, the path behind our previous waypoint and the path beyond our next waypoint become invisible.
(if this setting is enabled)

[Leeb64]

I know that!
It's not about the route color itself...
It's about the color or representation of the next route section.

[devemux86]

@Leeb64 So you have indeed enabled the "Settings | Navigation | Advanced |Show only the active route section"?

And ask the next route section (after the next waypoint) instead of semi-transparent to have a different appearance?

---

That's why we need clear and detailed description and all steps in reports and suggestions. 🙂
(with attached the app profile)

[bios4]

The next sections are semi-transparent (not sure if this is needed?)

Absolutely!
Please do NOT remove this useful functionality...

[bios4]

And ask the next route section (after the next waypoint) instead of semi-transparent to have a different appearance?

Which makes the setting to not show the inactive route section a bit senseless, doesn't it!??

[Leeb64]

1. This is what it looks like when all route sections are activated. Disturbing!
2. So if only the active route section is active -> Better
3. Wrong waypoint.
   It's easy to overlook the fact that the route should actually be straight, because the transparent route color of the subsequent route section isn't clear enough.

The first route section should be solid, and the next should be dashed, using the same route color as the previous route section.
I can't see any disadvantages compared to the transparent version, but visibility would be better!

[devemux86]

I see that the next sections are not only semi-transparent, but they also have half width of the active section.

We could make them wider and/or less transparent?

[WolfgangZ42]

Dashed lines would be an idea

It should not be "dashed" - it's really important to differentiate between route and track!

[Leeb64]

Black is best seen in sunlight.
Other colors overlap with the MyMap theme.
Violet would still work...(for 2.color)
but violet transparent isn't the best choice either.

[Leeb64]

If dashed lines didn't work...
I'd be happy with a different color, too... as long as it's easy to see.

Tracks can also be displayed as solid lines.
The luxury option would be selectable colors and dashed/solid lines....
But you can also overdo it.

[WolfgangZ42]

Tracks can also be displayed as solid lines.

That would be counterproductive - see #706 (reply in thread)

But you can also overdo it.

In my opinion, it is also overdone to change a very good approach just because someone can't find a color that works in the sunshine.

[Leeb64]

Hmm... -> To change a "very good approach"...
Let's leave out the "very good" for now – then it's fine.
But otherwise, a great navigation app.

PS:
I've also tried it with other map themes: Depending on the map background and route color, it's sometimes more visible, sometimes almost invisible.
Even magenta is not better than other colors, just different.

[devemux86]

Here are the transparent and dashed views:

Transparent	Dashed

[devemux86]

The next inactive sections are are far away, so not very visible to need arrows (see the above image).
Also arrows are better visible then they are on top of solid lines (not dashed lines).

[WolfgangZ42]

It is still not clear why do we need a change?

I really don't see a reason for a change. The new version in Beta6 isn't better in my opinion and includes the possibility of mixing up track and inactive route. See pictures of both versions: #768 (reply in thread)

But as you know, EMUX - I can live with any solution, would just shaking my head ...

[devemux86]

In Beta 7 the inactive dashed line uses the same transparency with the route.

[Leeb64]

So, I'm back..
The dashed line is much(!) too thin!(Hardly visible when driving)(beta6)
It should be as wide as the solid route line.

The simplest option would be to choose between solid, dashed, and transparent for the next section.
Instead of asking: Show only the active route section (Y/N)...
Next section:
-Solid?
-Transparent?
-Dashed?

[devemux86]

The dashed line is much(!) too thin!(Hardly visible when driving)(beta6)
It should be as wide as the solid route line.

@Leeb64 They are not supposed to be clearly visible at all.

"Show only the active route section" option's purpose is clearly in its title.
The inactive route sections must be much less visible than the active route.

Otherwise, do not enable this setting and the whole route will be the same.

Also, don't forget that in 3D, distant objects are smaller, lines are thinner, etc.

[Leeb64]

devemux86
11. April 2025
Betreuer

Es ist immer noch nicht klar, warum wir eine Änderung brauchen.

-->because of this:
I was unable to follow the route recently due to a detour.
Cruiser wanted to guide me to a waypoint that was directly beyond this detour.
About 5 km further on, I turned right, was guided to the waypoint from the other side, and had to turn back...
Because I hadn't recognized the transparent line that actually continued straight ahead at the right-hand bend.
Such "detours" could be more easily avoided by better visibility of the following route section!

[Leeb64]

Lauter Spezialisten.....Ich kenn Kleinkinder die kapieren schneller.
Sorry, ich hab besseres zu tun.

[0709wiwiwi]

Assume @Leeb64 prefers a 100% non transparant black route line.
Only the actively traveled section will be shown in all-black. Just before you reach the end of the current active section Cruiser will present the next following section in all-black. You will then briefly see two sections that are activated by means of pure black view.

So what @Leeb64 Leeb asks is purely visual as I understand.
Show an all black route line for the active section. (100%)
Show the not yet active route lines black tranparant. (50%) (xx%)
Also do maintain the same line width for optimal visibility.
I think that is what @Leeb64 suggest. Right or wrong ?

[bios4]

Lauter Spezialisten.....Ich kenn Kleinkinder die kapieren schneller.

I'm sorry, but this answer is the only toddler behavior I can see in this discussion. 🙄

Maybe next time just try to explain better what you ACTUALLY want.

What you want is not an updated "Show only the active route section" setting.
You want a NEW option to give the inactive/next sections a DIFFERENT STYLE, while being fully visible.

Sorry, ich hab besseres zu tun.

Emux definitely too!

[Leeb64]

Nodann probier ich es halt nochmal:
Bei Touren die sich irgendwo überkreuzen(doch das kommt vor) ist logischerweie eine durchgehend gleiche (in meinem Fall schwarze ) Route nicht so toll weil man an dem Kreuzungspunkt nicht erkennen kann wohin es geht-alles Schwarz(oder sonsteine Farbe). .....Hier funktioniert die Transparente Variante!
Der andere Fall(ist mir am Samstag passiert(deswegen das ganze):
Meine geplante Route war durch eine Baustelle versperrt und ich musste eine Umleitung fahren.
Was ich nicht wusste: kurz nach der Baustelle war ein shaping Point.
Es ging quer durch eine Stadt und nach einer Weile rechts ab ....ein bisschen bessere Feldwege,mehrere Abzweigungen ....und dann Kehrtwende -> der shaping Point . Den ganzen Mist wieder zurück.
Hier wäre die Variante mit der gleichen durchgezogenen Routenlinie besser gewesen. Man hätte bei der Abbiegung nach rechts sofort gesehen daß es eigentlich geradeaus weitergeht.
Ich habe mir gedacht man müsste den nachfolgenden Routenabschnitt genausogut sehen können wie den aktuellen.
Entweder gestrichelt(aber breit genug) oder eine andere Farbe. Die Transparente Version übersieht man leicht- ist nicht Optimal!
Komm zwar nich soo oft vor und ist auch nicht wirklich tragisch .... wäre abar andererseits einfach zu beheben.
Ich hatte mal ei Becker-Crocodile Navi mit irgeneinem Skin - das konnte das: Aktueller Routenabschnitt eine Farbe, nachfolgender Routenabschnitt eine andere Farbe.

Komisch... Werden die Beiträge irgendwie hin und her übersetzt und dabei (schlecht)gekürzt?
Oder ist hier eine nicht sonderlich intelligente künstliche Intelligenz am Werk?
-> gehe ich auf "bearbeiten" ist mein ursprünglicher Text zu sehen.
Das was momentan sehe ,habe ich so nicht geschrieben. Ergibt wenig Sinn..

Ja ist wohl so.
Selbst dieser letzte Absatz wurde geändert!

Das ist wohl das Problem hier:
Man redet ständig aneinander vorbei!
Das kann ja nichts werden.

PS.: Am PC stimmt mein Beitrag... Am Smartphone sehe ich was anderes...

[0709wiwiwi]

@Leeb64.
You raise 2 issues.

Issue A. The route line display. Active part and the not yet active part.
Issue B. An very near shaping target point that you had not noticed.

A. The route line. I myself prefer no color cacophony but a single route color in navigation. Locus uses a constantly moving full color line plus further away than becomes a more transparent line. That result is imo sure usefull.

B. A very (too) close target shaping point. I think it would possibly be more optimal to more quickly switch to the next shaping point +1 as the navigation target. To say when the routeline adds the next section in full color. The add distance shaping point feature without recalculation can also be helpfull.

What you are going to see ?
The full black line shows the active section(s)(max 2). All other sections are shown % transparent.
The shaping point at the end of the full black line is the target point for the autorecalculation.
If you go offtrack quite close to a shaping point the autoreculation will so focus on the next shaping point at greater distance.
New idea fastly edited anyway something to think about.

@devemux86 we had discussed this once very briefly.

[devemux86]

Cruiser in the past also had the 3-color navigation system:

(red: old section - green: active section - blue: next section)

[0709wiwiwi]

Free and of course open to other opinions.
Don't overdo it with color toys. As already reported I personally prefer a same and simple unifom color for the entire navigation route line from start to finish. As there are already the different colors as are used in the curvy profiles.

A navigation route line with 1 dp or 2dp of contrasting outline width remains still nicely clear at (30%) transparency.

[Leeb64]

Formgebung der Punktdichte.
"Mit dem Werkzeug „Shaping-Punkte hinzufügen“ können Sie nun gut verteilte, automatisch neu berechnete Shaping-Zielpunkte hinzufügen. Die Entfernungen und die Dichte der hinzugefügten Shaping-Punkte unterscheiden sich praktisch für kürzere, langsame Gehabschnitte und längere, schnellere Autoabschnitte.
Was mich interessiert ist, ob es nicht optimaler wäre, den Weichenpunkt, an dem der nächste Abschnitt eingefügt wird, auf beispielsweise 85 % der aktiven Streckenlänge zu legen. "

Diese Idee wäre auch eine Lösung!
Der nachfolgende Routenabschnitt wäre wesentlich früher sichtbar...allerdings nicht so früh daß er irgendwie störend ware.
85% oder vielleicht eine feste Entfernung ~2-3km vorm nächsten Punkt oder sowas.

[0709wiwiwi]

The shaping points you used to build the trajectory can all be removed once you are done and then be replaced with the function add shaping points that primarily serve the autorouting efficiency. Shaping point that you want to keep at all times first convert these briefly to Via points that are protected from immediate removal.

[0709wiwiwi]

@Leeb64
Try something crazy.
Start in Vilnius City Hotel and Finish in Vilamoura Marina Hotel.
Calculate with Motorcycle Fast using the online ORS router.
Usually this is done in 1 or 2 sec using the online ORS router.

You then want maybe to ride it with the BRouter offline autorereting function activated.
If you go offtrack you will be faster on foot than the Brouter recalculates.
So better add multiple shaping points every 50km. (79 SP)

Route_20250412_154330.gpx.txt

With the section shifting moment @ 5 km before the shaping point, the BRouter should recalculate 55 km if you go offtrack. Possibly this will still work just fine (time to recalculate result). No idea, I have not tested this yet. As such offtrack testwork is too difficult. Once upon a time Cruiser beta had a useful gps position simulation function to simulate such a thing. In the public version and later Betas this has unfortunately never been offered again.

[0709wiwiwi]

@Leeb64.
Your proposal. Receive a yes ok, if not less fine, but no drama. Proposal costs nothing. Since a contrasting outline in Cruiser is not to be expected (complex) I tried something else. Your favorite black route line alternates with white this for maximum contrast distinction.

The entire route navigation line so is a clear B/W dotted line. Only the active section(s) (max2) are then completely blacked. For the color enthusiasts find some other results. As long as it contrasts brightly the results looks fine. No ?

Update. Published before I noticed the new beta 8 to test ;-)

[Leeb64]

Beta 8 sieht gut aus - müsste eigentlich funktionieren!
die Idee mit der schwarz-weissen Linie ist auch gut und vor allem nicht so leicht mit der gestrichelten Linie der Tracks zu verwechseln.
So wie es aussieht komme ich frühestens Donnerstag zum Fahren(Testen).

[0709wiwiwi]

Such things like being able to quickly simulate the auto recalculation results is imo still almost an indispensable (expert) tool for beta testers. Then finally followed of course by a real road test. As a cyclist, I practically always test on quiet field roads. Initial tests where you have to look too much at your phone in the increasingly busy and dangerous traffic is not recommended. I never understood why there were almost no positive reactions to the once offered simulation possibility in a previous Beta version. If there is no interest shown in a feature, the developer will not offer it. Nevertheless, somewhat disappointing.

[WolfgangZ42]

Sorry - I'm out! Just a last comment:
If the worsening improvement now shown in Beta 8 persists, I will no longer use the “show only the active route section” function, which is very good in principle.
I only use them in the motorcycle profile anyway. But the differentiation is particularly important to me in this profile: dotted lines are tracks - solid lines are routes.

[devemux86]

@WolfgangZ42 I still do not understand why a change is needed. 🙂

We only need the active section and when go off route all sections are visible anyway.
(the next section is not really needed to be visible too)

Note: this is currently only an experiment in the Beta.

[0709wiwiwi]

@WolfgangZ42. I am out ?

It is still test Beta...not production. The proposal concerns making the not yet active line a little more visible. The story with the offtrack experience derails that suggestion. I requested this inactive route line presentation first in Locus and then in Cruiser in order to be able to follow a frequently intersecting routing line (MTB) even without TBT. This is handled slightly differently in both apps. In Locus (2D), the line still to be traveled is more visible. In Cruiser (3D) with the narrowing line, however, this is a more delicate task. Should it be possible to optimize it even more I am not going to argue against it. Leave @Leeb64 some room to suggest an alternative. If it is not satisfactory, it will not go into production. Without proposals plus beta tests there would be no u-turn no undo redo no gpx navtrack no shaping points freedom no misplaced via points correction no properly functioning autorecalculation etc.

Note. I even went to see in my history book anyway how this proposal had ever come about ;-)
self crossing line
I notice I showed the record track then with dotted line. A track with a tail like a shooting star so that multiple intersecting track records would even not be perceived as distracting.

[Leeb64]

Stillstand ist Rückschritt....(ist nicht von mir).
Wieso ändert man aber nicht unter Navigation/Erweitert den Auswahlschalter: "Nur den aktiver Routenabschnitt anzeigen"
in:
Nichtaktives Routenteil -> gleiche Farbe
-> transparent
-> gestrichelt
Dann kann man selbst entscheiden.
Ich denke fürs Auto oder Motorrad braucht man eventuell eine andere Einstellung als für Wandern und Fahrradfahren.

[0709wiwiwi]

I have tested this using v 5.3.1 Beta 8.
Only tested in 3D with a blue route navigation line and blue dots (Dashed line)
Followed a test circuit of about 10 km with u-turns and in and out track overlaps (Driven this 3 times on quiet forest roads)

Test 1.
How do those blue dots behave when approaching multiple in and out sections. When approaching you see (3D) the dots sometimes merge and unravel again but once you have to decide the distinction between full line or dotted line was fine.

Test 2.
Offtrack driving and the (BRouter offline) auto rerouting result are just fine.
Anyway I think a last optimalisation is possible by a auto recalculation toward the end of the full color line. It would prevent driving back to a shaping point position very close to the location where you just (had to) leave the traject (for any reason).
A close nearby route(way)point shaping or via is so neglected (unless set strict). While the distance to recalculate is still kept reasonable short. (BRouter offline long distance calculations can become slow) (TO TEST).

Test 3.
On a repeatedly approached T section I had briefly taken away a turn instruction. In a gpx navigation track this can easily be done using Notepad++.
How do you experience this in the navigation ? Should you turn left or right ? Using the full line view of the active navigation track this is easy to find out.

Some more tests are desired. Now it is the turn of the motorcyclists. I am curious.

[wolfgang42]

@0709wiwiwi I think you meant to tag @WolfgangZ42 ^_^

[devemux86]

I also implemented a different rendering that only paints the next X km.
It works like the above linked gif, even without waypoints, see the video:

Cruiser.webm

[Leeb64]

sieht gut aus(oben).
Das mit der voreilenden Linie ist auch eine gute Idee...

[bios4]

And here are the new settings:

This is great and should fulfill all needs now... 👍

And while it is an interesting idea, I for sure won't use the "moving route" from the small video, though.

[devemux86]

I don't know if we can have both implementations:

• Paint current section between waypoints
• Paint the next X km

Combined with transparent / dashed option, it becomes complicated to offer it to users, too many settings.

We should decide what we really need and want.

[0709wiwiwi]

I am surprised Emux that you are picking this up ;-)

When this was discussed in the past you rejected that continu moving line as energy unfriendly. Therefore I was surprised. The choice between transparent or dashed is sufficient. The dashed test was fine , everything went fine, especially that excellent forward autorerouting. (Who nevertheless prefer to make a u-turn can do so practically). The positive dashed experience just needs to be confirmed by a motorcyclist(s).

[devemux86]

@0709wiwiwi

Many things change and are optimised internally over time.
Not everything is announced. 🙂

[devemux86]

The new implementation and options are available for testing in Beta 9:

• Cruiser 5.3.1 Beta 12 #765

[Leeb64]

Was das Problem von hin und rücklaufenden Strecken angeht-> Vielleicht könnte man anstatt der gestrichelten Linie die aus "Rechtecken" besteht, kleine "Dreiecke" verwenden die in die Fahrtrichtung zeigen. Keine Ahnung ob sowas einfach umzusetzen ist?

[Leeb64]

Ja ich verwende die 3-D Ansicht.

[devemux86]

Ja ich verwende die 3-D Ansicht.

In 3D we see distant objects smaller than near objects.

[Leeb64]

Ich habe einen Wegpunkt absichtlich falsch gesetzt. Ich hätte an einer Abzweigung abbiegen müssen um zum Wegpunkt zu kommen.Dannach umkehren und weiter.
Ich bin aber geradeaus weitergefahren.
Cruiser zeigte mir die durchgezogene Linie zum Wegpunkt(an dem ich ja Vorbeigefahren war), entgegen meiner Fahrtrichtung an und direkt darunter war die weiterführende gestrichelte Linie.
Nur war die gestrichelte Linie schlecht zu erkennen.

[0709wiwiwi]

I tested again today by using the V8 Beta. This time I ran a completely normal fairly classic non-complex design. Blue line 100% width and dashed. Excellent. Even in 3D with the thinner dashed line further away it still remained nicely visible including the dashed visibility. I think this current 30% difference is even extra valuable for the distinction between the sections. Keep the simple dashed line as in V8 beta seems most fine to me. More and better I think is almost impossible.
Provided a choice of | normal | transparent | dashed | (version v8 beta) dashed will almost certainly become my preferred setting.
The more I tested this the more I do think I do not even need a multi selector. No switch - single display mode dashed. (Imo).

[devemux86]

Nothing else is possible. And even the new implementation with the 3 switches is not satisfactory enough.

Users don't understand the need for this. The old version with on/off switch will probably return in release.
If want to see the entire route, just don't turn on the switch.

[0709wiwiwi]

I justnow have installed the 5.3.1 beta 11.
(I can hardly follow the beta update frequency by test drives)

First simulation later a real test drive. Necessary this to check the auto zoom visualization.

The Navigation simulation in this version is now sufficiently slow and so is useful.

Beta v11. Navigation track import.

With red line track overlay (thin) and the navigation route line in Blue color & 100% width choice.

• Transparent mode. Nothing to report about works fine as usual.
• Dashed mode. Dash width may be slightly narrower than in Beta v8 ?

Conclusion by a first simulation test.
Both modes still work excellent fine imo.
However, I fear @Leeb64 wants probably more visibility of the full route navigation line.
More personal extra fine tuning might become quite difficult.

The only thing I still can think of is that at the file import you can set not only the track overlay color but also the track width that is missing now.

• So would be completely adjustable to your liking.

• This can even go well with the transparent mode.

• The overlay is only possible and shown at a file import.

• The overlay location is inexorably fixed after the import.
  That is of course precisely the purpose of the overlay.

[devemux86]

The only thing I still can think of is that at the file import you can set not only the track overlay color but also the track width that is missing now.

This can be done if we offer different widths per route / track in My collection (like now the color).
Then it can be supported in the import as well.

But this is a different feature. If users are interested, please create a new thread to discuss it.

[devemux86]

• "Appearance of next route sections" with new options (same implementation) is available in Cruiser 5.4.2 #776
  (Settings | Navigation)

[Leeb64]

Ich war die letzten 3Tage unterwegs.
Wenn ich die Routenbreite auf 150% stelle , funktioniert das mit der gestricheten Linie prima.
Ich hatte 2x die Situation eines falsch gesetzten Wegpunktes. Man sieht sofort : die gestrichelte Linie zweigt von der durchgezogenen Linie ab ->Stop, erst mal die Route überprüfen!