CMT iOS apps choking on iOS 17.1.1

A Deed Calls & Stakeout user reported crashes after he updated his iPad devices to iOS 17.1.1.

We found out that the new iOS messes up the keyboard calls in our apps. We are looking into this issue. Thank you for your patience.

Wetland & Stakeout app updated to version 1.0.7

This update is important for users of newer models of the Apple iPad devices. The various different screen sizes of these devices resulted in misalignment of the Features with the built-in Apple Map. We’re pleased to inform you that this problems has been fixed in Wetland & Stakeout 1.0.7.

How can I tell if iCMTGIS PRO is using the Trimble R1, or the iPad built-in GPS?

(This is an updated version of an older article that we posted in 2014.)

The iOS devices can only work with GPS receivers approved by Apple.

iCMTGIS PRO is able to get the NMEA data stream directly from a few external GPS receivers, such as the EOS Arrow Gold, the Geneq SXBlue Platinum, Bad Elf GPS and Dual XGPS-150A. For other compatible GPS receivers, it gets the data from the iOS Location Service. All of our other apps only obtain GPS data from the Location Service of the iOS device.

To use the external GPS, make sure you have turned on Location Services under Privacy. Also, on the Location Services page, find iCMTGIS PRO and turn the switch on to make Location Service available for this app. (Do this for the app you are using, such as iCMTGIS II, iGPSGIS II, Utility Data Collection, Stakeout iCMT, Farming GPS GIS, Forester GPS GIS, etc.)

For iOS devices with built-in GPS, how would one know if the app is using the external GPS or the built-in GPS?

The short answer is: Your iOS device will serve the GPS data from the external GPS (such as the Trimble R1) when the internal GPS is not actively being used.

Not to leave you in the fog, here is the long answer:

1. To make use of GPS, Location Service must be turned on under Settings and also turned on for the specific app you are using.
2. The iOS device will automatically use the internal GPS if you turn on GPS within an app while no external GPS is connected.
3. When any app is using the internal GPS, iOS cannot work with an external GPS connected to the device.
4. Therefore, to make use of the connected external GPS, you will want to turn off GPS from all running GPS apps (including the one you are actively using) then turn on GPS within the app you are actively using.
5. It will also help to turn on Airplane mode then turn on Bluetooth and make sure Location Service is active for the app. Then, the next time you turn on Airplane mode, Bluetooth will not be automatically turned off. In newer devices, Bluetooth will not be automatically turned off when you turn on Airplane mode.
6. When Bluetooth connection is lost, then iOS uses the internal GPS. This could happen randomly.

Usually, the first time you turn on GPS in the app, the device will connect with the external GPS. So to make sure the device is connected with the external GPS, turn off GPS (from the menu bar of the app such as iCMTGIS PRO) then turn it on again. Or, reconnect the Bluetooth GPS. The status maybe shown as “Connected”, but just tap on it to make it reconnect again.

What to do about ” is not compatible with this iPad”?

As an iOS update or a newer model iPhone/iPad device becomes available, third-party apps typically must also be updated for compatibility. Unfortunately, the updated app may no longer be compatible with the older device and iOS version.

If you’ve previously purchased an older version of the third-party app and wish to reload it on an older iPad device, you could try the following procedure to see if you will be able to download an older version of the app that is compatible with the older device.

1. Sign in to the App Store with the Apple ID that you used for purchasing the app.
2. Tap the Purchased tab to see the list of apps that you have purchased.
3. Tap the app name and then tap the download icon.
4. You will be asked if you want to download an older version of the app.
5. Confirm by tapping on Download.
6. After the app has been installed, check to make sure that it will run properly on your device.

Wetland – Stakeout app now compatible with 9th Generation iPad devices

The Wetland – Stakeout app has been updated for compatibility with 9th generation iPad devices. You can now download version 1.0.6 from the Apple App Store.

A crash upon iOS 14.8 update

“We have been running icmtgis PRO with an EOS arrow and ipad for several years. Unfortunately, the ipad was recently updated and the App is no longer opening.” “We are using an Ipad Mini 5, and updated to IpadOS 14.8 (though I honestly don’t know if we missed a cycle or two…).”

Perhaps your iCMTGIS PRO is not up to date. One thing you could try is to delete the app and then reload it. However, be sure to save any existing data files to your PC before doing so. You can use iTunes on your PC to copy the data files to a folder on your PC.

When you are ready to reinstall the app, please first delete the existing copy, and then download the app from the App Store. You own a license for this app and should not have to pay for it again.

If the app runs fine, then exit the app and then copy the cmtgispro.cfg file back to its Documents folder.
If the app still works properly, then copy all the data files back to its Documents folder. The settings of distance unit, angle system, etc. are saved in the configuration file cmtgispro.cfg. However, bits of information that caused the crash may have also been saved to this file. Therefore, if the app does not work properly after the cmtgispro.cfg has been restored, then delete this file from its Documents folder. The app will generate a fresh one to use.

How to transfer a job file from your PC to iCMTGIS PRO

“I have removed a pmp file from my ipad device a few years back in an effort to declutter. The pmp file is now stored on a hard drive. What is the best process to get the file back on the ipad to compare work for a project revision?”

If there is a newer pmp file for the same project with the same file name, please change the file name of one of the .pmp job files. This will help prevent a pmp job file to be overwritten by the other one.

1. You can use iTunes to copy files back and forth between your PC and your iCMTGIS PRO on iPad.

The last few revisions of iTunes has “File Sharing” placed on the menu on the left side bar.
Click on File Sharing and then click on the iCMTGIS PRO icon.

You will see a list of all the files stored in iCMTGIS PRO.

To save files to PC, click on the .pmp files you wish to copy and then click on the “Save To” button. Select the PCGISX folder to save the files.

To copy files from your PC to iCMTGIS PRO, click the “Add” button, then select the files from your computer.
You can copy the old pmp job file to the Document folder of iCMTGIS PRO and open one of the two files at a time to compare.

2. You could also email the pmp file to yourself. When you open the email, you can tap on the attached job file and then select iCMTGIS PRO to use for opening this job file. In iCMTGIS PRO you will need to Save the file As some job name for it to be stored in the Documents folder of iCMTGIS PRO.

Unable to select a Feature or a Tool icon using iCMTGIS PRO on iPhone X

An iPhone X user reported that it was difficult for him to select a Point Feature in Map View by tapping on it. When successful, tapping on the Feature Properties screen did not generate a response. Adjusting the 3D & Haptic Touch under Settings > Accessibility > Touch did not seem to make a great deal of difference.

We found out that a quick tap does the trick on the newer devices. Aim your finger at the Point and give it a quick and gentle tap. The symbol representing the Point will be highlighted. Similarly, give the Tool icon a quick, gentle tap, and it should respond promptly.

Ditto for all of our iPhone apps.

How to request a refund from Apple if you bought the wrong iOS app

A customer purchased iGPSGIS II but soon afterwards decided that iCMTGIS III would be better suited for his application. He went ahead and purchased iCMTGIS III. Now he wants to know how to get a refund for the other app that he has purchased.

Apple does provide refunds for legitimate reasons. Here is the link to the form that you can fill out to make a request:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204084

How to load a GeoTiff map into iCMTGIS PRO

“So, I have it (the iCMTGIS PRO app) downloaded, managed to get into BC Albers coordinate system, I am getting stuck on uploading a background map into the program. Looking through the documentation you sent this will require a .pim file. I sure hope I do not need to purchase another program to create one of those?”

Do you have the background map in the form of a .tif file and its associated .twf file? You can use iTunes to copy them to the documents folder for iCMTGIS PRO, then the GeoTiff map will show up for you to select as a background map when you execute Main Menu – Background Map – Load Registered Image. iCMTGIS PRO will prompt you for the coordinate system in which the Geotiff image was created. Please select the correct coordinate system to allow the app to load the GeoTiff map to the correct geographic location.

The following procedure will work for any files you want to copy to iCMTGIS PRO.

1. Sync your device with your PC/MAC via iTunes.

2. In iTunes select your device then select “Apps”. Scroll all the way down to the File Sharing section and select the iCMTGIS PRO application.

3. You will see the data files that are stored in the Documents folder for the app on your iPAD, including the Job files and any GeoTiff or Shapefiles files.

4. Click the Add button then select the files from your computer that are associated with your GeoTiff image (*.tif and *.twf). This will copy the files to the app’s Documents folder. The names of the files will need to be in lower-case letters and numbers. If not, please change the names to be in lower-case on your computer before copying the files via iTunes.

The .pim file is a proprietary map format used by an optional program called PC-GIS X. You do not need to have the PC-GIS X software to work with iCMTGIS PRO.

 

Will be okay to update my iPhone to iOS 14 and still be able use the app iGPSGIS ll?

We have not yet found an issue using iGPSGIS II on iOS 14. If you encounter any problem, please let us know. Thanks.

How to display a screen showing the coordinates of a Point

“I am given a specific location on a map to bore. I know I can tap the screen to see my current location, so I move around until location is found. But the location goes away very quickly. Is there a display feature or setting to see current lat and long?”

When you are given a location to bore, are you given its coordinates? If so, you can use the Add Point by Coordinates function to enter the coordinates and a point will be created for you. Then you can use the Feature Properties tool to view the coordinates and change them, if necessary.

If you are not given the coordinates, then you could use Add Point Manually to add the point to the Map. Use the cross-hairs tool to increase the location precision of the digitized point.

Whether you see LAT LON or Northing Easting depends on the coordinate system you choose.

Unable to turn on GPS using iCMTGIS PRO

“I have problems with turning on the gps. When I try to turn on the GPS appears a message ‘can’t find the external accessory’ I am using iCMTGIS PRO with arrow 100 as you can see all lights on arrow 100 are on, where is the problem?”

Please check the Bluetooth connection on your iPad.

(User reported that the problem was resolved.)

Screen background on iPhone XR

Pull-down List screen background on iPhone XR

“I can hardly read some of the menus as the background color is apparently not easy for me to read. See attached photo.”

This user was running iCMTGIS PRO on the iPhone XR, which provides Display Accessibility settings described in the document at this link: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207025

It turns out that the user had the Dark mode enabled. Turning off the Dark mode fixed the issue.

Ding sound in iCMTGIS PRO at 10 Hz

My tablets make a ding sound when the GPS is turned on and the cursor moves around. Not too bad when its 1Hz but at 10Hz its a constant buzz. Is there a way to turn of the sound?

Yes, you can turn off the Navigation Beep and/or the Featuring Beep under Setup – Navigation and GPS – Stakeout Setup.