The method of creating custom screens requires at least essential knowledge of developing Android and XML files system. Otherwise, we recommend using already-created skins. To edit them, use just a simple NotePad or any text editing software with XML syntax highlight (for example Notepad++)

1. Download and install Eclipse and Android SDK tools from here >>.
2. When all works, create a new Android project. This will create a basic data structure. You'll not need to program anything.
3. The project contains res/layout/main.xml file - that's our target. Learn to work with Eclipse GUI builder and edit this file.
4. Put resources (best to use 9-patch images) into res folders (supported - drawable, drawable-hdpi, drawable-mdpi, drawable-ldpi)
5. After compilation, take mail.xml file and image resources from compiled source (this is because of 9-patch images. If you want to use basic .png files, you can add them directly into the result. 9-patch have to be pre-compiled!).

You do not have to do the previous steps. You can edit XML files directly in any editor. The previous steps are just recommended ways for easy “Drag and drop” creating and also the only way to support 9-patch images!

root directory: ./Locus/data/customScreen/

Create .ZIP file that contains this structure:

    /assets/ - for custom fonts
    /drawable/ - (9-patch, or universal)
    /drawable-hdpi/
    /drawable-ldpi/
    /drawable-mdpi/
    /layout/ - for layout specification (for landscape and portrait or... below... for separate by orientation)
    /layout-land/
    /layout-port/
    /values/ (supported colors.xml, styles.xml)

Place your main layout file into the layout directory (or two files, one to layout-land, second to layout-port) and rename it to main.xml. That is important because main.xml file is the gate to the whole layout, it has to be included!

You can place these files also in the root of your .ZIP file (optional)

• icon.png - small (48x48px) logo of your skin
• info.html - HTML page that will contain a description of your skin (some links, donate button or similar is possible)

Finally, place this .zip file into the root directory described above!

• LinearLayout
  • android:orientation
  • android:gravity
• RelativeLayout
• ScrollView
• TableLayout
• TableRow

• TextView extends View
  • android:text - this contains ACTIONS below
  • android:textSize
  • android:textColor
  • android:gravity - full support on all values, also like “center_vertical|right”
  • android:lines
  • android:ellipsize
  • android:shadowColor - and optional android:shadowDx, android:shadowDy and android:shadowRadius
  • locus:textFont
  • locus:textFormat

• Button extends TextView
  • locus:actionClick
  • locus:actionVisibility

• ImageView extends View
  • android:src

• ImageButton extends ImageView
  • locus:actionClick - as Button
  • locus:actionVisibility - as Button

• MapScreenView (custom locus view) extends View
  • no custom parameters

• RotateView (custom locus view) extends View
  • locus:action - attach to which rotation action… for example locus:action=“{orient_course}”
  • locus:rotateImage - a reference to drawable, actually centered and rotated around the center by an angle defined by action
  • locus:rotatePivotX - move rotation point by X value (+X to bottom)
  • locus:rotatePivotY - move rotation point by Y value (+Y to bottom)
  • locus:rotateStartAngle - the angle at which rotation starts with rotateStartValue value (- value for counter-clockwise orientation)
  • locus:rotateStartValue - value for the variable that starts at rotateStartAngle (in base units, so meters, second, ..)
  • locus:rotateEndAngle - the angle at which rotation ends with rotateEndValue value
  • locus:rotateEndValue - value for variable that ends at rotateEndValue

• SlideView (custom Locus view) extends View
  • locus:action - attaches to which slide action … for example locus:action=“{orient_course}”
  • locus:slideImage - a reference to a drawable item used for slide
  • locus:slideStartPosition - position of image pixel that matches slideStartValue value.
  • locus:slideStartValue - action value for slideStartPosition (in base units - metres, seconds, ..)
  • locus:slideEndPosition - position value of the last image pixel. Also (slideEndPosition - slideStartPosition) define width of image
  • locus:slideEndValue - action value for slideEndPosition
  • locus:slideInfinite - if slide image is repeated to cover whole parent view (true/false) [false]

    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="X"
    locus:action="{orient_course}"
    locus:slideImage="X"
    locus:slideStartPosition="0dip"
    locus:slideStartValue="180"
    locus:slideEndPosition="match_parent"
    locus:slideEndValue="-180"
    locus:slideInfinite="[true]"

All Views can be applied with these attributes:

• android:id
• android:layout_width
• android:layout_height
• android:layout_weight - if the parent view is LinearLayout
• RelativeLayout.LayoutParams - if the parent view is RelativeLayout
• android:layout_margin
• android:layout_marginLeft
• android:layout_marginRight
• android:layout_marginTop
• android:layout_marginBottom
• android:padding
• android:paddingLeft
• android:paddingRight
• android:paddingTop
• android:paddingBottom
• android:background (image, color in RGB, ARGB)

• {track_record_start}
• {track_record_stop}
• {track_record_pause}
• {map_zoom_in}
• {map_zoom_out}
• {map_center}

• {lat_gps} - GPS latitude (map center latitude if GPS off)
• {lon_gps} - GPS longitude (map center longitude if GPS off)
• {altitude} - GPS altitude (0 if GPS off)
• {accuracy} - GPS accuracy (0 if GPS off)
• {gps_sats_used} - actual used satellites for GPS fix
• {gps_sats_all} - all visible satellites
• {declination} - actual declination
• {orient_course} - course orientation (source depend on selection on GPS screen - GPS or internal compass)
• {orient_course_opposit} - course orientation (source depend on selection on GPS screen - GPS or internal compass)
• {orient_pitch} - pitch orientation
• {orient_roll} - roll orientation
• {orient_gps_shift} - orientation computed as bearing from previous to current GPS location
• {orient_gps_angle} - angle computed as {orient_gps_shift} - {orient_course}, so it's true moving direction.

• {time} - actual time
• {speed} - GPS speed (0 if GPS off)

• {rec_dist} - track recording - recorded distance
• {rec_dist_down} - track recording - downhill distance
• {rec_dist_up} - track recording - uphill distance
• {rec_alt_min} - track recording - minimum altitude
• {rec_alt_max} - track recording - maximum altitude
• {rec_alt_down} - track recording - downhill altitude
• {rec_alt_up} - track recording - uphill altitude
• {rec_alt_cumu} - track recording - cumulated altitude
• {rec_time} - track recording - total record time
• {rec_time_move} - track recording - time only when move
• {rec_speed_avg} - track recording - speed average
• {rec_speed_avg_move} - track recording - speed average only when move
• {rec_speed_max} - track recording - speed maximum
• {rec_points} - track recording - num of recorded points
• {rec_pace} - track recording - num of recorded points

• {map_center_lat} - map center latitude
• {map_center_lon} - map center longitude
• {map_rotate} - map rotate value

• {guide_wpt_name} - guide target waypoint name
• {guide_wpt_lat} - guide target waypoint latitude
• {guide_wpt_lon} - guide target waypoint longitude
• {guide_wpt_alt} - guide target waypoint altitude
• {guide_wpt_dist} - guide target distance to waypoint
• {guide_wpt_dist_to_finish} - guide target distance to last waypoint of track
• {guide_wpt_azim} - guide target azimuth to waypoint
• {guide_wpt_angle} - guide target angle value (computed as {guide_wpt_azim} - {orient_course})
• {guide_wpt_time} - guide target time to waypoint
• {guide_wpt_time_to_finish} - guide target time to last waypoint of track

• link to font stored in MySkin/assets directory

• parametres should be {i}, {d}, {i.d}, {u} “integer part, double part, both, only units”
• for example - “locus:textFormat=”{i.d} - {u}“. Can be applied to speed, distance, altitude, and accuracy now