-Subsurface-mobile for Android: USER MANUAL
Manual author: Willem Ferguson
Beta release, March 2016
Welcome as a user of Subsurface, advanced dive logging software with -extensive infrastructure to describe, organize, interpret and print scuba -and free dives. Subsurface offers many advantages over other similar -software solutions, including compatibility with Windows, Mac-OS/X, Linux (many -distributions) and Android (iOS under development). In addition, Subsurface is -open-source software that allows downloading dive -information from most dive computers.
1. Introducing Subsurface-mobile
-Subsurface-mobile is an extension of Subsurface on laptop and -tabletop computers. It runs on Android smartphone and tablet devices and is a -tool for viewing or sharing dive information at dive sites where a larger -computer is not useful. Subsurface-mobile also allows -the gathering of GPS locations where dives are performed.
A version of Subsurface-mobile for iOS is under development but not yet -ready for testing.
While Subsurface-mobile allows one to enter and save dive information -using an Android device, users of Subsurface-mobile typically use the -mobile app as an extension of the laptop/desktop version of Subsurface. -This allows the storage of dive logs on the Internet and which -can be shared by the Android version as well as the desktop version. -While the desktop version of Subsurface shows much more detailed information -for each dive, the mobile version allows one to have a more accessible dive log -on a dive trip, useful for proving dive experience to dive shops or to review -previous dives.
Subsurface-mobile allows one to:
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-Download existing dive log information from the Internet. -
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-View this information on an Android device. -
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-Edit many of the dive log data fields, e.g. divemaster, buddy, - equipment or notes about a dive. -
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-Create and add new dive records to one’s dive log. -
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-Store the updated dive log on the Internet. -
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-Record, store and apply GPS positions of dives. -
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-View the localities of recorded GPS positions and of dives - on a map. -
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These items are discussed in greater detail in the following text. -What Subsurface-mobile does not support (at this time) is downloading -dive data directly from a dive computer. That still has to happen with -Subsurface on a desktop or laptop computer. We are investigating ways -to support downloading from a subset of the supported dive computers on -Android devices, but this is not yet ready for testing.
2. Installing Subsurface-mobile on an Android device
-Find Subsurface-mobile in the Google -Play Store. Search for Subsurface-mobile and install it.
3. Using Subsurface-mobile for the first time
-Upon starting Subsurface-mobile for the first time, a Subsurface -splash screen is shown while the program loads. On some devices this -may take several seconds. After loading, the Cloud Credentials screen appears -(see image below).
-Since Subsurface is largely dependent on a dive log saved on the Internet, -provide a user-ID and password for access to the Subsurface Cloud. These -credentials are obtained by opening the desktop version of Subsurface and -by clicking File → Preferences → Network, explained in detail in the -user manual for the Subsurface desktop version. Once the account has -been created and verified using the desktop version one can use Subsurface-mobile.
When entering a password, it is possible to check -a checkbox that enables the text of the password to be shown. Checking the -check box labelled "Remember" allows Susburface-mobile to keep the -credentials for subsequent logins (see image above). -Having entered the credentials, tap the disk icon at the bottom of the screen. -Subsurface-mobile attempts to download the existing dive log from the_Subsurface_ cloud -server. Appropriate messages are shown onscreen. Finally -a list of dives are shown.
4. Local copy of the dive log and synchronisation with Internet
-Once the dive -list has been downloaded from the Internet, Subsurface-mobile keeps a local -copy on the mobile device. This means that, if there is no Internet connection -at a dive site, one can still access the local copy and view and manipulate -dive information. If there is Internet connectivity, Subsurface-mobile accesses -the Internet-based dive log to verify that the local copy is still the -same as the Internet-stored copy. If not, the local copy and the copy on -the server are synchronised.
5. A Few Remarks About The User Interface
-At the bottom of many Subsurface-mobile screens is a round button that provides for -several actions and which allows the selection of the main affirmative action -(see image above and image below). -On Android devices, use the Android Back -button for "cancel", "discard" or "back" actions. For example, when -editing dive information, tapping the action button saves the changes, the -Android back button can be used to cancel the edit without saving changes.
-Instead of the more traditional "hamburger" menu button in the top left or -right corner of the screen to open menus, Subsurface-mobile uses a -different user interaction philosophy based on the Kirigami framework -developed by the Plasma developers. To open the main menu one has -three options:
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-Tap on the right-arrow symbol in the lower left corner of the screen - (easy to reach for hand held devices) -
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-Swipe towards the right across the left edge of the screen -
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-Drag the action button visible on most screens with the main action to - the right -
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-The images above indicate some of the important features of the menu system. -On the left is the main menu that is activated as described above. In the middle is -the menu that opens if one taps the GPS option on the main menu. On the right is -the menu that opens if one taps the Manage Dives option on the main menu.
Similarly, the context menu (currently only available on the dive details screen) can be -opened one of these three ways:
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-Tap on the left-arrow symbol in the lower right corner of the screen -
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-Swipe to the left across the right edge of the screen -
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-Drag the action button to the left -
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6. Viewing the Dive List
-Most of the actions of Subsurface-mobile center around the dives on the -dive list. While the dive list is loading from the cloud, -a message appears at the bottom of the screen, indicating that the cloud is -being accessed (see image on left, below). Once the list is loaded one can scroll up and down. -Tapping a dive on the list brings up a display of Details View for that dive (see image on right below). -This includes the dive profile as well as additional information and notes.
-One can view other dives by swiping the Details view to the right (for the -previous dive) or to the left (following dive).
7. Editing dive details.
-At the bottom of the dive details screen the Action Button contains a pencil (image on right, above). -Tapping the button brings up a panel with edit boxes that allows one to -change the existing dive information, e.g. adding text to the dive notes -or changing the names or values of some of the information (see image below). -It may be necessary to scroll the window to access all the information. -At the bottom of the edit screen is a Save action button. Tap this to save -the new information. Having saved the data, the dive list screen is -updated and shown. To cancel any edits, tap the Android Back Button.
-8. Adding a new dive to the dive list
-It is also possible to add an additional dive to the existing dive list. On the -main menu tap Manage dives → Add dive manually. This opens a screen that is -identical to the editing screen discussed above. When a dive is added manually, one -cannot directly add a dive profile from a dive computer. However, if one does not use a -dive computer, the duration, depth and several other bits of information about -the new dive can be entered. The Action button at the bottom of the screen -contains a disk symbol. Tap this to save the new dive. To cancel any edits, tap the Android Back Button. -The left-hand image below shows a screenshot of a dive being created and the right-hand image shows -the same dive in Details View.
-9. Deleting a dive
-The details view of a dive has a context menu on the right-hand side that can be activated as described above -(e.g. by tapping the arrow icon at the bottom right of the screen or by dragging the Action Button to the left). -The context menu has a single item: "Delete dive". If this option is tapped, the dive shown in the Details View -is deleted. One has a brief opportunity to undo the delete by tapping the undo message that appears at the bottom of -the screen. If the undo message is not tapped, the dive is deleted.
10. Dive log management
-A central part of Subsurface-mobile is the ability to store the dive -log using the Subsurface cloud storage. -This provides security against loss or damage to the dive information caintained in a local copy of -the dive log and allows the desktop version of Subsurface to -access changes made using the mobile device. This ability is accessed -throug the main menu (by dragging the Action Button to the right, or -alternatively tap the right angle button at the bottom left of the screen). - Tap the option Manage dives, enabling a number of options:
10.1. Add new dive manually
-This is described above under the section dealing with the dive list.
10.2. Upload dive log to the Subsurface cloud storage
-One can upload the dives contained on the mobile device -to the Subsurface cloud storage by tapping the option Upload to cloud. -This synchronizes the local changes to -the dive log with the cloud storage.
10.3. Download dive log from the cloud storage
-In the dive management subpanel, tap the option Refresh, causing -the local divelog to be refreshed from the cloud so that the cloud -and local versions are synchronised.
10.4. Changing the login credentials on the Subsurface cloud
-It may be necessary to change one’s login credentials, for instance if one’s email -address (initially used as a credential) has changed. To change the credentials, -open the main menu and tap Cloud credentials. This opens the setup screen -for specifying new credentials.
11. Recording dive locations using GPS.
-The fact that most smartphones have GPS facilities allows one to record -the locations of dives. One can take the smartphone on the dive boat -during a dive and locations will be automatically recorded at regular intervals. -These locations can then be applied to dives in the dive list. Here is how it’s done:
11.1. Setting up the GPS
-Open the main menu and tap GPS → Preferences. Now specify the way -in which GPS data need to be automatically collected (image on right, below). One can specify that -data are collected at regular intervals, e.g. every 10 minutes, or at regular -distances, e.g. after the boat has moved more than 200m, or a combination of -both of the above approaches. Provide the appropriate information and -tap the Save action button. The program is now ready to collect GPS positions.
-11.2. Collecting GPS positions
-Ensure that the GPS on the Android device has been activated. At the bottom -of the GPS submenu is a check box Run location service (image on left, above). -Check this box -and Subsurface-mobile starts to collect GPS locations automatically, -following the preferences specified as described above. After -the dive one can deactivate the collection of GPS data by de-activating -the same check box at the bottom of the main menu.
11.3. Storing the GPS data on the Subsurface cloud
-Activate the main menu and select the GPS option that brings up the submenu of GPS-related actions -(image on left, above). Tap Upload GPS data that saves the GPS data -on the Subsurface cloud server. These GPS data are saved separately -from the other dive log data. All collected GPS data are kept on the -Android device, independent of whether they have been uploaded or not.
11.4. Downloading GPS data from the Subsurface cloud
-Download the GPS data that have been saved on the cloud by -selecting Download GPS Data from the GPS subpanel.
11.5. Viewing GPS data
-From the GPS submenu (image on left, above) select Show GPS fixes. This brings -up a list of GPS positions obtained using the location service (image -on left, below). Two actions are possible for each of the locations, enabled if -one taps the handle (the three horisontal stripes on the right, see image on left, below) and -then drags the specific item to the left (image on right, below). This exposes two -options. Tapping the dustbin deletes this particular GPS location. Tapping the -teardrop-shaped icon (actually a Google Maps pin) opens up Google Maps with a pin -indicating the exact map position of the GPS record being viewed. The two above -options can be hidden by drawing the GPS record to the right, again using the handle.
-11.6. Applying GPS data to dives in the dive log
-Assuming that all the dives have been entered into the dive log or have -been downloaded from the Subsurface cloud, one can apply the GPS positions to -these dives. GPS positions can therefore only be applied to dives in the dive list. -From the GPS subpanel, tap Apply GPS fixes. The dive list contains the start -and end times of each dive. Now, Subsurface-mobile applies the first -GPS position that falls within the dive period of each dive. This results -in a GPS position for each dive that is saved as part of the dive list.