How to change primaryRoadColor in Osmand Android?

Question

I tried changing the primaryRoadColor value to ff0000. When I compile, it is replaced with the default ff80a0 value. How and where can I create custom color for roads?

In my render folder, I have the following XML:

default.render.xml, Depends-template.render.xml, hud.render.xml, LightRS.render.xml, nautical.render.xml, regions.render.xml, skimap.render.xml, standalone-template.render.xml, test.render.xml, Topo-map-assimilation.render.xml,Touring-view_(more-contrast-and-details).render.xml, UniRS.render.xml

I followed this link, it didn't work out.

Answer 1

I edited this included (mapnik) XML and added couple of things from default file to make a new style. The ones that come with osmAnd app are really overwhelming to look at, especially while on the road. Colors are too intense and too many, so in this file I made it similar to Google Maps which is much easier on your eyes. Non important roads are white, and the main roads are yellow.

This should answer your question as I've annotated the parts I've changed, so if you look for "eml" you can find them. Specifically, if you want to change the road colors, look for Road-0 through Road-4. These are five big roads. Smaller ones are also in that section.

When making changes, keep in mind there are several conditions under which your changes may not be reflected. This is because additional options have a set of their own styles. There is Road Styles, just pick one and edit only that, not to be confused. I picked German road atlas. Also there's Map Mode (Day/Night/etc), I picked Day. This all is very versatile but for me a single map style would be good enough.

You can download my xml file here (eml.render.xml) : https://pastebin.com/7MystwDv

1) copy it to "rendering" folder of your osmAnd

File location, depends on the version, can be:
/storage/sdcard1/osmand-plus/osmand/rendering
or
/Internal storage/Android/data/net.osmand/files/rendering

2) Start the osmAnd and go to Configure Map, and click on Map Style. In this case you will have a new style "eml" derived from eml.render.xml filename you've copied.

3) After selecting that, change Road style to: "German road atlas" because that's the only one I've changed

4) Map Mode: "Day" also the only one I've changed

If you're planing to edit these files, having an editor that shows you the hex color helps a lot. I'm using Android Studio, it's an overkill of course, but I already had it installed. There should be others much smaller editors that offer this option.

For reference, here's a screenshot of this style:

Answer 2

It seems that this tutorial needs updating, a complete "Hello World!" style example would've been nice.

This is how I did it in OsmAnd+ 2.3.5.

My data storage folder (Settings -> General Settings -> Data storage folder) was in:

/storage/sdcard1/osmand-plus/osmand

so the custom renderer file had to go to:

/storage/sdcard1/osmand-plus/osmand/rendering

This directory may be empty at first but as you select map styles from Configure map -> Map style OsmAnd will drop the corresponding renderer XML files into that directory.

NOTE: You have to completely shut down the app and restart it again after adding new renderers or making changes to the existing ones for the app to pick the changes up.

I went the "inheritance" route and created a file called BLACK_ROADS.render.xml (following the <name-of-renderer>.render.xml naming requirement) that extended the default (default.render.xml) renderer.

Here is the content of my renderer. I made it into a sort of a template so I can later see what else can go into this file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<!-- depends="default" -> default.render.xml -->
<renderingStyle name="Paints the roads black in day mode, white in night mode" 
    depends="default" defaultColor="#ffffff" version="1">

    <renderingAttribute name="primaryRoadColor">
        <!-- 40 -> 25% opacity, 80 -> 50% opacity, C0 -> 75% opacity, FF -> 100% opacity -->
        <!-- or remove first two hex digits for 100% opacity -->
        <!-- NIGHT MODE -->
        <case nightMode="true" attrColorValue="#80ffffff"/> <!-- white -->
        <!-- DAY MODE -->
        <case attrColorValue="#80000000"/> <!-- black -->
    </renderingAttribute>

    <!-- These are "global" variables (can have many of each), which 
         can be referenced throughout the file. -->
    <!--
    <renderingAttribute/>
    <renderingConstant/>
    <renderingProperty/>
    -->

    <!-- This section determines the order in which objects are rendered.
         Higher values will be on top. -->
    <order/>

    <!-- This section determines how text object are displayed. -->
    <text/>

    <!-- This section determines how point objects, which typically 
         have an icon associated with them, are displayed. -->
    <point/>

    <!-- This section determines how polygon objects are displayed. -->
    <polygon/>

    <!-- This section determines the look of roads, footpaths, coastlines etc.  
         Basically everything that is a line goes into this section. -->
    <line/>

</renderingStyle>

And here are the results:

• OsmAnd style
• new BLACK ROADS menu entry (taken from the file name)
• BLACK ROADS style day mode
• BLACK ROADS style night mode

Answer 3

If someone's only interested in colour changes, then this OSM diary entry that I wrote last month might help.

Beyond that I'm not aware of a "hello world" type example of some of the things that should be possible based on the how to document.