# How to Add, Edit, Delete Features

TIP

If you are new to Mergin Maps mobile app, follow our tutorials to get familiar with the app.

Adding, editing and deleting features in the Mergin Maps mobile app is possible in Mergin Maps projects where you have write permission.

To be able to transfer your data to your mobile/tablet device, share your project and track changes, you will need to sign up to Mergin Maps.

# Adding features

In the mobile app, open a project you want to use.

To survey new features, tap the Record button on the bottom panel to enter the recording mode.

Mergin Maps mobile app Record tab

WARNING

If current GPS accuracy falls below the accuracy threshold, you will get a warning about low position accuracy. Accuracy thresholds can be changed in Settings.

The crosshairs you will see on your map will be used as the recorded location. You can change the position of your point by pinching and dragging the background map. If you want to recenter the map to your current position, tap the GPS button.

Surveyed features are added to the active layer, which is shown just above the bottom panel. You can change the active layer by tapping on it and selecting one from the list of editable layers in the project.
Active survey layer

Once the geometry of a feature is recorded, a form will open and you will be able to record the values of attributes.

TIP

Attribute forms can be set up in QGIS. For more details, see Setting Up Form Widgets and Advanced Form Configuration.

# Capture points

To capture a new point feature, simply tap Add on the bottom panel while in the recording mode. A form will open where you can fill in the attributes.

Add point in Mergin Maps mobile app

# Capture lines or areas

There are two methods of capturing lines and areas: adding vertices one by one or using the streaming mode to capture features based on your position.

# Adding points to survey vertices of lines or areas

Lines and areas can be captured by adding vertices one by one. When you are in the recording mode and your active layer is a line or polygon, you will see line and areas editing tools in the bottom panel.

Tap Add to capture vertices of your line or area. If you want to change the position of the last vertex, tap Remove, move the vertex to the correct place and Release it. Undo can be used to revert last changes.

Once the survey of the feature is completed, tap Done and fill in the form.
Surveying lines in Mergin Maps mobile app

# Streaming mode to survey lines or areas

Lines and areas can be also captured automatically based on your position. Make sure you are in the recording mode and that your active layer is a line or polygon.

To turn on the streaming mode, long press the GPS button. To turn it off, long press the GPS button again.

GPS streaming mode to survey lines

Once you are finished, tap Done. If you are capturing an area, the shape will be automatically closed by connecting the last and the first vertex.

You can change how often you want to capture a vertex in Line rec. interval in Settings. The interval can be defined as time elapsed in seconds or as distance travelled in metres.

TIP

The recording interval can be defined also in metres as distance travelled.

# Add non-spatial features

Non-spatial features can also be added using Mergin Maps mobile app. If you are using a non-spatial table for value relations you can add and edit values in the app.

  1. Tap the More button and navigate to Layers
    Mergin Maps mobile app Layers panel

  2. Choose the non-spatial layer and tap Add feature

  3. Fill in the attributes.

# Editing features

Spatial and non-spatial features can be browsed, edited and deleted in the Layers panel in Mergin Maps mobile app. Tap on the Layers in the More tab and select a layer to see the features it contains.
Mergin Maps mobile app Layers panel

Spatial features can be selected also on the map. Tap on a feature and press the edit button. Now you can change the attributes in the form. To edit the geometry of a feature, tap Edit geometry in the bottom panel.

Edit attributes and geometry in Mergin Maps mobile app

To edit geometry of a point feature simply adjust the location by panning the map or use GPS in the same manner as when adding new features. Once you are happy with your changes, press Done.

# Edit geometry of lines or areas

It is also possible to edit the geometry of lines and areas. Tap on a line or polygon feature and press the Edit button. Then select Edit geometry.

The vertices of the feature will be highlighted and you can move or remove them as needed. Press Done to confirm your changes.

Editing polygon geometry

# Redraw geometry of lines or areas

The existing geometry of lines and areas can also be redrawn.

In the feature's form, tap the Advanced button and select the Redraw geometry option. Now you can record the new geometry using the tools in the bottom panel.

Advanced editing redrawing geometry of polygons

# Split geometry of lines or areas

Lines and areas can be split into two or more new features that will keep the same attributes as the original feature.

To split geometry of a feature:

  1. Tap on a feature and press the edit button.
    Edit button in Mergin Maps mobile app

  2. Tap Advanced and select Split geometry
    Advanced editing split geometry

  3. Create the splitting line by adding points. When finished, tap Done
    Drawing splitting line to split geometry

  4. In this case, two individual features are created. Both have the same attributes, except for Feature ID (one feature keeps the original id, the other gets a new one).
    Geometry split successfully into two features

# Snapping features

Snapping can be enabled in your Mergin Maps project to make the field survey easier. How to Set Up Snapping will guide you through the snapping options.

If snapping is enabled, the crosshairs will turn purple and snap to vertices (left) or segments (right) of existing features when capturing new features or editing existing features.
Snapping Vertices and Segments in Mergin Maps mobile app

# Deleting features

If you want to delete the feature, tap on it and press the edit button. Here you have the option to Delete the selected feature.

Delete feature in Mergin Maps mobile app

# Synchronise changes

Don't forget to upload your changes to Mergin Maps!

Synchronisation in Mergin Maps mobile app can be done automatically or manually by pressing the sync button. For more details visit Synchronisation in Input.

Synchronise changes manually

TIP

Behind Data Synchronisation contains more information about the synchronisation process in general.

If needed, some files (for example photos) can be excluded from the synchronisation. You can read more about this option in Selective Synchronisation.