Subsurface-mobile for Android: USER MANUAL

Manual author: Willem Ferguson

Beta release, February 2016

| For this BETA release it is critical that users report any problems with the use of the mobile software. After all, one of the objectives of a beta release is to distribute the software to a broader circle of users using different Android devices and configurations in order to iron out any bugs, errors or inconsistencies. Please report such issues by email to subsurface@subsurface-divelog.org

Welcome as a user of Subsurface, an advanced dive logging program 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) as well as Android. In addition, Subsurface allows downloading dive information from most dive computers. Subsurface software is open-source.

## 1. Introducing Subsurface-mobile

Subsurface-mobile is an extension of Subsurface that runs 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. It also allows the gathering of GPS locations where dives are performed.

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:

- Download existing dive log information from the Internet.

- View this information on an Android device.

- Edit many of the dive log data fields, e.g. divemaster, buddy, equipment or notes about a dive.

- Create and add new dive records to one’s dive log.

- Store the updated dive log on the Internet.

- Record, store and apply GPS positions of dives.

- View the localities of recorded GPS positions and of dives on a map.

These items are discussed in greater detail in the following text.

## 2. Installing Subsurface-mobile on an Android device

Install Subsurface-mobile from 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 landing screen appears (see image on left, below). There are three options.

Since Subsurface is largely dependent on a dive log saved on the Internet, select the top option "Connect to Cloudstorage" and enter an email address and password for access to the Subsurface Internet storage server. If you do not have credentials to log in, this is obtained through the desktop version of Subsurface. 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 on right, above). Having entered the credentials, tap "Save". Subsurface-mobile attempts to download the existing dive log from the Internet server. Appropriate messages are shown onscreen. Finally a list of dives are shown (image on left, below).

For the beta release, do not choose the options "Transfer from dive computer" or "Add dive manually"

## 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 Android 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 is synchronised with the version on the Internet.

## 5. The Action Button

At the bottom of of most Subsurface-mobile screens is a round button that provides information and enables several actions. The Action Button often has one or more triangular arrow points. Arrows alongside the Action Button indicate drag movements that are available by dragging the Action Button. Arrows indicate that one or more Action Screens are available(i.e. menus that become visible as side panels) On the other hand icons inside the Action Button indicate specific actions that can be performed by tapping the button. Examples of different formats of the Action Button are presented in the images below:

| This action button indicates that an Action Panel can be viewed by dragging the Action Button to the right. Doing this exposes the main Action Panel that allows many actions with respect to one’s dive log. The different Action Panels are described below.

| This action button indicates that one of two different Action Panels can be viewed by dragging the Action Button either to the right or to the left.

| This action button contains an icon that indicates that, in addition to the drag action described above, one can edit one or more fields by tapping the Action Button.

| This action button contains an icon that indicates that, in addition to the drag action described above, one can abord or an edit of dive data by tapping the Action Button.

## 6. Viewing the Dive List

Most of the actions of Subsurface-mobile center around the dives on the dive list. One can scroll up and down the dive list. Tapping a dive on the list brings up a display of Details View for that dive. This includes the dive profile as well as additional information and notes (see image on right, below).

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 screen an Action Button allows aditional actions with respect to a dive that is being shown. In the details screen (image on right, above) the action button shows a pencil. 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" button. Tap this to save the new information. Having saved the data, the dive list screen is shown. To cancel any edits, tap the Action Button.

## 8. Dive log management

A central part of Subsurface-mobile is the ability to store the dive log on the Internet. This provides security against loss or damage to the dive information caintained in a local copy of the dive log. This ability is accessed throug the Action Panel. Drag the Action Button to the right. (alternatively tap the Menu button at the top left of the Android screen). This brings up the Action Panel (image on left, below). Tap the option "Manage dives" (image below in middle).

### 8.1. Upload dive log to the Internet

Assuming that the correct credentials have been specified, one can upload the dives contained on the Androis device to the Internet by tapping the option "Upload to cloud". This saves the local copy of the dive log to the cloud.

### 8.2. Download dive log from the Internet

In the dive management subpanel, tap the option "Refresh" (image below in middle). This causes the local divelog to be refreshed from the cloud so that the Internet and local versions are synchronised.

### 8.3. Add dive manually

Dives can easily be entered by hand. This allows one to describe a dive and add it to the dive log. In the dive management subpanel tap "Add dive manually". The edit screen opens (image above on right). Fill in all the appropriate information, then tap the "Save" button at the bottom of the screen. It may be necessary to scroll down to see the "Save" button. The dive is then saved as part of the dive log. In the details dive view, a profile of the dive is created.

## 9. 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.

### 9.1. Setting up the GPS

Drag the Action Button to the right. This brings up the Action Panel (image on left, above). Select "Preferences". Now specify the way in which GPS data need to be automatically collected (image on left, 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" button. The program is now ready to collect GPS positions.

### 9.2. Collecting GPS positions

Ensure that the GPS on the Android device has been activated. At the bottom of the Action Panel is a check box "Run location service" (image on right, 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 Action Panel.

### 9.3. Storing the GPS data

Activate the Action Panel (image on right, above) by drawing the Action Button to the right. Select the "GPS" option that brings up a submenu of GPS-related actions (image on left, below). Tap "Upload GPS data" that saves the GPS data on the Subsurface Internet 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.

### 9.4. Viewing GPS data

From the GPS submenu (image on left, below) select "Show GPS fixes". This brings up a list of GPS positions obtained using the location service (image in middle, 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 in middle, 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 record being viewed. The two above options can be hidden by drawing the GPS record to the right, again using the handle.

## 10. Saving GPS positions on the Internet

One can save the collected GPS data on the Internet by selecting "Upload GPS Data" from the GPS submanu (Image on left, below).

### 10.1. Downloading GPS data from the Internet

One can download the GPS data that have been saved on the Internet by selecting "Download GPS Data" from the GPS subpanel (Image on left, below).

### 10.2. 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 Internet, one can apply the GPS positions to these dives. GPS positions can therefore only be applied to dives in the dive log. From the GPS subpanel, tap "Apply GPS fixes" (image on left, above). The dive log 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 log.