Transferring Files From Phone to Desktop & Vice Versa
**QUICK NOTE**
- ALL BACKCOUNTRY NAVIGATOR SPECIFIC FILES ARE LOCATED IN A FOLDER NAMED: "bcnav"
- Depending on the device, this will be in something called internal storage or an SD Card.
- Where devices have both internal and external storage, the default storage will usually be the internal storage (there are exceptions).The manufacturer choose which storage is default, we don't. They can change that in Settings->Storage root IF the manufacturers allow third party apps to write to the external card (some idiotic ones don't).
- GPX or kml files will have the name they specified and reside in bcnav/out.
- Map packages reside in bcnav/archive. (Copy the whole folder to backup the maps)
- Waypoints and tracks reside in .bcn files in bcnav/data (trip files). Copy this folder if you want these backed up.
This topic would cover the most common method of transferring your BCNav files from your phone to your desktop system that 99% of Android Phones would be capable of (we will not be discussing NFC Features and the like)
A. USB-Cable Method
1. Connect your device to your USB connector (be sure that this is already connected to your PC/Laptop
> Depending on your Android OS Version you should see this in your device:
A 
B 
if you have options A & B Select Turn on USB Storage or select Mass Storage; Otherwise, MTP should be fine (specially on newer generation devices)
ON YOUR PC, YOU SHOULD SEE THIS:
Select > "OPEN DEVICE TO VIEW FILES"
Then, YOU SHOULD OPEN UP TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
**Since my TEST UNIT is a Samsung Galaxy S III - the device would show as, GT-19300 (it would show your device's model)
**Depending on where you saved your files or your storage path (Choosing Storage: http://support.crittermap.com/entries/23049093-Choosing-Storage), Open the specific folder where your files are. (SEE IMAGE BELOW WHERE IT SAYS "CURRENT")
Since I have them in my INTERNAL MEMORY, I opened the "PHONE" Folder, then NAVIGATE TO the folder named : "bcnav" - see below
ALL YOUR DATA SHOULD BE THERE READY FOR COPYING.
ON YOUR DEVICE, The Folder (TEST UNIT IS SAMSUNG GALAXY S III)
Required Download (Optional if you prefer other File Explorer, this one is completely FREE) ES FILE EXPLORER - We are not affiliated with this Developer
Look for where you stored your data (see Choosing Storage) and navigate to that directory; You should see something like this;
More Resources for ES File Explorer HERE & HERE - VIDEO
*** I will be adding more resources next week ***
B. Dropbox (or any cloud service method) - File Explorer needed
C. AirDroid Method
D. Via Email
F. Via BackCountry Navigator's Internal Sharing Feature
Comments
33 comments
I found this to be very elementary. . . . WISH YOU HAD TAKEN IT FURTHER.
Hi Duane,
Thanks for your feedback.
Can you be more specific on how further you wanted the manual taken?
We were trying to explain this as basic as possible specially to people who are not technologically savvy.
Thanks,
Dan
Hi Nick,
For the Map Packages, that would be sufficient, but if you need to backup your Trips and Waypoints and Tracks, I suggest Copying the BCNAV folder in its entirety. At the moment, we still don't have an in-app backup solution.
Hi, Dan
To take a specific example, I went to Spain and UK and set up map packages for 800km of walks I was doing there. So I had some large map packages on my Galaxy III. If I copy them to my PC then delete them off my phone to save space, can I copy them back later and still have BCN recognise them? My question centres on what other files are needed for the map packages to be "re-built" when they are transferred back to the phone. E.g., are there associated database files that need to be present to "control" the myriad of tile folders. What is the full set of files and folders that is needed to remove a map set in its entirety from your phone and add it back again later and have it function fully and correctly? When I've tried to do this in the past tiles haven't been recognised. Hope you can help.
Hi Rob,
Did you save it along a specific trip file? to be safe, you can copy the Trip Data (/data folder) and the map packages with the tiles (save the entire folder).
Thanks,
Dan
Hi, Dan,
I've been learning more about how things work since my earlier message and realise I've misunderstood map packages. Most of my maps are stored in the Main Tile Cache and that is what I should have been referring to. Can I back up parts of the Main Tile Cache (e.g. all my Spain maps) by removing their folders and then restoring them later on by copying them back? What other files need to be removed at the same time?
Another question I have relates to the default tracks and waypoints database. Is it possible to move tracks out of this database into another database?
Many thanks,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Can I back up parts of the Main Tile Cache (e.g. all my Spain maps) by removing their folders and then restoring them later on by copying them back? What other files need to be removed at the same time?
-You can back up that folder and the trip file.
Another question I have relates to the default tracks and waypoints database. Is it possible to move tracks out of this database into another database?
- if you create a new trip file, it will be saved on another Trip Database.
The defaults cannot be deleted since that's the directory the files go when they're not on a specific trip.
Thank you,
Dan
Hi-
I'm trying to backup my bcnav folder to my W7 PC using Windows Explorer.
I connect to it with USB as a media device (MTP).
Everything backs up fine execpt the tiles folder.
Windows Explorer gets stuck in the "Calculating the time required to copy files." dialog.
After a little investigation it appears MTP is the issue.
Is there a better way to do this?
thanks,
Bill
Hi Bill,
Have you tried transferring via wifi using Airdroid? (it's fee in Google Play)
Thanks,
Dan
Hi Dan, I've hit a problem. One of my 2 Sandisk 64GB cards failed so I copied all my files to my PC (Windows 8.1). Sandisk replaced the card and I set about reloading my data (48GB including 16.2 GB of BCN data) onto the new 64GB disk. The transfer failed saying I needed another 13GB of capacity. On close inspection I found that my 16.2 GB of bni files needed 50 GB of space on the disk. I'm sure you know that windows explorer shows both the 'size' and the 'size on disk'. I checked all other file types (photos, music, other maps & data) and found these transferred exactly as they were on the PC. I've done a number of tests and spoken to Sandisk and found that the size on the disk of bni files varies between 130% and 400% of size.
I looked at my other 64 GB card with the original data and found that the 16.2 GB of bni files occupied 22.5 GB, which is acceptable. The original data was downloaded under Android 2.3 and at that time PC operated under Vista and I had no problem moving and copying the bni files.
I now find that copying from PC to micro SD the bni files requires 300 - 400% the size on disk. I've tried copying from PC direct to the card using a card reader and onto phone (i.e. letting Android write the card) - the results vary but never less than 3 times.
When I downloaded the map data afresh using BCN - I downloaded 158,000 files in 1050 folder containing 8.46 GB of data but occupying 19.2 GB on the disk - i.e. 227% 0f data. Other than the difference on systems from a year ago I can't think of a reason for the radically different result - can you?.
Is this behaviour normal? Is there a fix? Is there a way to compact bni files?
Hi Tiffle,
I have had a very similar experience. With the use of large capacity micro SD cards becoming more common I am surprised this issue has not arisen more often.
This info may also be of use to people backing up their bcnav folder.
I had been trying to download the whole of the UK OS map to a 32GB SD card on a Galaxy S3. I hold my hands up, at that time I didn’t realise CM didn’t consider that to be a good thing. But I was doing it in dribs and drabs over a period of maybe 3 weeks. I can’t remember exactly but I think I was doing this at about level 10 or 11. I couldn’t seem to do it at a lesser magnification.
I got to about 28GB and thought I had just about covered the country but realised I was going to need a bigger card. I copied the bcnav folder to a desktop computer, bought a 64GB card and started copying the folder back again.
That’s when the problem started. I realised that there was a huge difference between the “size” and the “size on disk” for the card. The size on disk was getting close to 3 times the size value.
The issue is to do with type of formatting and cluster size. I am no expert but in so far as I can gather: formatting prepares the disk for use and determines the cluster size. The cluster is the smallest container for files on the disk. If the cluster is (say) 4 units in size, a file which is 5 units in size is going to need 2 clusters. Similarly, a file which is 1 unit in size is going to need 1 cluster with 3 units of wasted space. Very roughly, number of file units = “size”, number of clusters= “size on disk.
So what was happening? My original card was 32GB. By convention, cards up to 32GB are formatted in FAT32. By default, the cluster size is 16kB. Then on transfer to my desktop, the formatting was NTFS with a default cluster size of 4kB. There was a small difference between size and size on disk but of no consequence.
Then finally, my new 64 GB card was formatted in exFAT and had a default cluster size of 128kb. This resulted in massive waste of space on the card and consequent huge “size on disk”.
Solution? Reformat the 64 GB card and choose a smaller cluster size. I went for 4kB, the smallest available.
Formatting is available by right-clicking on the card / disk and choosing Format. The options available will depend upon the size of card. All data will be lost.
I repeat, I am no expert. This worked for me but I accept no responsibility for its accuracy.
BTW, playing with app just last week I realised that I could download at level 9. I am almost sure that this was not possible just a couple of months ago. Can anyone confirm or dismiss this?
BTW 2, for those who care, the size of the UK OS map is about 43.7GB used space. Nathan is right, downloading maps as and when needed makes much more sense. My SD card is now full of music and movies.
Kind regards,
Mark
Hi Mark,
That's a good thought to change the cluster size - I hadn't thought about that.
As I want the 1:25,000 maps I download to level 15, which appears to be the highest size available.
I know Nathan is correct in saying that the simplest way is to download maps when they are needed. However, a word of caution Ordnance Survey are tightening up on free access to their maps so we may not enjoy the free OS downloads to BCN for ever!
I've taken the precaution of downloading the maps I want onto my phone and the transferring to the PC for longer term storage.
Regards
John(Tiffle)
I recently changed phones from a Samsung SIII to a Samsung Note4. When I loaded my bcnav folder from the SIII via an SD card onto the Note4 BC Navigator will not recognize the folder. I have tried copying the Archives folder directly into the bcnav folder on the Note4 internal memory, and no-go. I have tried switching folder locations to the SIII bcnav folder, with this folder on both the external and internal drive, and no-go.
Basically, the app will not recognize the older folder. It will not recognize the maps, and it will not recognize the trips and waypoints.
Hi Lloyd,
What OS does your Note 4 come with?
this may be helpful: http://support.crittermap.com/entries/27671140-Samsung-Devices-External-Storage-locked-after-4-4-updates-
and this: http://support.crittermap.com/entries/67437220-Using-External-Storage-
thank you,
Dan
Hi. I'm trying to find a new map package I downloaded on my Nexus 7 2ed tablet. Traditionally, the map packages have been stored here: Computer\Nexus 7\Internal storage\bcnav\archives. Older packages are still there. Any new packages I create are not located there. I updated BCNav the night before. Was a change made to where these map packages are stored?
Dan. I posted this in a comment and sent a direct email and have yet to hear back. Thank you for explanation on how to retrieve bcnav folder off of phone. Got that copied to my desktop. Now the question is how to copy that BACK to phone and get the files in a place so the app on the new phone will have access to all of my files. Suggestions? Thanks.
Hi,
I'm sorry I did not get a notification for this, it went to our spam filter.
What device and Android OS do you currently have installed?
Thanks,
Dan
Dan. Thank you for getting on top of this. I saw the thread you listed above and haven't been able to get this to work.
I have the Droid Maxx. Basically I was able to copy the bcnav folder with 600mb of info onto new phone. However I can't get the app to point to it and populate with the information.
Many thanks,
Serge
Hi Serge,
What is the new device again and Android OS version?
Thanks,
Dan
Hi Dan,
I am transferring from Droid Maxx to Droid Maxx. the former broke and I am uploading to a replacement phone.
Hi,
Ok. When you go to Menu > Settings > Storage Options - do you see the "extSDCard" directory?
What Android OS version does it currently have on?
Thanks,
Dan
By far the easiest transfer from the PC, rather than digging around through menus and directories, is to use Dropbox (or I assume a similar service). Save your .gpx from your or device or desktop navigation program to Dropbox. On your phone, find the synced file and open it. It will give you the option of what program to use, one of which is Backcountry Navigator. Boom! Done! I was able to save or share it to Dropbox in a similar fashion. I have a Motorola Droid Turbo.
I have just installed BCN to my new Kindle Fire and I would like to copy all my old files from my phone. I have several years worth of data including downloaded map tiles. All my data has been copied to my PC (Linux Opensuse). Can I just copy the whole bcn folder across from the PC to my Kindle and over-write the one on the Kindle?
Just a thought. The last post before mine was dated 7 years ago. Is this commenting system still active?
Hi Mike,
Yes - this is still active.
What Android OS version are you running?
If you are running Android 11 or higher, did you do the migration process?
Thanks,
Dan
hi Dan, thanks for replying.
I am transferring to my Kindle Fire running Fire OS 7.3.2.
I have almost got it sorted. I installed BCN from the Google Play store and it must have recognised my google account as it appears to have found that I have a paid copy. I have copied my files over from my PC (Linux Opensuse) using a USB cable. The only files I didn't copy over were the tiles folder. I didn't just copy the bcn folder, just the archive, out and data folders.
I can now open all my old tracks, the only problem is that I can't see my downloaded maps. I can see the folders for each map but no map tiles so I assume I need to copy the tiles folder, which I will be doing later today.
I will post here when i have done that to confirm that it works.
Just copied over the tiles folder. Unfortunately it is not working, I can't change to any of my saved maps. If I click 'Map Layers" I can see a list of all my saved folders but can't seem to access any of them.
This is a bit of an inconvenience but not unusable. I shall probably only be using the Kindle to work with maps online at home so don't necessarily need offline maps. Unless there is some simple trick I can use, perhaps to reconnect, I guess I can live with this.
Mike
I would also add, although I can open and view the tracks, if I look at the track details through 'Trip Data' I don't see any information - distance, time, speed, altitude, etc.
Mike
Hi Mike,
We technically dont support the kindle as it's not a full android OS inside the device, but can you create a ticket here: https://crittermap.zendesk.com/
and then send a log please.
thanks,
dan
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