> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://codifi-fdm.gitbook.io/codifi-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://codifi-fdm.gitbook.io/codifi-docs/mobile-app/mapping-locations/creating-new-records-with-locations.md).
# Capturing Locations
There are three main ways to record a location:
1. **GPS Capture** — Use your device or external GPS to record where you are
2. **Manual Placement** — Drag the map to place points, or sketch lines and boundaries, for where you can see but can't reach
3. **Coordinate Entry** — Type in exact coordinates (when you have them from another source)
Each method works for all location types: single points, lines, and polygons.
GPS Capture, and Manual Placement, involve the **Draw Mode** screen,
***
### The Draw Mode Screen
When you enter Draw Mode, the screen transforms:
**For Single Point Records:**
**For Line/Polygon Records:**
***
### Method 1: GPS Capture
#### Single Point
**Best for:** You're standing at exactly the location you want to record.
\[need to go out an Record a screen capture somewhere]
1. Tap a single-point Record → Tap **Draw**
2. The **Preview Bar** shows your live GPS data (source, accuracy, quality)
3. Make sure **GPS** is selected (highlighted blue) — not **Manual**
4. **Check the accuracy** — wait if it's unusually high
5. Tap the green **Commit** button
* The button shows the current accuracy: "Commit (±2.5m)"
* Color indicates confidence: bright green = good, muted green = accuracy concerns
6. Your location is saved with full GPS metadata!
#### Tracing a Line
**Best for:** Walking along a fence line, road edge, pipeline, trail, etc.
1. Tap a line Record → Tap **Draw**
2. Toggle **GPS mode ON** (tap the location icon on the left — it turns blue)
3. Walk to the starting point of your line
4. Tap **"Add My Location"** — first point captured!
5. Walk to the next key point along the line
6. Tap **"Add My Location"** again
7. Continue walking and adding points:
* Add more points on curves for a smoother line
* On straight sections, you need fewer points
8. If you make a mistake, tap **"Undo"** to remove the last point
9. When done, tap the green **Commit** button
**The Add Button shows:**
* Current GPS source and accuracy: "iPad ±5.2m"
* Briefly shows "Added ✓" after each capture
#### Drawing an Area (Polygon)
**Best for:** Marking boundaries, work areas, parcels, building footprints.
1. Tap a polygon Record → Tap **Draw**
2. Toggle **GPS mode ON**
3. Walk to a corner of the area
4. Tap **"Add My Location"** — first corner captured
5. Walk to the next corner
6. Tap **"Add My Location"**
7. Continue around the perimeter (minimum 3 points)
8. When you've captured all corners, tap the green **Commit** button
9. The app automatically closes the shape
**Tip:** For irregular shapes, add more points along curved edges. For rectangles, four points (one at each corner) is enough.
***
### Method 2: Manual Placement
**Best for:** Features visible on satellite imagery but not physically accessible, or when GPS signal is unavailable.
**For Single Point:**
1. In Draw Mode, select **Manual** (instead of GPS)
2. The crosshair stays fixed in the center of your screen
3. **Drag the map** to position the crosshair over your target
4. **Zoom in** for better precision
5. Tap the green **Commit** button
**For Lines/Polygons:**
1. Toggle GPS mode OFF (the location icon should not be blue)
2. The Add button changes to **"Add Point"** (instead of "Add My Location")
3. Drag the map to position the crosshair
4. Tap **"Add Point"**
5. Repeat for each vertex
6. Tap **Commit** when done
**Important notes about manual points:**
* Source is recorded as "Manual" — no GPS metadata
* Accuracy indicator shows gray dot
* Precision depends on how much you zoom in
#### Sketch Mode (Lines and Polygons)
For quickly drawing complex shapes by tracing on the screen:
1. In Draw Mode for a line or polygon, tap **Sketch**
2. The button highlights when active
3. Draw on the screen with your finger — the shape follows your gesture
4. Tap the to adjust complexity:
* Simple → fewer points
* Detailed → more points (smoother curves)\
5. Tap **Commit** when done
**Note:** If you already have points captured, enabling Sketch mode will warn you that it will clear existing points.
***
### Method 3: Coordinate Entry
**Best for**: When you have exact coordinates from a survey document, another GPS device, a spreadsheet, or any other source.
Instead of capturing your location or placing a point on the map, you type in the coordinates directly.
**How to Enter Coordinates**
1. Create a new Record or open an existing one
2. Tap the location icon on the Record Card to open the Location Panel
3. Tap the + button in the Location Panel
4. Select "Add Manually"
5. The coordinate entry form appears with two options:\
\
**Option A: Latitude/Longitude (Decimal Degrees)**\
Enter \*\*Latitude\*\* (-90 to 90)\
Enter \*\*Longitude\*\* (-180 to 180)\
\
Example: Latitude \`45.5231\`, Longitude \`-122.6765\`\
\
**Option B: UTM Coordinates**\
Enter Zone (number + letter, like \`10T\` or \`31N\`)\
Enter Easting (in meters)\
Enter Northing (in meters)\
\
Example: Zone \`10T\`, Easting \`525000\`, Northing \`5050000\`
6. When you leave a field, your entry is validated and saved automatically
7. The map centers on your entered location
\
**Validation and Errors**
The app checks your entries and shows an error if something's wrong:
| Field | Valid Range |
| ----------- | ------------------------- |
| Latitude | -90 to 90 |
| Longitude | -180 to 180 |
| Zone Number | 1-60 |
| Zone Letter | C through X |
| Easting | 167,000 to 833,000 meters |
| Northing | 0 to 10,000,000 meters |
{% hint style="info" %}
If you enter coordinates in one format (lat/lon), the app automatically calculates and displays the equivalent in the other format (UTM) — they stay in sync.
{% endhint %}
**When to Use Coordinate Entry**
* Transferring data from paper surveys — Type in coordinates from field notes or survey reports
* Importing from other systems — When you have coordinates from another GPS or database
* Precise positioning — When you need to place something at exact known coordinates
* Office-based data entry — When entering location data after returning from the field
{% hint style="info" %}
Tip: Coordinate entry is also useful for editing existing locations. If you know a point was slightly off, you can correct it by entering the right coordinates.
{% endhint %}
***
### Reference Features
You can reference existing features while drawing. See [Draw Mode & Editing](/codifi-docs/mobile-app/mapping-locations/draw-mode-and-editing.md) for details on vertex editing, reference mode, and advanced shape manipulation.
***
### Location Policy Enforcement
Some archetypes may have accuracy requirements set by your administrator:
**GPS-Only Mode:**
* If enabled, the Manual toggle is disabled
* You must use GPS capture
* Message shows: "GPS required · Switch to GPS"
**Accuracy Thresholds:**
* If your accuracy doesn't meet the threshold, the Add button is disabled
* Message shows: "Waiting for Xm accuracy"
* Button re-enables when GPS accuracy improves
**Accuracy Warnings:**
* If accuracy exceeds warning threshold but isn't blocked:
* Button turns orange
* Tapping shows confirmation dialog: proceed anyway or cancel
to adjust complexity:
* Simple → fewer points
* Detailed → more points (smoother curves)\
5. Tap **Commit** when done
**Note:** If you already have points captured, enabling Sketch mode will warn you that it will clear existing points.
***
### Method 3: Coordinate Entry
**Best for**: When you have exact coordinates from a survey document, another GPS device, a spreadsheet, or any other source.
Instead of capturing your location or placing a point on the map, you type in the coordinates directly.
**How to Enter Coordinates**
1. Create a new Record or open an existing one
2. Tap the location icon on the Record Card to open the Location Panel
3. Tap the + button in the Location Panel
4. Select "Add Manually"
5. The coordinate entry form appears with two options:\
\
**Option A: Latitude/Longitude (Decimal Degrees)**\
Enter \*\*Latitude\*\* (-90 to 90)\
Enter \*\*Longitude\*\* (-180 to 180)\
\
Example: Latitude \`45.5231\`, Longitude \`-122.6765\`\
\
**Option B: UTM Coordinates**\
Enter Zone (number + letter, like \`10T\` or \`31N\`)\
Enter Easting (in meters)\
Enter Northing (in meters)\
\
Example: Zone \`10T\`, Easting \`525000\`, Northing \`5050000\`