Garmin Edge Change colour of navigation line using map themes

Hi,

I've spent the last few hours going through forums from 5 or so years ago talking about using the Map Themes to change the colour of the magenta navigation line. I have some experience with coding and troubleshooting but alas I cannot seem to change the colour. I have tried all combinations of switching from default themes and restarting the device to no avail. I'm very sure the XML is all good but here it is anyway (the last field is what should actually change the colour).

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<garmin_map_theme>
	<metadata>
		<title>Classic Red course</title>
		<description>Red navigation line</description>
        <category>0</category>
	</metadata>
	<stylelist>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_BLACK_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff000000" night="#ff000000"/>
				<secondary day="#ff000000" night="#ff000000"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_DK_RED_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff880000" night="#ff880000"/>
				<secondary day="#ff880000" night="#ff880000"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_DK_GREEN_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff008000" night="#ff008000"/>
				<secondary day="#ff008000" night="#ff008000"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_DK_YELLOW_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ffb07800" night="#ffb07800"/>
				<secondary day="#ffb07800" night="#ffb07800"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_DK_BLUE_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff000080" night="#ff000080"/>
				<secondary day="#ff000080" night="#ff000080"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_DK_MAGENTA_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff800080" night="#ff800080"/>
				<secondary day="#ff800080" night="#ff800080"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_DK_CYAN_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff008080" night="#ff008080"/>
				<secondary day="#ff008080" night="#ff008080"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_LT_GRAY_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ffc0c0c0" night="#ffc0c0c0"/>
				<secondary day="#ffc0c0c0" night="#ffc0c0c0"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_DK_GRAY_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff808080" night="#ff808080"/>
				<secondary day="#ff808080" night="#ff808080"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_RED_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ffb00000" night="#ffb00000"/>
				<secondary day="#ffb00000" night="#ffb00000"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_GREEN_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff00b800" night="#ff00b800"/>
				<secondary day="#ff00b800" night="#ff00b800"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_YELLOW_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff989800" night="#ff989800"/>
				<secondary day="#ff989800" night="#ff989800"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_BLUE_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff0000f8" night="#ff0000f8"/>
				<secondary day="#ff0000f8" night="#ff0000f8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_MAGENTA_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#fff800f8" night="#fff800f8"/>
				<secondary day="#fff800f8" night="#fff800f8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_CYAN_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff00fcf8" night="#ff00fcf8"/>
				<secondary day="#ff00fcf8" night="#ff00fcf8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_WHITE_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#fff8f8f8" night="#fff8f8f8"/>
				<secondary day="#fff8f8f8" night="#fff8f8f8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_LT_BLUE">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff20a8e0" night="#ff20a8e0"/>
				<secondary day="#ff20a8e0" night="#ff20a8e0"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_MDB_TRK_TRANSPRNT_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#00f8fcf8" night="#00f8fcf8"/>
				<secondary day="#00f8fcf8" night="#00f8fcf8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_POPULARITY_1_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ffa8a8f8" night="#ffa8a8f8"/>
				<secondary day="#ffa8a8f8" night="#ffa8a8f8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_POPULARITY_2_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ffa854f8" night="#ffa854f8"/>
				<secondary day="#ffa854f8" night="#ffa854f8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_POPULARITY_3_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ffa854f8" night="#ffa854f8"/>
				<secondary day="#ffa854f8" night="#ffa854f8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_POPULARITY_4_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ffa800f8" night="#ffa800f8"/>
				<secondary day="#ffa800f8" night="#ffa800f8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_POPULARITY_5_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ffa800f8" night="#ffa800f8"/>
				<secondary day="#ffa800f8" night="#ffa800f8"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_POPULARITY_6_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff500050" night="#ff500050"/>
				<secondary day="#ff500050" night="#ff500050"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_POPULARITY_7_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff500050" night="#ff500050"/>
				<secondary day="#ff500050" night="#ff500050"/>
			</color>
		</style>
		<style field="MPM_ACTV_CRS_CLR">
			<color>
				<primary day="#ff005ac8" night="#ff005ac8"/>
				<secondary day="#ff024eab" night="#ff024eab"/>
			</color>
		</style>
	</stylelist>
</garmin_map_theme>

I apprectiate nothing in this area has been touched upon for a while but if anyone knows anything it'd be a great help

Best,

Andrew

Top Replies

L.Rouge 8 months ago +2

I know nothing of Komoot so can't help but do you mean you are using the Komoot CIQ App for your map, do you know if the Komoot App even uses the MapTheme framework or something of their own making.…

All Replies

0 TomHH_ 8 months ago in reply to 3945335

I'm also using a custom map (OpenMTBMap) and I think yes, it has something to do with it. For me the definitions in TYP files are quite cryptic as it seems like theres no real standard to do it.

For example my OpenMTBMap does not change when switching between day/night - but the font does! Maybe definitions/tags in the XML have to be matching.

So if in the TYP file there's a tag like 'MY_FONT_OUTLINE_COLOR' a tag with same name in the theme file would overwrite and change it.

That's how it works I think but I'm not sure.

0 TomHH_ 8 months ago

there you can find some tools to have fun with TYP file and so on: freegeographytools.com/.../free-tools-for-custom-garmin-vector-maps-xi-typ-tools-a

0 leginswal 8 months ago

Somewhere in the Edge 530 forum, their is a similar topic and in it is an XML file which you can copy, paste it into a new file and rename it. All you have to do then is go into settings and select this new file.

The new file replaces the magenta line for a pink one and overall works perfect, I've been using it for a very long time.

0 Viviantw 4 months ago

how do you get to this page

and the default color of garmin nevigation is pink?

0 PeterK_55 4 months ago in reply to Viviantw

Is this what you are looking for?

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/cycling/f/edge-530/290989/how-to-make-course-line-easier-to-see?pifragment-1290=8#pifragment-1290=1

0 Craig 1 month ago

Thanks for this info: it really helped me a lot as I was struggling to see the dull colors of the pre-installed themes.
I went ahead and created several theme files for various bright colors and with "3D"-like cursors.
I went here to select some punchy colors: https://html-color.codes/
Then to create the cursor I entered the punchy color here: https://www.w3schools.com/colors/colors_picker.asp
For the left side of the cursor I use the course color. For the right side I use a 10% darker color (from the color picker link). For the bottom side I use a 20% darker color.
Example cursor changes for blue (emulating Google Maps) courses:
<style field="MPM_VEHICLE_LEFT_CLR">
<color>
<primary day="#ff0000ff" night="#ff0000ff"/>
<secondary day="#ff0000ff" night="#ff0000ff"/>
</color>
</style>
<style field="MPM_VEHICLE_RGHT_CLR">
<color>
<primary day="#ff0000e6" night="#ff0000e6"/>
<secondary day="#ff0000e6" night="#ff0000e6"/>
</color>
</style>
<style field="MPM_VEHICLE_BACK_CLR">
<color>
<primary day="#ff0000cc" night="#ff0000cc"/>
<secondary day="#ff0000cc" night="#ff0000cc"/>
</color>
</style>

0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 3 days ago in reply to TomHH_

TomHH_ said:
From my theme only 'MPM_ACTV_CRS_CLR' is dealing with the active navigation route. The rest is dealing with the position cursor (or vehicle as it's named in the theme).

fyki I have been playing with the theme files of my Fenix 6X, Enduro2 and Edge 530 for years.

Although I use MPM_VHCL_HGLT_CLR also, I could not identify what it did. Eg I changed all the other 5 fileds containing "VEHICLE" to black and kept MPM_VHCL_HGLT_CLR as blue, but blue colour never appeared in the position cursor.

I had a bet that HGLT meant as "highlight(ed)", but it was just a mere speculation.

Could you test it out TomHH_ what MPM_VHCL_HGLT_CLR meant???

If so can you please share its meaning?

0 TomHH_ 3 days ago in reply to Tisztul_A_Visztula

This is what MISTRAL AI says:

"The MPM_VHCL_HGLT_CLR setting in Garmin devices is used in the context of map themes, specifically for customizing the appearance of the vehicle icon on the map. This setting is particularly relevant in navigation modes where the user's position and movement are tracked and displayed on a map.

Here are some modes and scenarios where MPM_VHCL_HGLT_CLR might be used:

Cycling Navigation: When using a Garmin Edge device for cycling, the vehicle icon represents the cyclist's position on the map. Customizing the highlight color can make the icon more visible and easier to track during a ride.
Driving Navigation: In devices used for driving, such as certain Garmin GPS units, the vehicle icon represents the car's position. Adjusting the highlight color can enhance visibility and improve the overall navigation experience.
Hiking and Outdoor Activities: For devices like the Garmin fēnix series, which are used for hiking and other outdoor activities, the vehicle icon can represent the user's position on a trail map. Customizing the highlight color can help in quickly identifying the user's location.
Custom Map Themes: Users can create custom map themes to change the appearance of various elements on the map, including the vehicle icon. The MPM_VHCL_HGLT_CLR setting allows for fine-tuning the highlight color to match the overall theme and improve readability.

In summary, MPM_VHCL_HGLT_CLR is used in various navigation modes on Garmin devices to customize the highlight color of the vehicle icon, enhancing visibility and user experience during activities such as cycling, driving, and hiking."

Yet I'm not sure if this setting has any effects or maybe just under certain conditions. Also it may be the case that this property was used in a previous firmware and now not anymore.

Did you try some modes to trigger this setting? Like automatic re-routing and a like? I have all those settings switched off as I find they work pretty bad.

0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 3 days ago in reply to TomHH_

Yes, I had known what you wrote. My question was specific to this field only. And certainly I had an impression that this field maybe actively used only by automotive devices, even if one can find it in themes files of watches and/or cycling computers.

And yes, I tested all the routing possibilities like crazing round-trips, not just importing courses.

I wanted to publish all those fields that my custom theme file includes, but the forum engine gave me back an error message.

0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 3 days ago in reply to Tisztul_A_Visztula

It came to my mind that a couple of years ago I posted about it here forums.garmin.com/.../how-to-change-the-colour-of-navigation-course-follow-line-with-your-own-map-theme