Allow freehand drawing with finger or capacitive pen

[dani1967]

Describe the issue

Qfield doesn't recognize capacitive pen

Reproduction steps

1 Go to 'a poligon layer, activate editing 2. Use a capacitive pen 3. Doesn't appear the freehand digitizing icon

Expected behavior

Appear freehand digitizing icon

Observed behavior

It's no possible to use the freehand digitizing with capacitive pen in ordinary tablets without specific pens. A capcitive pen simulates the finger so probably qfield isn't in able to distinguish the pen form the finger. Otherwise, some of theese pens are nice and precise.

Screenshots and GIFs

No differences between different layers and projects.

Mobile (please complete the following information)

• Device: Lenovo yoga yt-x705xf
• OS: [e.g. Android 10
• QField version: 2.2.0 Coordinated capibara (and previus)

• Problem happens with all files and projects, not only some files or projects: [Yes/No] YES

[m-kuhn]

It's no possible to use the freehand digitizing with capacitive pen in ordinary tablets without specific pens. A capcitive pen simulates the finger so probably qfield isn't in able to distinguish the pen form the finger. Otherwise, some of theese pens are nice and precise.

:+1: that's a more generic problem than just for qfield. Do you think anything can be done?

[Ipickedausername]

I think this question has already been answered but, is it necessary to require a pen ? Couldn't we just choose between the actual mode and the "pen mode", using fingers.

One years ago, I was working with the application developed by ESRI, and some operations were way easier (ex: using fingers to trace polygons). This was one of the reason employees refused to work with QField at this time.

[m-kuhn]

That could be a nice feature request, yes 👍

This will need some thoughts as currently QField relies on finger vs stylus to decide if the map should be panned or drawn onto it as well as some other stylus specific tweaks.

[dani1967]

From my point of view the best solution should be, in settings, an option between automatic (as now) and manual choice of freehand digitizing. In manual mode you can choose freehand digitizing also if the tablet doesn't recognize a pen. Thanks for all the answers.

[JUAN1936]

It would also be very interesting to be able to take measurements with that pencil, in addition to the digitizations. Modest programs like safileovermap, had a very very decent finger-clicking measurement system (precise)

[koenigherford]

It would be great if a pencil will work in QField not only in freehand-drawing but in using checkboxes, buttons.. and all other digitizing-tasks too.

In digitizing mode you may will be able to choose between -pen-digitzing mode (every short tip on sceen is a new vertex, long tip (outside freehand-mode) will pan the map,.....) and -classic crosshair-digitizing-mode.

This will
-save a lot of time. (Now paning the map and adding a vertex and paning again and adding a vertex again and so on costs a lot of time). -reduce accidentally wrong entrys in forms caused by too thick fingers ;-)

This will increase the acceptance of this app. Using a pencil (mouse on pcs) is a intuitive tool when working in maps. This will reduce breaks in intuitve digitizing (especially when switching between mobile work and desktop work)

[jo-chemla]

Also interested in this feature! Allowing for freehand drawing (vector editing) with the finger rather than a stylus/pen could make using QField easier in lots of situations.

[max-mapper]

I would love a simple toggle button to enable freehand digitizing mode so I can digitize on my tablet using a capacitive pen or finger

[Callord9745]

Hello, would you happen to know some improvement for freehand drawing on smartphone like Samsung S9 ? It would be really helpful for us in case of drawing lines of birds flying for example.

Thanks !