Download limit and zoom priority
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Hello,
Please provide a way to run offline. Tilestore only. and download limit UNLIMITED.
I need to create a large map with many many tiles.
I am limited to the 500k limit per download or whatever (DESPITE my tilestore being used). Yes i have adjusted the settings for max.
so, now, I'm going to have to write some code to merge the several exports out of MOBAC just to get a finished map. This is inconvenient due to this silly download limit.
Here is how MOBAC should deal with this:
1.) allow an offline mode that uses local tiles only
2.) when offline mode is on, limit = disabled
Sorry but I don't see a difference if you download multiple times the tiles to get them in the tile cache and then use it instead of directly download and use them. The limit is there to limit the download and no matter if the tile is directly downloaded or used from tile store - you have to download it at least once. Therefore I won't change anything regarding the tile limit.
BTW: What atlas format do you want to use? Most atlas formats don't perform well with such a large number of tiles...
Hi, Thanks for your reply.
Please allow me to explain the point more...
I have a large tile store already downloaded. I need to create a large map with all of these tiles.
Regardless of whether or not the tile store contains the tiles, the application limits the ability to assemble a map ("download") that exceeds the tile limit.
My opinion is that it makes no sense to limit a map from a tilestore. It has nothing to do with a download. I propose the idea of having an offline mode, in which atlast creation is NOT limited by the tile amount.
In regard to the atlast format, I am building a custom personal application using MBTiles produced from MOBAC. It hosts it's own TMS.
I would prefer not to have to merge all the atlases...
Can you help?
Thank you very much
Another point: There are some situations that MOBAC has not considered. For example, lets say I have an entire state that has some Zoom 18 in tile store, but mostly zoom 17. And I want to create a map that has both of these, BUT not download any more zoom 18. I want it all local. MOBAC has no way to do this.
Providing an offline mode would allow varying zoom levels to be assembled in an atlas. Offline mode would mean only tiles which are available are downloaded - if zoom 18 is not found in a particular location, it downloads up to zoom 17 (the next available zoom).
I would love for the app to have this feature.
Thank you
I am generating maps with 1m+ with current MOBAC. So there must be subtle difference in settings and configurations of profiles and sources.
I am not relying on tilestore for my world maps. But rather use sqlitedb. Such DBs can accumulate any number of tiles. No need for merging, just feed this DB via multiple profiles.
Then you have a local source for which no limits apply.
Without a single line of code, nor change to MOBAC.
Cheers
Michael
Could you be a little bit more specific. I do not understand how you can feed a unique sqliteDB with several profiles ?
Please specify.
You are still limited to the ridiculous 'Download Limit' that MOBAC enforces.
I guess its Mobile Atlas Downloader-- not creator.
@Laurent: you simply use the same DB name in the profile (DB type Big Planet e.g., will use simplest possible sqlitedb data model) and execute them one after the other - even parallel processing is doable, as long as the write phases into the DB do not overlap. (Patience is more peace of mind here :-))
Once you have such a DB file, you can use it as a local source, which has NO limits
For Bob this would mean: respecting the download limits - for good reasons as Robert advised - and execute those profiles that download from onlines resources until the scope is fulfilled.
Then use the local DB as source without restrictions, with one profile for the final product; no merging needed.
Soryr for late response - have been overly busy with outher endeavors.
Last edit: Michael Bechtold 2025-10-14
Well, as I articulated before to Robert... If you have a tilestore, the software should NOT limit your download. It should first compute how many tiles are local and how many would need downloaded, and limit off of that. The current design is flawed.
I proposed solutions to Robert but he fails to acknowledge that his software needs improvement.
Second, what is the download limit achieving?
Does MOBAC have anything whatsoever to do with the terms of service that you are downloading your maps from? ...... No.
I agree a limit should be in place as a default. Robert just needs to correct the software. Its flawed.
Finally, I know you can use local sources. Its has never once been clear to any user of MOBAC that the download limit would 'dissapear' once a local source is used. MOBAC could improve its documentation.
Last edit: Bob 2025-10-17
That is only true in theory. In reality If people abuse a software like MOBAC then map server operators will blame MOBAC (and in the end theme as the author) not the user(s) that have performed the bulk download.
The more people abuse MOBAC the more server will block it. That is the reason why there is a download limit.
If you want to process large region with high zoom level you should generate the map tiles yourself by running a local map server or a map generator like Mapsforge.
How much did you pay for it ?
MOBAC is an Open Source project. Don't hesitate to take your part of workload, and propose evolutions to documentation. I'm sure that @r_x will be very happy to integrate your addings to dicumentation.
In Open Source philosophy, better to participate rather than to complain
Hi Michael,
thank you so much for your explanations.
I didn't know this "trick", since SQliteDB I'm generally generating are actually MBTiles atlases, and with this format, contrary to what happens with BigPlanetTracks format, you cannot feed the same database several times : each generated MBTile atlas is forced (by Mobac) to have a unique name, appending user provided name with timestamping of run.
I keep note of your solution, that actually works fine (I tested it ;-) ), and could be very very useful in some cases !
@Bob: RTFM
Quote from MOBAC format documentation: Atlases created after another are merged into one Database named [AtlasName] atlas.sqlitedb which is located in the atlas output directory.