Key:osmc:symbol

osmc:symbol
Description
Machine-Readable representation of route symbol that is used as waymarker or on guideposts
Group: Properties
Used on these elements
Requires
type=route
Useful combination
route=hiking route=foot route=horse
See also
symbol=* wiki:symbol=* trailblazed=* information=guidepost
Status: in use
osmc:symbol=* More details at taginfo More details at taginfo
Tools for this tag
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osmc:symbol=* is machine readable equivalent of symbol=*, both describe route symbol that is used as waymarker or on guideposts

Machine-Readable Description of Hiking Path Symbols

This renderer specific tag was invented to automatically render symbols for hiking and riding routes on the OSMC Reit- und Wanderkarte and is understood by the OSMC map generator for Garmin maps. It is also used at CMarqu's hike'n'bike map. The idea is to compose the symbol from different input graphics and text components. This tag is intended to be read by rendering software and, thus, completes rather than invalidates the symbol=* tag which should contain a human-readable description of the symbol.

Syntax of the tag is:

osmc:symbol=waycolor:background[:foreground][[:foreground2]:text:textcolor]

with the subparts:

• waycolor - Name of the color in which the route path itself should be painted. (Please note that the color white is not allowed on the OSMC map.)
• background - Graphics describing the background of the symbol. For most symbols a simple single-colored background will suffice but more complex patterns are allowed. (For example: use "white" for a simple white background)
• foreground (optional) - Main graphics of the symbol, generally a geometric figure and a color, e.g. "blue_bar". The image will be overlayed over the background image and should therefore be partly transparent. This field can be empty if a text symbol is used.
• foreground2 (optional) - A second foreground image can be used to depict multicolor markings or to repeat the symbol.
• text (optional) - Text to print over the symbol. It should not be longer than 3 letters. Use simple ASCII letters only, exotic ANSI/UTF-8 glyphs are not supported. This and textcolor may be omitted when not needed.
• textcolor (optional) - Name of the color in which to print the text.

Subparts can be left empty or may be left out if they are unneeded. The minimum configuration is a waycolor and either a foreground or some text and a background.

Examples

• osmc:symbol=green:white:green_bar - a green path on map, symbolized with a rectangular white symbol containing a green bar and no text label
• osmc:symbol=red:white:red_bar:FW:gray - a red path on map, symbolized with a rectangular white symbol containing a red bar and a gray "FW" text label
• osmc:symbol=black:black:X29:white - a black path on map, symbolized with a rectangular black symbol containing a white "X29" label
• osmc:symbol=red:white:green_circle:1:black - a red path on map, symbolized with a rectangular white symbol containing a green circle enclosing a black "1" text label
• osmc:symbol=red:red_dot - a red path on map, symbolized with a red dot without background (alternative: red::red_dot, see discussion)
• osmc:symbol=blue:shell_modern - a blue path in map, symbolized by a modern shell and no text label (alternative: blue:blue:shell_modern, see discussion)
• osmc:symbol=green:white:yellow_bar:green_stripe - a green path on map, symbolized with a rectangular white symbol containing a yellow bar and a green stripe
• osmc:symbol=blue:yellow:white_diamond:blue_diamond_right - a blue path on map, marked with a diamond half white and half blue, on a yellow background

Valid elements for a osmc:symbol are found in this list of symbols. Note that the set currently targets hiking paths used primarily in Germany. In other countries, other symbols may be defined and documented elsewhere (possibly in a page on this wiki)

Please note that, in order to be truly useful to renderers, the number of different values for the subparts should be kept small. Always try to approximate the symbol of your hiking route using existing values first. If you need a frequently used symbol added, contact Nop with suggestions. Don't invent a new tag, simply use text/textcolor or refrain from using osmc:symbol altogether.

Finally, don't just add a osmc:symbol to a hiking route because it looks good on the map. osmc:symbol should always reflect the route symbol that is used as waymarker or on guideposts to give the direction.

Values

These tables are currently outdated due to a major update of the values and varying support by different applications. Check this complete list of symbols on Wanderreitkarte and on Waymarked Trails.

Label background

		simple	round	circle	frame
	black	black		black_circle
	blue	blue		blue_circle
	brown	brown
	green	green	green_round		green_frame
	orange	orange
	purple	purple
	red	red	red_round	red_circle	red_frame
	white	white	white_round	white_circle
	yellow	yellow		yellow_circle	yellow_frame

Label foreground

Shape	blue	yellow	red	green	black	white	orange
arch			red_arch		black_arch	white_arch
backslash		yellow_backslash	red_backslash	green_backslash
bar	blue_bar	yellow_bar	red_bar	green_bar	black_bar	white_bar	orange_bar
bowl	blue_bowl	yellow_bowl		green_bowl
circle	blue_circle	yellow_circle	red_circle	green_circle	black_circle	white_circle
corner	blue_corner	yellow_corner	red_corner	green_corner		white_corner
crest			red_crest		black_crest
cross	blue_cross	yellow_cross	red_cross	green_cross	black_cross	white_cross
diamond	blue_diamond	yellow_diamond	red_diamond	green_diamond	black_diamond	white_diamond
diamond line						white_diamond_line	orange_diamond_line
dot	blue_dot	yellow_dot	red_dot	green_dot	black_dot	white_dot	orange_dot
drop			red_drop
drop_line			red_drop_line	green_drop_line
fork	blue_fork	yellow_fork	red_fork	green_fork	black_fork
hiker					hiker	white_hiker
horse				green_horse	black_horse
L	blue_L	yellow_L	red_L	green_L
lower	blue_lower	yellow_lower	red_lower	green_lower		white_lower
pointer	blue_pointer	yellow_pointer	red_pointer	green_pointer	black_pointer	white_pointer
rectangle	blue_rectangle	yellow_rectangle	red_rectangle	green_rectangle	black_rectangle	white_rectangle
rectangle line		yellow_rectangle_line			black_rectangle_line	white_rectangle_line
red diamond					black_red_diamond	white_red_diamond
right	blue_right	yellow_right	red_right	green_right	black_right	white_right	orange_right
slash	blue_slash	yellow_slash	red_slash	green_slash
stripe	blue_stripe	yellow_stripe	red_stripe	green_stripe		white_stripe
triangle	blue_triangle	yellow_triangle	red_triangle	green_triangle	black_triangle	white_triangle
triangle line				green_triangle_line	black_triangle_line	white_triangle_line
triangle turned	blue_triangle_turned		red_triangle_turned	green_triangle_turned
turned T	blue_turned_T	yellow_turned_T	red_turned_T	green_turned_T		white_turned_T
x	blue_x	yellow_x	red_x	green_x		white_x

Other shapes

• shell_modern
• shell
• ammonit
• mine
• heart
• tower
• wolfshook

Label text color

black

blue

brown

green

orange

purple

red

gray

white

yellow

Maps that show osmc:symbol

• Topografische Reit- und Wanderkarte
• Lonvia's World Hiking Map and Riding Map
• Hike & Bike Map (displays the Lonvia overlay)
• Mountain hiking trails in Romania
• Collection of hiking maps, optimized for mobile use
• OsmAnd - Route-colouring in extra map-layer

Tools

These are web-based tools to test osmc:symbol tagging without uploading to OSM:

• on waymarkedtrails.org
• on osm.mueschelsoft.de

See also

• symbol=* - Human-Readable Description of Route Symbols that are used as waymarkers or on guideposts
• wiki:symbol=* - OpenStreetMap Wiki Symbol References of Hiking Path Symbols
• trailblazed=* - Markings on outdoor paths and trails by signs, markers, poles, cairns or in another way
• information=guidepost - Used to mark a guidepost/signpost