Release history

This release improves public-transport map readability and brings information found under the same map click into one chooser, while adding desktop coordinate and elevation inspection.

• Clearer public transport and map information: Public-transport stops are now decluttered at lower and medium zoom levels to keep the map readable. When the same click matches several information objects, Via Helvetica brings them together in a common chooser.

  • More stops progressively reappear as you zoom in, while very close stops keep a small visual fan-out so they remain individually selectable.
  • Stops hidden to reduce map clutter remain accessible through a nearby visible stop.
  • The common chooser can combine closures or detours, danger zones, public-transport stops and Hiking SwitzerlandMobility routes, with safety information shown first.
  • Distinct pictograms make the different information types easier to identify.

• Coordinates and elevation on right-click: On desktop, right-clicking the map places a temporary point and shows its WGS 84 and LV95 coordinates together with terrain elevation, without interrupting the current itinerary.

  • WGS 84 and LV95 coordinates can be copied directly from the panel.
  • A new right-click moves the point and replaces the previous inspection.
  • The current itinerary and the open or closed state of its elevation profile are preserved during inspection.
  • If needed, the map pans slightly without changing zoom so the inspected point remains visible beside the panel.

This release significantly improves the mobile experience while keeping Via Helvetica primarily a route-planning tool designed for large screens.

• Redesigned mobile experience: The interface on smaller screens has been extensively refined to leave more room for the map and make essential actions smoother: full-screen search, a Map and options panel, adapted information panels, full-width profiles and statistics, and a map-only mode. Via Helvetica nevertheless remains designed primarily for planning routes on large screens.

  • Editing controls are more compact, and search now opens full-screen on mobile.
  • The “Map and options” panel brings together base maps, information layers, language selection and access to “About Via Helvetica”, reducing permanent controls over the map.
  • Information panels, the elevation profile, route statistics and SwitzerlandMobility panels make better use of the available width and scroll naturally when their content is longer.
  • Outside route editing, tapping an empty area of the map temporarily hides controls and panels so the map can be examined freely; a second tap restores the same interface.

• Export stays available: The export button now remains visible as long as a route is displayed, even after leaving creation or editing mode. It disappears only when no current route is selected.

This release makes imported GPX files editable and brings route export actions together in one place.

• Editable imported GPX files: A GPX file is still loaded as read-only first. A pencil button then appears to the right of the route summary and can make it editable without rerouting or simplifying the original geometry.

  • During conversion, Via Helvetica places anchors on existing GPX vertices, targeting roughly one anchor per kilometre and using closer spacing for short routes.
  • The GPX geometry stays unchanged until it is edited; moving or inserting a point recalculates only the affected sections.
  • To keep the map readable, the number of visible handles adapts to the zoom level without removing anchors from the route.
  • As long as the converted route remains unchanged, export preserves the original GPX document. After an edit, Via Helvetica generates a new GPX while retaining the vertices of untouched imported sections.
  • In this first version, editing is available for continuous GPX tracks inside the supported map extent with at most 20,000 vertices.

• Unified SwitzerlandMobility export: When a Hiking SwitzerlandMobility route is selected, it now uses the same export button on the right side of the map as created routes and imported GPX files.

  • The export button has been removed from the SwitzerlandMobility detail panel so route exports are available from one consistent location.
  • The shared button appears only when an exportable SwitzerlandMobility route is actually selected.

This release makes it easier to transfer routes to the swisstopo app and reduces the size of exported GPX files.

• Transfer to the swisstopo app: On desktop, a QR code can now open the current route in the swisstopo app. Sharing is also available for imported GPX files.

  • The export and sharing control was moved so it remains available for both routes created in Via Helvetica and GPX files loaded as read-only references.
  • On mobile, the transfer opens directly in the swisstopo app without using a QR code.
  • To enable the transfer, the GPX file is hosted temporarily for 24 hours in dedicated storage, only after an explicit user action, without being associated with the user's identity.

• More compact GPX files: GPX files generated by Via Helvetica are now minified, reducing file size without changing coordinates, elevations, or useful metadata.

• Refined interface and display: Several small adjustments improve imported GPX handling and the interface on smaller screens.

  • After successive GPX imports, the map fit now uses a native swisstopo zoom level to avoid a blurred map background.
  • On small screens, the + and − zoom buttons are hidden, the elevation profile remains fully visible beside the controls, and the layers panel stays accessible when space is limited.

This release reduces the data downloaded while creating routes.

• Optimized routing data loading: Via Helvetica now loads the areas needed around each route segment more precisely. In our tests, this reduced the number of downloaded routing tiles by about 50% on average, without changing the calculated routes.

  • The loaded area starts as close to the route segment as possible and expands automatically only when needed.
  • The previous routing corridors remain available as a fallback when the result cannot be validated within a smaller area.

This release makes route creation faster and improves the readability of the elevation profile.

• Faster route creation: Adding and recalculating route sections is now more responsive.

  • Routing now uses precomputed data for all of Switzerland, loaded on demand around the route.
  • GeoAdmin services remain available as a fallback when the precomputed data cannot be used.

• Improved elevation profile: The vertical scale now adapts better to the terrain and route length.

• Clearer usage information: The About dialog now makes it clearer that routes and map data are provided for guidance and must be adapted to the conditions encountered.

This release adds SwitzerlandMobility route selection, coordinate search, and several interface improvements.

• SwitzerlandMobility routes: The optional “Hiking SwitzerlandMobility” layer can be enabled from the layer menu, then used to select a route, inspect its elevation profile, and export it as GPX.

• Coordinate search: You can now search for a place using decimal GPS coordinates (WGS 84) or Swiss coordinates (LV95).

• Layer opacity: Information-layer opacity can be adjusted to keep the underlying map easier to read.

• Distant waypoints: When a point is too far away for automatic routing, a message asks you to add an intermediate waypoint.

• General improvements: Waypoint dragging, information panels, the route summary, and GPX export have all been made smoother.

  • The map now pans automatically when a route point is dragged near the edge of the screen.
  • Selected stops, closures, and danger zones remain visible beside their information panel.
  • Route-summary labels are easier to read, and the export file picker is limited to the supported GPX format.
  • Dedicated language paths (/fr/, /de/, /it/, and /en/) keep shared links in the selected language and improve search visibility.
  • Additional adjustments improve dialogs and controls on small screens.

First public release of Via Helvetica: route creation and editing, experimental swissTLM3D routing, elevation profiles, GPX import and export, closures, danger zones, and public-transport information.