Checklists

XCSoar supports custom checklists with Markdown formatting, clickable links, and interactive checkboxes.

File Location

XCSoar looks for checklist files in the following locations:

1. The file specified in Site Files > Checklist setting

2. xcsoar-checklist.txt in the XCSoar data directory

3. Legacy: Files with .xcc extension in legacy search paths

The XCSoar data directory is typically:

• Android: /sdcard/XCSoarData/

• Linux: ~/.xcsoar/

• Windows: My Documents\XCSoarData\

File Format

Checklists use a simple text format with Markdown enhancements.

Pages

Each checklist can have multiple pages. Pages are defined by section headers in square brackets:

[Pre-Flight]
Content for pre-flight page...

[Takeoff]
Content for takeoff page...

[Landing]
Content for landing page...

Markdown Formatting

Headings

Use # for headings:

# Main Heading
## Sub Heading
### Smaller Heading

Bold Text

Use double asterisks or double underscores for bold:

**Important text**
__Also bold__

List Items

Use - for bullet points:

- First item
- Second item
- Third item

Checkboxes

Interactive checkboxes that can be toggled by clicking or pressing Enter:

- [ ] Unchecked item
- [x] Checked item

Links

XCSoar supports various link types that can be clicked to perform actions.

Web Links

Open URLs in the device browser:

[XCSoar Website](https://xcsoar.org)
https://xcsoar.org

Internal Links (xcsoar://)

Open XCSoar dialogs and settings directly from your checklist.

Configuration dialogs:

[Devices](xcsoar://config/devices)
[Planes](xcsoar://config/planes)
[Site Files](xcsoar://config/site-files)
[Logger](xcsoar://config/logger)
[Time](xcsoar://config/time)
[InfoBox Sets](xcsoar://config/infoboxes)
[Pages](xcsoar://config/pages)
[WeGlide](xcsoar://config/weglide)

Action dialogs:

[Flight Setup](xcsoar://dialog/flight)
[Wind Settings](xcsoar://dialog/wind)
[Task Manager](xcsoar://dialog/task)
[Analysis](xcsoar://dialog/analysis)
[Status](xcsoar://dialog/status)
[Checklist](xcsoar://dialog/checklist)

Communication Links

Phone and messaging:

[Call](tel:+1234567890)
[Email](mailto:pilot@example.com?subject=Flight%20Report)
[SMS](sms:+1234567890?body=Status%20update)

Messaging Apps

Deep links to messaging applications:

[WhatsApp](whatsapp://send?phone=1234567890&text=Hello)
[Signal](https://signal.me/#p/+1234567890)
[Telegram](tg://msg?to=+1234567890)
[Skype](skype:username?call)
[FaceTime](facetime:+1234567890)

Geographic Links

Open locations in map applications. The geo: URI uses the format geo:latitude,longitude with optional zoom level ?z=N.

Basic coordinates:

geo:47.4647,8.5492

With zoom level (higher = more zoomed in):

[Home Airfield](geo:47.4647,8.5492?z=15)

Practical aviation examples:

# Airfields
[LSZH Zurich](geo:47.4647,8.5492?z=14)
[EDDF Frankfurt](geo:50.0379,8.5622?z=14)

# Turnpoints
[TP1 - Hilltop](geo:47.1234,8.5678?z=16)
[TP2 - Lake](geo:47.2345,8.6789?z=16)

# Emergency fields
[Alternate 1 - Farm field](geo:47.3456,8.4567?z=17)
[Alternate 2 - Grass strip](geo:47.4567,8.3456?z=17)

# Meeting points
[Retrieve meeting point](geo:47.5,8.6?z=18)
[Club hangar](geo:47.4640,8.5485?z=19)

With location name query (opens search):

[Search Zurich Airport](geo:0,0?q=Zurich+Airport)

File Links

Open local documents (desktop platforms only):

[Aircraft POH](file:///path/to/document.pdf)

Example Checklist

Here is a complete example checklist file for glider operations:

[Pre-boarding - ABCD]
# Airframe Check

- [ ] **A** - Airframe
- [ ] **B** - Ballast
- [ ] **C** - Controls
- [ ] **D** - Dollies removed

[Post-boarding - CHAOTIC]
# Cockpit Check

- [ ] **C** - Control access
- [ ] **H** - Harness secure
- [ ] **A** - Airbrakes and flaps
- [ ] **O** - Outside clear, Options set
- [ ] **T** - Trim
- [ ] **I** - Instruments
- [ ] **C** - Canopy locked

**XCSoar Setup**
- [ ] [Flight Setup](xcsoar://dialog/flight) - Weight & ballast
- [ ] [Wind](xcsoar://dialog/wind) - Set initial wind

[Outlanding - SSSSSW]
# Field Selection

- [ ] **S** - Size and shape adequate
- [ ] **S** - Slope acceptable
- [ ] **S** - Surface suitable
- [ ] **S** - Surroundings clear
- [ ] **S** - Stock/animals
- [ ] **W** - Wind direction

[Pre-landing - FUST]
# Approach Check

- [ ] **F** - Flaps set
- [ ] **U** - Undercarriage down
- [ ] **S** - Speed appropriate
- [ ] **T** - Trim set

[Emergency]
# Emergency Contacts

- [Call Club](tel:+1234567890)
- [Send Position](sms:+1234567890?body=Need%20assistance)
- [Location](geo:47.5,8.5)

[References]
- [XCSoar Manual](https://xcsoar.org/discover/manual.html)
- [Weather](https://www.windy.com)

Supported URI Schemes

Scheme	Purpose	Platform Support
http://	Web pages	All
https://	Secure web pages	All
xcsoar://	Internal dialogs	All
tel:	Phone calls	Mobile, Desktop*
mailto:	Email	All
sms:	Text messages	Mobile, Desktop*
geo:	Map coordinates	All
whatsapp://	WhatsApp	Where app installed
sgnl://	Signal (unofficial)	Where app installed
tg://	Telegram	Where app installed
skype:	Skype	Where app installed
facetime:	FaceTime	iOS/macOS only
file://	Local files	Desktop only

* Requires appropriate handler application installed

Keyboard Navigation

When viewing a checklist:

• Up/Down arrows: Navigate between checkboxes and links

• Enter: Toggle checkbox or activate link

• Left/Right arrows: Switch between checklist pages

Tips

1. URL Encoding: Spaces in URLs must be encoded as %20

2. Phone Numbers: Use international format with + prefix

3. File Paths: Use forward slashes, even on Windows

4. Testing: Test links on your target device before flight