Improve the select

[qgib]

Author Name: pinux - (pinux -)
Original Redmine Issue: 2666

Redmine category:gui
Assignee: Matthias Kuhn

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I think that one of the major function in a gis software are the select tools.In general Qgis does a good job, but there are some things that can be changed to make it better (in my opinion).
Here is a list of suggestion of things that I think would be ...:

1. Some type of select tools are missing (see the python plug-in select plus) like Select all, Select none, Invert selection (that is available in the attribute manager), Select polygon, Select by freehand, The search query builder, etc.

2. There should be a Select menu with all the select tools

3. There should be a select toolbar with all the select tools

4. The spatial query plug-in see patch Spatial Query Plugin source for evaluation #12694 could be integrated in the menu and toolbar

5. A search manager where the searches with the search query builder can be stored.

I don't know if this enhancement fits better with the the milestone 2.0 or 1.5 so be free to change it to 2.0 if you think so.

[qgib]

Author Name: Mike Taves (Mike Taves)

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The scope of this bug might need to be split into a few separate tickets, but I completely agree that the ideas in this are important enhancements. That said, I can think of three other related tickets: combo keys to add/subtract from current selection (like other graphics programs), select by circle/ellipse, and to show dimensions (if applicable) in lower-left status bar text (e.g., 20.213 m x 2.123 m).

My top request is for a Freehand select tool, e.g., draw an irregular polygon and select elements within the polygon selection. The current rectangular select tool is too simplified as a serious select tool, and I get a lot of flak regarding this tool's limitation from my peers. A new Freehand select tool can be added to a new "Select toolbox" idea proposed above (currently the select/deselect tools are part of the "Attributes" toolbox).

[qgib]

Author Name: Jhelebrant - (Jhelebrant -)

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I would also vote for selection improvement. At least "Invert selection" would be very useful as sometimes is easier to select "what you do not want to select".

PS: freehand selection is very good idea :-)

[qgib]

Author Name: Giovanni Manghi (@gioman)

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I believe all but 5) are already implemented features in qgis-dev. Please install it (under windows using osgeo4w, I can provide packages for Ubuntu 10.04) and leave further feedback.

[qgib]

Author Name: Jürgen Fischer (@jef-n)

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Replying to [comment:4 lutra]:

I believe all but 5) are already implemented features in qgis-dev. Please install it (under windows using osgeo4w, I can provide packages for Ubuntu 10.04) and leave further feedback.

No need for extra Ubuntu packages. We already provide nightly builds for Debian Lenny, Squeeze, Unstable and Ubuntu Lucid and Maverick on qgis.org (see http://qgis.org/wiki/Download).

[qgib]

Author Name: Giovanni Manghi (@gioman)

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No need for extra Ubuntu packages. We already provide nightly builds for Debian Lenny, Squeeze, Unstable and Ubuntu Lucid and Maverick on qgis.org (see http://qgis.org/wiki/Download).

oh! how I did miss that!? ;) how long have been there the NB for debian/ubuntu?

[qgib]

Author Name: Jürgen Fischer (@jef-n)

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Replying to [comment:6 lutra]:

oh! how I did miss that!? ;) how long have been there the NB for debian/ubuntu?

I suppose Aug, 15th. http://www.qgis.org/qgiswiki/index.php?title=Download&diff=2600&oldid=2593

[qgib]

Author Name: Alister Hood (@AlisterH)

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I believe all but 5) are already implemented features in qgis-dev. Please install it (under windows using osgeo4w, I can provide packages for Ubuntu 10.04) and leave further feedback.

I don't think "select all" or "invert selection" are available in the main QGIS window, either in the menu or on the toolbar. "Invert selection" is available in the attribute browser. "Select all" is not, but you can instead do "select none", then "invert selection".

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• fixed_version_id removed Version 1.7.0
• pull_request_patch_supplied was configured as 0
• assigned_to_id removed nobody

[qgib]

Author Name: Alister Hood (@AlisterH)

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And these suggestions from the first comment are still relevant:

combo keys to add/subtract from current selection (like other graphics programs), select by circle/ellipse, and to show dimensions (if applicable) in lower-left status bar text (e.g., 20.213 m x 2.123 m).

The combo keys should be the same combo keys used with the node tool.

[qgib]

Author Name: Giovanni Manghi (@gioman)

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• fixed_version_id was configured as Version 1.7.4

[qgib]

Author Name: Giovanni Manghi (@gioman)

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• fixed_version_id was changed from Version 1.7.4 to Version 2.0.0

[qgib]

Author Name: Pirmin Kalberer (Pirmin Kalberer)

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• fixed_version_id was changed from Version 2.0.0 to Future Release - Nice to have

[qgib]

Author Name: Anita Graser (@anitagraser)

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Some of the suggestions are now implemented (e.g. select by polygon or freehand) but currently there are no combo keys to add/subtract from current selection (like other graphics programs). I'm raising the priority for these, because I think these are important UX-wise when trying to select features with the mouse.

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• priority_id was changed from Low to Normal

[qgib]

Author Name: Anita Graser (@anitagraser)

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assigning to Matthias since he raised this issue in http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Key-modifiers-with-selection-tc5239653.html

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• assigned_to_id was configured as Matthias Kuhn

[qgib]

Author Name: Nyall Dawson (@nyalldawson)

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Fixed in changeset "cd9f47ae45e4b664356588e6fb6c63c0b3c43aa7".

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• status_id was changed from Open to Closed