OSGeo install of QGIS on Windows leaves behind folder on desktop

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Author Name: Tom Chadwin (@tomchadwin)
Original Redmine Issue: 14463
Affected QGIS version: 2.14.0
Redmine category:build/install

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When installing QGIS via the OSGeo installer on Windows, a folder is created on the desktop, whose name starts with "http". As far as I can see this is unnecessary at best, and unwanted at worst. The folder is not removed. The folder is also created when upgrading QGIS via the OSGeo installer. If the folder is required, it should be created in a temp location, not the desktop, and it should deleted if it is no longer needed after installation.

This is part of the wider issue of unwanted desktop icons on Windows install raised at http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-developer/2016-March/041810.html

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Author Name: Anita Graser (@anitagraser)

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+1 for putting the folder in a location other than the Desktop by default but I don't think it needs to be deleted after the install.

As mentioned by m_roy on the mailing list: "the folder contains all necessary data for the installation
and is not created on the desktop but you can choose where you want it,
the installer should not be launched from the desktop but from a regular
file system folder if you like your desktop cleaner;
it is also a very useful folder because you can use it to perform
several OSGEO4W installation in other PC without having to download all
the needed stuff again and again, so not a folder to get rid of IMHO."

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• os_version was changed from 7 64-bit to all

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Author Name: Tom Chadwin (@tomchadwin)

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OK. How about naming it more usefully?

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Author Name: Jürgen Fischer (@jef-n)

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Tom Chadwin wrote:

OK. How about naming it more usefully?

It's a temporary directory is created in current directory of the installer by default. Apparently you're loading the installer onto the desktop.

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Author Name: Tom Chadwin (@tomchadwin)

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So you disagree with the above, that the folder should be kept? In that case it should be deleted, and it isn't. As I have already said, I'm not consciously installing it from anywhere. I clicked the link to it on the download site, and chose Run rather than Save, precisely in order to avoid post-install files remaining. I would appreciate it if people stopped telling me incorrectly what I did.

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Author Name: Anita Graser (@anitagraser)

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Please stop the attitude Tom. QGIS is not responsible for the default download location of your browser. The only thing that can be controlled is whether the installer puts the osgeo4w download folder in the same location as the installer.

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Author Name: Tom Chadwin (@tomchadwin)

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It's not my default download location. Perhaps please close this issue. I was only trying to help, but something's gone wrong with this ticket.

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Author Name: Anita Graser (@anitagraser)

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I think this is a valid issue which is confusing to users.

@jürgen: Could the default behavior be changed to creating an OSGeo4W folder in the user's home directory instead of using the installer location?

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Author Name: Reinhard Reiterer (Reinhard Reiterer)

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I am not sure this is related or not, but when uninstalling QGIS (OSGeo, Win7) the desktop icon isn't removed.

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Author Name: Jürgen Fischer (@jef-n)

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Tom Chadwin wrote:

So you disagree with the above, that the folder should be kept?

No, I just don't see a point in renaming it. And I explained why it's on your desktop. Nothing more, nothing less.

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Author Name: Jürgen Fischer (@jef-n)

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Anita Graser wrote:

I think this is a valid issue which is confusing to users.

@jürgen: Could the default behavior be changed to creating an OSGeo4W folder in the user's home directory instead of using the installer location?

The default is now the temporary directory ("r1296":https://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo4w/changeset/1296/trunk/setup). Also introduces a subdirectory on the desktop that contains the shortcuts (corresponding to the start menu group; still requires support in OSGeo4W packages).

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Author Name: Jürgen Fischer (@jef-n)

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Reinhard Reiterer wrote:

I am not sure this is related or not, but when uninstalling QGIS (OSGeo, Win7) the desktop icon isn't removed.

Should be fixed in c2ff2d7

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Author Name: Tom Chadwin (@tomchadwin)

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Thanks, Juergen. In time, the full solution would require an extra install stage: "Create shortcuts on desktop?" with all the icons listed. I'd suggest having QGIS checked by default and the others (grass, msys, etc) unchecked. The user then has full control.

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Author Name: Jürgen Fischer (@jef-n)

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Tom Chadwin wrote:

Thanks, Juergen. In time, the full solution would require an extra install stage: "Create shortcuts on desktop?" with all the icons listed. I'd suggest having QGIS checked by default and the others (grass, msys, etc) unchecked. The user then has full control.

I you want full control you can install using OSGeo4W.

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Author Name: Anita Graser (@anitagraser)

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Jürgen Fischer wrote:

I you want full control you can install using OSGeo4W.

At which step of the OSGeo4W installer does the user get to select which icons to put on the desktop? Can't find it.

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Author Name: Jürgen Fischer (@jef-n)

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Anita Graser wrote:

Jürgen Fischer wrote:

I you want full control you can install using OSGeo4W.

At which step of the OSGeo4W installer does the user get to select which icons to put on the desktop? Can't find it.

You don't need to install what you don't want and you can decide whether you want desktop links or not. Well, it's more control at least.

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Author Name: Giovanni Manghi (@gioman)

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• easy_fix was configured as 0
• regression was configured as 0

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Author Name: Giovanni Manghi (@gioman)

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End of life notice: QGIS 2.18 LTR

Source:
http://blog.qgis.org/2019/03/09/end-of-life-notice-qgis-2-18-ltr/

QGIS 3.4 has recently become our new Long Term Release (LTR) version. This is a major step in our history – a long term release version based on the massive updates, library upgrades and improvements that we carried out in the course of the 2.x to 3x upgrade cycle.

We strongly encourage all users who are currently using QGIS 2.18 LTR as their preferred QGIS release to migrate to QGIS 3.4. This new LTR version will receive regular bugfixes for at least one year. It also includes hundreds of new functions, usability improvements, bugfixes, and other goodies. See the relevant changelogs for a good sampling of all the new features that have gone into version 3.4

Most plugins have been either migrated or incorporated into the core QGIS code base.

We strongly discourage the continued use of QGIS 2.18 LTR as it is now officially unsupported, which means we’ll not provide any bug fix releases for it.

You should also note that we intend to close all bug tickets referring to the now obsolete LTR version. Original reporters will receive a notification of the ticket closure and are encouraged to check whether the issue persists in the new LTR, in which case they should reopen the ticket.

If you would like to better understand the QGIS release roadmap, check out our roadmap page! It outlines the schedule for upcoming releases and will help you plan your deployment of QGIS into an operational environment.

The development of QGIS 3.4 LTR has been made possible by the work of hundreds of volunteers, by the investments of companies, professionals, and administrations, and by continuous donations and financial support from many of you. We sincerely thank you all and encourage you to collaborate and support the project even more, for the long term improvement and sustainability of the QGIS project.

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• status_id was changed from Open to Closed
• resolution was changed from to end of life