Feature request #16255

way to avoid loss of non-core svg folders during upgrade

Added by Steve Lowman over 7 years ago. Updated almost 7 years ago.

Status:Closed
Priority:Low
Assignee:-
Category:Build/Install
Pull Request or Patch supplied:No Resolution:wontfix
Easy fix?:No Copied to github as #:24165

Description

We use only LTR (currently 2.14), working in UK. We keep an Ordnance Survey folder of svg files for MasterMap (folder name: osmmsymbols) in the folder at C:\\Program Files\\QGIS 2.14\\apps\\qgis-ltr\\svg. Whenever we upgrade PCs, e.g. from 2.14.11 to 2.14.12, the 'osmmsymbols' is lost from the aforementioned Program Files folder. So, for every PC we upgrade, we have to always copy and paste this folder from another location.

We have almost 50 PCs using QGIS, and there are upgrades every month or two, so it causes quite a lot of extra work, which seems like it should not be necessary. Perhaps it is a problem rather specific to UK OS MasterMap users, but I guess it would apply to any users who use svg folders located within the same apps\\qgis-ltr\\svg folder.

Perhaps it could be resolved in the upgrade process by detecting svg subfolders that are not 'core', and making a temp copy to then paste into the recreated apps\\qgis-ltr\\svg folder near the end of the process.

Or, perhaps we could ask Ordnance Survey to collaborate with QGIS developers by submitting their svg folder for inclusion as a core svg folder, though they may not like this idea if they want to maintain a less-than-open copyright on those symbols.

History

#1 Updated by Giovanni Manghi over 7 years ago

  • Easy fix? set to No

#2 Updated by Regis Haubourg over 7 years ago

  • Priority changed from Normal to Low
  • Description updated (diff)

Installing local ressources in the binaries folder of a software is not a good idea.
I think it would be advisable to handle that differently, and in the same move managing all your QGIS install more easily:

- Create a shared network folder for SVG, plugins and whatever you need to have mutualised between all installed QGIS instances

- Create or reuse a shared network for Application data in windows. There are some rules to follow for APPDATA handling, and you can this way have all your QGIS user share (and save) their user profiles in the same place

- Modify .bat startup script to add -- configpath options to move QGIS profile to the APPDATA folder

- Apply a default QGIS2.ini file for new users, and maintain existing one using scripts (session startup scripts for instance) to make sure each QGIS config adds the additional SVG path (and the same is possible for plugins).

See [[http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Using-environment-variables-in-path-definitions-in-QGIS-td5212209.html]] for a complete discussion on that.

By the way, another tip would be to use the OSGEO4W installer, and make sure all your QGIS are installed in always the same folder name, like C:/OSGEO4W for instance.
Upgrading, automating sys admin tasks will be a lot easier.

#3 Updated by Nyall Dawson almost 7 years ago

  • Resolution set to wontfix
  • Status changed from Open to Closed

Closing this as a "wont-fix". I think it needs to be resolved by either:

1. Creating a custom install package which includes your svgs in the installed data

or (better)

2. Have a post-install script which auto sets up QGIS for use in your environment, including adding SVG search paths to non-install folders containing these extra SVG files.

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