Bug report #5873

Vector Grid UI is inscrutable

Added by Jeff Meyer almost 12 years ago. Updated about 8 years ago.

Status:Closed
Priority:Low
Assignee:-
Category:Python plugins
Affected QGIS version:master Regression?:No
Operating System: Easy fix?:No
Pull Request or Patch supplied:No Resolution:
Crashes QGIS or corrupts data:No Copied to github as #:15334

Description

I'm not sure where to begin here - there are probably multiple tickets in this filing, but I thought I'd file a massive ticket & await further instruction.

Screencast of my experiences: http://www.screenr.com/ltl8

  1. Grid Extent Section

I have no clue how to tell what is required, what is optional, or what the extent tool uses for input in the case of conflicting entries.

For example, if I select a layer, and then click on the "Use Canvas" extent, which one is used? Or... why is the first thing I am asked to complete in this UI possibly immediately ignored?

Why is there a checkbox for a raster layer at all? Why wouldn't a vector layer and a raster layer work the same way? Also... why does it discuss "resolution" in the "extent" section?

  1. Parameters

The title here is very vague and not helpful. Perhaps "Grid Interval" is a better description?

And, if it's possible to show some knowledge of the units for the Grid interval, that would be fantastic.
The grid interval should also be set to default to something related to both the units and the grid extent. For example, the default unit is .0001, which, in a Web Mercator projection (or even WGS84 with a multi-degree extent), will bog down most machiens while trying to create an extremely fine grid.

"Lock 1:1" is not very helpful (as compared to a maintain ratio lock once a ratio has been set), as 1:1 is the easiest ratio to manually enter, while 2:3 can be a little trickier, etc.

The "Output Grid as" selection also repeats information that deemphasizes the comparison at hand: lines vs. polygons.
Perhaps it could be changed to:

"Output grid as: _ Polygon _ Lines"

History

#1 Updated by Jukka Rahkonen almost 10 years ago

I would add one more issue in Vector grid UI: Too few decimal points (4) reserved for giving the grid interval when using geographic coordinate system.
Use case: EPSG:4326 degrees should be divided into 5 minute sections which makes 12 sections per degree. In decimal degrees the interval is 0.0833333...
Vector grid lets only to give the interval as 0.0833 which makes the grid points to slide visibly away from full degree lines.

#2 Updated by Jürgen Fischer almost 10 years ago

  • Target version changed from Version 2.0.0 to Future Release - Lower Priority

#3 Updated by Alexander Bruy about 8 years ago

  • Status changed from Open to Closed

Not applicable, as fTools now replaced by Processing

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