[Qgis-user] Atlas generation - help please

[Nyall Dawson]

On 02/09/2014 2:47 am, "John Norton" <john at jnecology.com> wrote:
>
> The reason for asking is because I would like to be able to automate the
process of creating maps showing wildlife distributions. GIS is used widely
in the UK and other countries for storing wildlife data, but until now in
order to produce atlases we have used software such as DMAP and MapMate. To
those not familiar with wildlife mapping the simplest possible dataset
would be a number of records of one or more species, each with an X and Y
coordinate. The data can be saved as a shapefile point data layer. Each
record is therefore a feature. The data can be styled as ‘single symbol’ so
that records with the same coordinates overlie each other when viewed. To
see the distribution map for a particular species the data needs to be
displayed as ‘rule based’ and a rule set up to filter the records for each
individual species (e.g. “Species” = ‘Quercus robur’ filters out records of
Pedunculate Oak). The resulting map can then be output to a jpeg in the
usual way using Print Composer. This process is unworkable, however,
because every time a different species is viewed or output, the filter
needs to be manually changed. The only other option at present is to split
the data into separate layers, one for each species, so these can be turned
on or off as needed. This is workable for small numbers of species but not
for 1000+ species as would be required for a flowering plant atlas for
example. So is creating a species distribution atlas possible using the
atlas generation dialog in version 2, or is ‘atlas’ being used in a
completely different sense here? And if it is not possible, is anyone
working on a solution? It would be of huge benefit in the nature
conservation world if so.
>

John,

I'm 99% certain that what you are after is possible in QGIS 2.5 (the
unreleased development version of 2.6). But do you mind posting this
question over at gis.stackexchange.com with some screenshots of your data
format so I can be certain? I'll send through a step by step answer over at
stack exchange with screenshots for you.

Cheers,
Nyall
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