[Qgis-developer] How to enable labeling tools to move labels (since last merge of Larry's work)

[HAUBOURG]

Hi Larry,
Thanks for the explanations.
I do understand very well that expressions won't work with  label manual tools. I now understand that I didn't find the field list because it is below expression item, and I went to fast. See [0]. Putting expression item to the bottom of list, and renaming the entries as follow should be better IMHO, since expression is more advanced:
"Field types : String, Int, Double"  -> "choose Field ( enable map tools)"
"Edit expression" ->" Calculate value with expression (disable map tool)"
Does that sound good?

[0] https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/72368800/label_dialog.png
All the best
Régis

De : larry at shafferinteractive.com [mailto:larry at shafferinteractive.com] De la part de Larry Shaffer
Envoyé : vendredi 24 mai 2013 17:34
À : HAUBOURG
Cc : QGIS Developer List
Objet : Re: [Qgis-developer] How to enable labeling tools to move labels (since last merge of Larry's work)

Hi Régis,

On Fri, May 24, 2013 at 5:04 AM, Régis Haubourg <regis.haubourg at eau-adour-garonne.fr<mailto:regis.haubourg at eau-adour-garonne.fr>> wrote:
Hi all,
Larry, first, congratulations for the great labeling refactoring, this is
huge!

I couldn't find a way to enable the move / rotate tools in toolbar, in edit
mode, after having defined fields for X and Y in expression. Tools that
opens a dialog to modify font, text.. is working, but I couldn't change Y X
values in it.
Is this an issue or a I missing something?

There is a short description about this below those settings:
"( Define attribute fields to enable labeling map tools )"
It means that only an attribute field mapping data definition can be used to enable the labeling map tools (e.g. Move, Rotate, Change Properties). An expression does not work. Since those tools directly edit the attribute table, access to the field needs to be established, i.e. a data defined mapped attribute field.
While it is possible to find out what attribute fields (aka columns) are referenced within an expression, there is no simple means of determining any one of those fields are intended to be open for writing new values. It is possible when there is only one field in the expression, and no other parts to the expression, to use it directly, but then why not just map a field?
There are use cases for allowing expressions for all of those settings (X, Y, Alignments, Rotation), so limiting those data definitions to only allowing attribute field mappings would not be a good idea.

It looks like the 1 line help description, noted above, needs more work. Maybe invert the logic?:
"(Defining expressions will disable labeling map tools)"

Also, a good and concise contextual help needs drafted to explain new labeling options and how they work. Then, expanded upon for inclusion in general documentation.

Regards,
Larry


régis




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