[Qgis-developer] What is "Discourage other labels from covering features in this layer" option in layer properties?

[DelazJ]

hi,
I think this thread may also concern the UX list
http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/What-is-quot-Discourage-other-labels-from-covering-features-in-this-layer-quot-option-in-layer-prope-td5222293.html
Thanks

2015-09-10 16:38 GMT+02:00 DelazJ <delazj at gmail.com>:

> Hi all,
> Nyall, Thanks for the feedback and the work you've done. I read your
> article few weeks ago but didn't try the new functions till last day.
>
> I agree that layer, regardless it is labelled or not, should offer the
> option of being an obstacle of any other layer's label. I suppose you mean
> that, as far as possible, labels from another layer shouldn't "touch"
> interior or boundary of the layer's features. I can easily figure it out
> for point and polyline layer but not that easy for polygon (except for
> boundaries). You didn't write about but would you mind explaining the
> expected behaviour of "Over the feature's interior" - for polygons - in
> "minimise placing labels" options. What can be its use case?
>
> Sorry, I'm not an UI expert but what about adding a checkbox "Discourage
> other labels from covering features in this layer" in top of the old
> checkbox "Label this layer with" in Labels tab ? We then have two
> checkboxes:
> - the first one manages the relation with the labels of other layers
> - and the other one for labelling the layer as we use to (with its current
> sub-tabs).
> Then the layer can be labelled and/or "obstacled" without interference.
> What may be difficult with this schema is that it doesn't handle the
> "minimise placing labels" options, unless adding a combobox after the first
> checkbox (available for polygons).
> I think user should clearly identify whether the obstacle option is within
> the layer (in render tab) or against other layers (the top checkbox).
>
> Regards,
> DelazJ
>
>
> 2015-09-02 22:57 GMT+02:00 Nyall Dawson <nyall.dawson at gmail.com>:
>
>> On 2 September 2015 at 22:46, DelazJ <delazj at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > In QGIS master (524716f), Layer's Properties > Labels, where we use to
>> > select in a combobox the field to label, there is now a combobox with
>> > options like :
>> > - No labels;
>> > - Show labels for this layer;
>> > - Discourage other labels from covering features in this layer.
>> > I'd like to understand why this third option is there and what it does
>> > (since choosing it just deactivates labels properties - just like "No
>> > labels" option).
>> > If it's supposed to set the layer features as obstacles for other
>> layer's
>> > labels, shouldn't it be a checkbox in Labels > rendering > Obstacles?
>> > Moreover, someone may want to show labels of a layer but discourage
>> other
>> > layers to have their labels covering the features of the first layer. Is
>> > that possible with this configuration without duplicating the layer?
>>
>> There's a little more detail about the change here [1]. But basically,
>> in the past it was only possible for a layer to act as an obstacle for
>> labeling if the layer itself had labels. This isn't ideal - eg in my
>> current project I have a water bodies layer which isn't labelled, but
>> I still want to avoid labels for roads/features being placed over the
>> water features where possible.
>>
>> So this change was made so that you can now have layers act as
>> obstacles without being labelled themselves. I agree that the UI for
>> this isn't ideal, but I couldn't come up with a better approach. This
>> setting needs to be grouped with the label properties, and it's also
>> important to make it clear that if you label a layer it can still act
>> as an obstacle layer.
>>
>> I do have one followup change planned, which is to move the actual
>> widgets for configuring the obstacle behaviour (eg the obstacle
>> priority and polygon obstacle behaviour combobox) into a new
>> "obstacles" setting pane (placed under the existing
>> buffer/shadow/placement/... etc panes). Then this obstacle pane would
>> be set as the only visible pane when the mode is set to "discourage
>> other labels...", since the settings there apply also to obstacle-only
>> layers. Make sense?
>>
>> I'm not tied to this approach, and am open to a better UX for this.
>> Mockups are welcome!
>>
>> Nyall
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [1]
>> http://nyalldawson.net/2015/07/recent-labelling-improvements-in-qgis-master/
>>
>>
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Qgis-developer mailing list
>> > Qgis-developer at lists.osgeo.org
>> > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
>>
>
>
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