[QGIS-Developer] Copy layer vs Duplicate layer ???

[Sebastian Gutwein]

Duplicate Layer is a handy shortcut rather than copy and paste and I would
be very sad to see it go. Also you can currently only paste into a group or
the blank space at the bottom of the layers list. This is not available if
your layers panel is full. Copy/paste buttons would solve this problem and
make the action more discoverable.
Having "Copy Layer" become "Copy Layer to Clipboard" might help.
Also being next to "Duplicate Layer" could help.The un-undoable "Remove
Layer" next to "Duplicate Layer" can be problematic. The confirmation is
helpful although the "legend entry" terminology rather than layer is
confusing.
[image: image.png]

In ArcGIS Pro the section in the layer right click equivalent to "export"
is called "data" for exporting features and "sharing" for exporting data
and symbology. This might help people distinguish between the underlying
data source and a gis layer.  But in my experience this is one of the
harder concepts for people to understand.





On Thu, Jun 5, 2025 at 10:21 AM Richard Duivenvoorde via QGIS-Developer <
qgis-developer at lists.osgeo.org> wrote:

> Ok, so... historically there was only 'Duplicate'... which copied ( ;-) )
> the layer within the project.
>
> The Copy/Paste is more recent and meant to copy (layer-xml) from one
> project to another.
>
> Both, NOT changing/copying datasources (with good reason, just
> counterintuitive to beginners/humans).
>
> BUT: using Copy/Paste WITHIN one project then, seems to me(!), the same as
> Copy/Paste within one project?
>
> So, what is then the value of the 'Duplicate' item? Could this be removed?
>
> Anybody aware of functionality in Duplicate which is not in Copy/Paste ?
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard
>
>
>
> On 05-06-2025 03:27, Andrea Giudiceandrea via QGIS-Developer wrote:
> > Hi Richard and list,
> > the QGIS Desktop User Guide / Manual explains such functionalities,
> clearly stating that "The copy uses the same data source as the original."
> / "As for Duplicate, the layers are still based on the same data source."
> >
> > ****
> > "Duplicate" a layer to generate a copy where you can modify the name,
> style (symbology, labels, …), joins, … The copy uses the same data source
> as the original.
> >
> > "Copy" and "Paste" layers or groups from one project to another as a new
> instance whose properties can be modified independently. As for Duplicate,
> the layers are still based on the same data source.
> > ****
> >
> > See
> https://docs.qgis.org/3.40/en/docs/user_manual/introduction/qgis_gui.html#layer
> >
> > Regards.
> >
> > Andrea
> >
> > Il 04/06/2025 17:00, Richard Duivenvoorde via QGIS-Developer ha scritto:
> >> Hi People,
> >>
> >> A user had an issue in which she 'copied' a layer, edited it and then
> found out she edited the original data...
> > _______________________________________________
> > QGIS-Developer mailing list
> > QGIS-Developer at lists.osgeo.org
> > List info: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
>
> _______________________________________________
> QGIS-Developer mailing list
> QGIS-Developer at lists.osgeo.org
> List info: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
>


-- 
___________________________
Sebastian "Bas* " Gutwein
*rhymes with Josh

Regenerative Design Group
1 Chevalier Ave
Greenfield, Ma 01301
Web: regenerativedesigngroup.com
(631) 241-1018

*Look close, think big, make change. *
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-developer/attachments/20250605/70c6fef1/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 14077 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-developer/attachments/20250605/70c6fef1/attachment-0001.png>