[Qgis-user] Ecological toolbox for QGIS - collecting ideas

[Rainer M Krug]

On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 10:18 AM, Matt Boyd <mattslists at gmail.com> wrote:
> I wouldn't find an ecological system very useful but....
> Would it be possible to implement custom menu items and configurations. Ie,
> someone could assemble the ecological tools in a logical way in one or more
> menu items or toolbars and share this menu via the plug installer.

If you add the possibility to add dependencies to other plugins, then
you have exactly what I suggested - with less words.

Cheers,

Rainer

>
> On 24/02/2011 7:03 PM, "Rainer M Krug" <r.m.krug at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 6:52 AM, Dr. F. Patrick Graz <fgraz at unam.na>
>> wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>> I just had a quick look at the hyperlinks that were provided by the
>>> original
>>> posting. The collections seem quite useful. Many of these are, however,
>>> already included in QGIS e.g. in the ftools or the home range manager.
>>>
>>> While an ecological toolbox would be quite a useful thing, it can also
>>> lead
>>> to some confusions / errors. For instance, using another GIS package I
>>> obtained different results from two different buffering pluggins. So
>>> which
>>> one is correct? Also remember, that ArcGIS was (apparently) originally
>>> produced because Arc/INFO (7.x) and ArcView 3.2 produced different
>>> outcomes
>>> in calculations.
>>>
>>> I would suggest as an alternative that a set of "how to's" is produced
>>> (maybe in conjunction with the qgis web-site) that shows how the
>>> different
>>> analysis tasks are carried out. This way we a) increase the utility of
>>> the
>>> exiting pluggins is enhanced and b) if there are errors in a pluggin they
>>> are more readily identified.
>>
>>
>> You are raising good points - but I think with an howto, the problem
>> is not solved for ecologists. I am an ecologist myself, so I am
>> allowed to say that most of the ecologists I know would like to have
>> one menu which gives them all routines for an analysis, without having
>> to read through an howto, install several plugins, dig into different
>> menus, ...
>>
>> But to avoid duplication, these already implemented routines should
>> definitely not be re-implemented in a new plugin.
>>
>> But: I am not familiar with the plugin structure, but is it possible
>> to create dependencies? I.e. my suggestion would then be tio have one
>> "Ecological Toolbox" plugin, which consists of analysis methods not
>> implemented already, plus is dependent (i.e. loads, installs, ...)
>> several other plugins which contain ecological analysis methods. All
>> these methods (internal and in other packages) are then all displayed
>> under one menu "Ecological toolbox".
>>
>> This would avoid duplication and bring many different ecological
>> methods in one menu.
>>
>> By the way: this approach could be used for creating other Toolboxes /
>> Metaplugins which simply install other plugins and create menues in
>> which these are grouped under one topic.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Rainer
>>
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Patrick
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------
>>> Dr. F. Patrick Graz
>>> Snr. Researcher,
>>> Multidisciplinary Research Centre,
>>> University of Namibia
>>>
>>>
>>> **************************UNAM
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>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> NEW GERMAN FAX NUMBER!!!
>>
>> Rainer M. Krug, PhD (Conservation Ecology, SUN), MSc (Conservation
>> Biology, UCT), Dipl. Phys. (Germany)
>>
>> Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology
>> Natural Sciences Building
>> Office Suite 2039
>> Stellenbosch University
>> Main Campus, Merriman Avenue
>> Stellenbosch
>> South Africa
>>
>> Cell:           +27 - (0)83 9479 042
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>>
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>



-- 
NEW GERMAN FAX NUMBER!!!

Rainer M. Krug, PhD (Conservation Ecology, SUN), MSc (Conservation
Biology, UCT), Dipl. Phys. (Germany)

Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology
Natural Sciences Building
Office Suite 2039
Stellenbosch University
Main Campus, Merriman Avenue
Stellenbosch
South Africa

Cell:           +27 - (0)83 9479 042
Fax:            +27 - (0)86 516 2782
Fax:            +49 - (0)321 2125 2244
email:          Rainer at krugs.de

Skype:          RMkrug
Google:         R.M.Krug at gmail.com