[Qgis-user] entering distance and bearing for polygon or polyline

[Jake Maier]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bernd Vogelgesang [mailto:bernd.vogelgesang at gmx.de]
> Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2012 6:26 PM
> To: Jake Maier
> Subject: Re: [Qgis-user] entering distance and bearing for polygon or
> polyline
> 
> welcome to the show ;)
> 
> actually i had a similar problem a few days ago, and i can tell you, it
> was no fun.
> I didn't find any native solution.
> 
> My use case (though i do not know yours):
> I had to draw new transect lines, i knew the starting coordinate, the
> distance (50m always) and the bearing.
> In addition to that, I had to draw 2*2 m polygons, each 10 meters of
> this line, starting at 5 m.
> 
> So, there is the quite useful "improved polygon capturing" plugin which
> also handles polylines.
> With this, you can set a fixed length for the drawing of a line segment
> or polygon side.
> 
> BUT, unfortunately it won't show the current bearing while drawing, nor
> can you set it (I already humbly asked the creator to maybe add this
> feature if possible).
> 
> So, option #1 is to take a transparent triangle like you use in school,
> hold it to the screen and draw your lines (ughh).
> Option #2 is a lot of work, but more accurate:
> 
> I entered my starting coordinates (x,y), bearing (alpha) and distance
> in excel and used sin(or cos)(radians(alpha))*distance + x(or y)
> (sorry, I do mix up sin and cos all the time, so better check yourself)
> to retrieve my end coordinates.
> Then i copied the calculated coordinates in separate rows like x,y
> x1,y1
> x2,y2
> x1,y1
> x2,y2
> etc.
> 
> Then, i added an id column, to indicate which point pairs should form
> the line id,x,y
> 1,x1,y1
> 1,x2,y2
> 2,x1,y1
> 2,x2,y2
> etc.
> 
> Then, I imported this table as csv with the help of the mmqgis plugin -
> > Transfer -> Geometry Import from CSV File
> 
> Lines were done.
> 
> Polygons were designed this way:
> Transect Lines: Vector -> Geometry Tools -> Densify Geometry -> Factor
> 9 = a new vertex every 5 meters
> 
> With "Cad Tools" plugin, i created a parallel line to my transect line,
> distance 2 m.
> 
> Densify Geometry with factor 24 to get 2m-segments on this line.
> 
> Snapping options the transect layer set to segment and vertex and for
> the Cad Line to vertex.
> Starting to draw the polygon with the "improved polygon capturing" with
> 2 meters at 5m-vertex on the transect, snapping to the segment, then
> snapping to the Cad Line vertex, right click on next vertex to finish
> the polygon.
> and so on and so on and so on ...
> 
> Maybe there is an easier way for that, but i couldn't find it.
> 
> I hope sth of this may help you to find an idea for your problem.
> 
> Greetz
> Bernd

The Azimuth and Distance plugin does the trick
Thanks
Jake