[Qgis-user] new labelling method and rotation uups

[Andreas Neumann]

 Hello,

 The new labeling is often totally misunderstood (maybe because of a 
 lack of documentation and examples).

 The idea is that one is able to combine both automatic and manual label 
 placement in one layer. Manual placement needs at least columns for 
 x/y/rotation. QGIS looks if there is data in these columns, if it 
 contains data it is using these values, if it doesn't, it falls back to 
 automatic label placement. The other idea is that you often want the 
 label to be at a separate position of your point or other geometry. 
 That's why the x/y/rotation columns were introduced.

 In QGIS master (QGIS >1.8) there are a lot of label improvements, 
 including a way to "freeze" labels - meaning that QGIS writes out 
 automatic label placement settings to x/y/rotation columns. In QGIS 1.8 
 you can use the field calculator to generate initial values in 
 x/y/rotation if you want initial values in there. No need to move the 
 labels first, as Bernd suggests.

 Hope this helps a bit on how to use the new label engine. If things are 
 still unclear, please ask here.

 Andreas

 On Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:09:44 +0200, Bernd Vogelgesang wrote:
> Uupps, sorry, this was complete nonsense .. didn't read your post
> carefully enough and got it all wrong:
>
> You have to set x and y coordinate field before you can choose a
> field for  the angle.
> For that, you of course create a fields for those values.
> I'm not sure if this kind of labeling is really worth the hassle,
> cause  you can't just have the label rotated at the place where it is
> automagically set, but have to drag it in edit mode with the tool for
> moving labels.
> Then, the x and y values in the fields are filled and THEN your
> predefined  angle works.
> At least that what i figured out when plying with that.
>
> I don't know who is going to use labeling in that way on what kind of
> data, but its really time consuming in my opionion.
>
> Cheers
> Bernd
>
>> Hi Jonathan,
>
>> i experienced this behavior only, when there are no fields with real 
>> or
>> integer definition in your dataset (so only strings).
>> Verify that by creating a new number field with the field calculator 
>> and
>> populate it with the values from your designated angle field and 
>> check if
>> the option is available then.
>
>
>>  Hello,
>
>> I'd like tu use the new labelling method. Meanwhile, the rotation  
>> drop-down list which allows to select the > field containing angle 
>> stays  disabled.
>
>> Did someone experience the same problem ?
>
>> Thanks
>
>
>> Jonathan A

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 Andreas Neumann
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 8624 Grüt (Gossau ZH)
 Switzerland