Hi all, I'd like to propose that in processing in QGIS 3.0 we drop the 'Select by Attribute Sum' algorithm. As you're probably aware we've been cleaning up and streamlining the preinstalled algorithms that are provided with QGIS, and I think this algorithm is a good candidate for removal.
(For clarification: this algorithm takes an input vector layer, field selection and numeric value. It requires a single selected feature is present in the input layer. It then loops through all neighbouring features and 'dissolves' them into the selected feature. As soon as the total attribute sum for all dissolved features exceeds the entered value, the algorithm is complete) My thoughts are: - The use case for this algorithm is very unclear for users - the name does not describe what the algorithm does, and there's no help documentation available for the algorithm either. Given this I suspect that the algorithm is not being put into use. - The algorithm needs enhancement to be more useful. There's no logic in place which dictates how neighbouring features are chosen to dissolve into the selected feature (it's effectively random - you're just as likely to get a huge narrow polygon stretching across a map as you are a nice compact cluster). To be more useful the algorithm would need logic to either minimise the area of the dissolved feature, or minimise the total number of dissolved features, or ... ? I think this algorithm should be moved to a processing plugin until it's matured and had these shortcomings addressed. Any thoughts? Nyall _______________________________________________ QGIS-Developer mailing list [email protected] List info: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer Unsubscribe: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
