Are there plans for a detailed, written in a you-don't-have-to-be an-experienced-programmer kind of way book that helps explain PyQGIS and how to use it? Something most folks new to QGIS and not necessarily with a programming background (remember, never assume all GIS folks are deep into programming) could understand. Something with the big picture, loads of example, modules, functions, and classes explained? Lots of details about how to write plugins? At least 300 pages.
Python Scripting for ArcGIS by Paul A. Zanbergen is an excellent book and knows its audience well (knows not all GIS folks are also experienced programmers, the two are very separate). How about a PyQGIS book like this? All there is right now is the PyQGIS cook book which is pretty slim and I think assumes too much that everyone is a programmer. Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook by Erick Pimpler is great. So is A Python Primer for ArcGIS by Nathan Jennings. Seems like a obvious need for a good, large PyQGIS book by Packt Publishing, something about three times as thick as Anita Graser's book. Also, to a QGIS newbie, especially to someone who has enjoyed the extremely easy to understand ArcPy documentation from ESRI, the online QGIS API Documentation is incredibly confusing and not very user friendly. Looks like it is written for someone who knows C++. See http://qgis.org/api/classQgisInterface.html. What in world are Public Slots (aren't these just python functions?), virtual Qaction, virtual void, virtual bool, Signals, Public Member functions? What the heck does Constructor & Destructor Documentation mean? Member Function Documentation? [pure virtual slot]? Loads of things listed in their own box that don't really tell me anything. What's with "::?" Coworker told me it is C++ syntax. What is a .h file? .cpp file? Again, coworker who is programmer told me about these C++ type files. It all seems very messy and does not tell me what I need to know. Can something more organized, such as categorized groupings of functions and classes with a simple summary, discussion, usage syntax (that really needs to be simplified to plain English), parameter list with explanation and data type for each, then some examples? Check out the online ArcPy help page for the ExportToPDF function: http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/#/ExportToPDF/00s300000027 000000/. Everything there is explained well, tells me how to use it, what it does, lists parameters, simple types, and code examples. No Public Slots or virtual bool here, just straightforward lists of types like string, boolean, integer. See how all the ArcPy classes and functions are organized into categories like Cursors, Fields, Geometry, Listing data, Raster, etc., so a user can go straight to what they need. Can something like this be created for PyQGIS? You will get a lot more people on board with QGIS this way. David David Chrest Research GIS Analyst RTI International 3040 Cornwallis Rd, PO Box 12194 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194
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