A third (and probably better) example. Did you know that you can have more than one map object on a composer?
For example, I’ve previously made a few maps were I needed an area enlarged as an inset. So two map objects at wildly different scales, and therefore different extents. If there’s a single refresh extents button which map object would it apply to? > On 15 May 2017, at 17:52, Ramon Andinach <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Willem, > > I can give you an example of where I really, really don’t want the extent to > be updated with the refresh button. > > One of the things I use QGIS for requires making a series of maps using two > or more of a set of layers. > So I can have a composer set to a wide view to give a regional overview, and > another composer set to a narrower more local view. I can then turn on one > set of layers and generate maps at both scales with that set. After that I > can change to set B, hit refresh to check it looks right (and I didn’t forget > a layer) then have maps for set B straight up. > (I keep different QGIS projects, with a similar set of composers for each > project area I work in. Once I’ve got the map extents set, then I don’t have > to meddle with the composers too much. You sound a lot like you’re expecting > to people to recreate maps on the fly over and over again - this is really > time consuming.) > > Another reason might be that you’ve got your composer set up and you zoom > into somewhere on the map to check a detail, fix it and you want to see what > it looks like on the map - but you don’t want to zoom back out. > > I really like that the extent for each composer is fixed - unless I choose to > change it. It seems perfectly intuitive to me :) > > > > On a slight tangent, I notice that Christine did answer the question you > asked. > Did you mean to ask, “Is there a way to automate creating a map?" > or, > "Can I create a button that combines functions in the Composer window?" > instead? > In current QGIS, the composer is pretty isolated from the rest of the > program, as it’s not possible to directly make changes to composers through > scripts. This is a limitation of the libraries used in the composer. I know > there’s been a major overhaul of the Composer in the upcoming QGIS 3 release, > and I’m pretty sure this is one of the changes. > I’m sure Nyall will correct me if I’m wrong. > > Ramon. > > >> On 15 May 2017, at 16:00, Willem Coetzer <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I was amazed that QGIS doesn't have a button to simplify this critical >> function. Thank you Christine, I do appreciate the response. I found a >> script that makes a new composer and then zooms to the extent of the map >> canvas in the new composer, but the script is not ideal (dependent on >> objects that won't always be present e.g. the filename of the QGIS >> template). Ideally one should be able to create a new button on a toolbar >> and then simply associate the 'Set to Map Canvas Extent' function with the >> button. If that is not possible I guess the next best thing would be a >> python script that does the same i.e. zooms to the extent of the map in the >> active composer. >> >> I teach basic GIS skills to non-technical people and without this simple >> function it will be very hard to make any progress. Even the default >> procedure is too complex for them to remember. >> >> I strongly suggest that QGIS developers look at this. >> >> I really expected the 'Refresh' button to refresh the zoom extent as well. >> Why wouldn't a user want to refresh the zoom extent when refreshing the >> display of layers? It doesn't make sense to me. >> >> If anyone can help with that script I'd be grateful. >> >> >> >> Somerset StreetWillem Coetzer >> Grahamstown, 6139Biodiversity Information Manager >> Private Bag 1015Tel:+27 46 603 5841 >> Grahamstown, 6140Fax:+27 46 622 2403 >> South AfricaEmail:mailto:[email protected] >> http://www.saiab.ac.za/ >> Disclaimer: http://www.nrf.ac.za/email-legal-notice.php >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Qgis-user [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of >> [email protected] >> Sent: 13 May 2017 09:00 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: [Marketing Mail] Qgis-user Digest, Vol 135, Issue 17 >> >> Send Qgis-user mailing list submissions to >> [email protected] >> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >> [email protected] >> >> You can reach the person managing the list at >> [email protected] >> >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than >> "Re: Contents of Qgis-user digest..." >> >> >> Today's Topics: >> >> 1. refresh zoom extent in composer (Willem Coetzer) >> 2. Re: refresh zoom extent in composer (Christine) >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> Message: 1 >> Date: Sat, 13 May 2017 10:44:44 +0000 >> From: Willem Coetzer <[email protected]> >> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >> Subject: [Qgis-user] refresh zoom extent in composer >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" >> >> If the zoom extent in the view changes, is there a way to update the >> composer to reflect the same extent or do you need to create a new composer? >> >> Thanks >> >> >> [cid:[email protected]]<http://www.saiab.ac.za/> >> >> >> >> >> Somerset Street >> Willem Coetzer >> >> Grahamstown, 6139 Biodiversity Information Manager >> Private Bag 1015 Tel: +27 46 603 5841 >> Grahamstown, 6140 Fax: +27 46 622 2403 >> South Africa Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> >> http://www.saiab.ac.za/<http://http://www.saiab.ac.za/> >> >> >> Disclaimer:<http://www.nrf.ac.za/email-legal-notice.php> >> http://www.nrf.ac.za/email-legal-notice.php >> >> >> Please consider the environment before printing this message. >> -------------- next part -------------- >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> URL: >> <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-user/attachments/20170513/19d720de/attachment-0001.html> >> -------------- next part -------------- >> A non-text attachment was scrubbed... >> Name: image40e5f3.PNG >> Type: image/png >> Size: 33578 bytes >> Desc: image40e5f3.PNG >> URL: >> <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-user/attachments/20170513/19d720de/attachment-0001.png> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 2 >> Date: Sat, 13 May 2017 06:42:50 -0700 (MST) >> From: Christine <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [Qgis-user] refresh zoom extent in composer >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >> >> Willem Coetzer wrote >>> If the zoom extent in the view changes, is there a way to update the >>> composer to reflect the same extent or do you need to create a new >>> composer? >> >> Dear Willem, >> you don't need to create a new composer. Procedure may depend on your QGIS >> version, in elder versions the window to select an item may be missing. >> >> First select the map item in the composer view (right column). In the item >> properties tab (below) scroll to the extents section. There you can find the >> two buttons "set to map canvas extent" and "view extent in map canvas". >> >> Click the first one to transfer your map window extent coordinates (your >> "view") to your composer map extents (your "composer"). That's what you >> wanted to do as I understand it. >> >> With the second button you might do the reverse: transfer the composer map >> extent coordinates (your "composer") to your map window (your "view"). >> >> Regards, Christine >> >> >> >> >> -- >> View this message in context: >> http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/refresh-zoom-extent-in-composer-tp5320428p5320434.html >> Sent from the QGIS - User mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Subject: Digest Footer >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Qgis-user mailing list >> [email protected] >> List info: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> End of Qgis-user Digest, Vol 135, Issue 17 >> ****************************************** >> _______________________________________________ >> Qgis-user mailing list >> [email protected] >> List info: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user > > _______________________________________________ > Qgis-user mailing list > [email protected] > List info: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user > Unsubscribe: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user _______________________________________________ Qgis-user mailing list [email protected] List info: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user Unsubscribe: https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
