How can I unselect a feature in Openlayers?

Question

I am able to identify the selected features on my map using the following line:

vector_layer.selectedFeatures

I would like to be able to deselect this feature using a standalone function (not an event-handler). I've tried using the functions unselect() and unselectAll() unsuccessfully and can't find any examples of this approach.

I am aware that clicking on the selected object can be used to unselect. In this case I want a programmatic solution.

Answer 1

You can unselect features with unselect and unselectAll methods of SelectFeature control:

selectControl = new OpenLayers.Control.SelectFeature(vectorLayer);
...
map.addControls([selectControl]);
selectControl.activate();

// unselect any specific feature...
selectControl.unselect(vectorLayer.features[0]);
// ...or all features
selectControl.unselectAll();

If this doesn't work, there's probably bug in your code.

Here is fiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/dHxnh/1/

Answer 2

Openlayers unselecting Objects - various methods

Use the shift key to select multiple features. Use the ctrl key to toggle selection on features one at a time. Note: the "clickout" option has no effect when "hover" is selected

http://openlayers.org/dev/examples/select-feature.html

click out to unselect features

Answer 3

thanks for the suggestions. I have seen these and tried to adapt them for my grid layer. As far as I can tell, every example for selecting features involved creating the features first. I have not (yet) seen a working example where an existing layer is loaded and the user selects features from this layer.

I am starting to think that selectFeature only works for vectors that you create on the fly. I hope this is not true or else I am in trouble. ;)