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I'm having a problem loading the 'convert os gml to ogr' plugin in QGIS 1.8 running on (k)ubuntu 12.10.

Basically, clicking the plugin prompts the error: 

"Please ensure that the GDAL_DATA environment variable is set and try again"

I've tried setting the environment variable via instructions here: (http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/wiki/FAQInstallationAndBuilding#WhatisGDAL_DATAenvironmentvariable) with the terminal command "export GDAL_DATA=/usr/share/gdal/1.9" but to no avail (i'm not even sure this is the right course of action...) Any suggestions?

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Did you install GDAL and QGIS using the package manager? Are you sure, your GDAL installation is in default directories? – webrian Nov 24 '12 at 14:01
Thanks for your response. Well, qgis (1.8) was installed via package manager (muon) following the adding of the precise repository listed on the qgis website. I don't recall intentionally installing gdal, so i assume it installed along with other dependencies. Gdal appears to be in /usr/share/gdal/1.9, which i assume is the default directory. – Ben Nov 24 '12 at 23:30
How about the gdal python bindings? Available via the geospatial repository - launchpad.net/~ubuntugis/+archive/ubuntugis-unstable – Jay Laura Nov 26 '12 at 4:27
Thanks, but i'm already using that ppa to allow installation of qgis-1.8. checked the python bindings, and even tried downgrading from 1.9.2 to 1.9.0, but the same error message is reproduced. – Ben Nov 26 '12 at 9:27

1 Answer

up vote 3 down vote

So, solved it. Environment variables needed setting according to the KDE (rather than plain ubuntu) method. Using the instructions here (http://userbase.kde.org/Session_Environment_Variables/en) i created a script called 'gdal-qgis.sh' that contained just "export GDAL_DATA=/usr/share/gdal/1.9", and saved it to $HOME/.kde/env. Rebooted, and i can now convert. Thanks for all the suggestions.

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Is it possible to add a 'Solved' tag? – Ben Nov 26 '12 at 10:13
You should be able to accept your own answer once it gets some upvotes. – underdark♦ Jan 25 at 12:46
If you want to set the variable for all users add export GDAL_DATA=/usr/share/gdal/1.9 to a new line in your /etc/environment file. This would be a good place for it if you ever decide to switch from KDE to a different desktop. – HeyOverThere Jan 25 at 15:53

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