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Is it possible to have dynamic labels, set by editable x y parameters in the attribute table, on a layer which also has a query applied, in QGIS?

i.e. I want to set the query and get all the peripheral data off the map canvas, then align the remaining labels with the "move label" tools in QGIS 1.8.

If I create a second shapefile just for labelling, later on when the master dataset has edits, I end up loosing the x y coords established for the labels.

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I'm not sure I understand your question fully. Why can't you label the features first and then apply the query? – underdark♦ Dec 19 '12 at 11:26
The purpose of manually aligning the lablels is to reduce the overlap. If there is no query, the overlaps occur differently to the final product (more busy). – Willy Dec 19 '12 at 20:53

1 Answer

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The simple answer is. No. Not with shapefiles.

Shapefiles can not have a query set (this is a OGR SQL query) and also be in edit mode. This is a limitation coming up from OGR into QGIS not QGIS itself forcing the lack of editing.

The answer:

Use Spatialite, or another database format. These formats support editing while a query has been set on the layer. So you can filter the layer using the Query.. button and still move your label positions using the label tools.

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Thanks Nathan, yes it is with shp – Willy Dec 21 '12 at 22:11
Hi Nathan, you should make this a wiki – Willy Dec 22 '12 at 23:41

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