Set the QGIS display to show decimal degrees?

Question

Using QGIS 2.6.1 Brighton. I am trying to set the CRS for the project to display Decimal Degrees, where it is defaulting to Feet. I can change it in the Properties Dialog, but it does not change it, it is just staying on Feet. How do I change it?

Edit: this layer was imported from a shapefile where it was internally set to Feet. I was able to get the vendor to supply one with Decimal Degrees so my problem is gone. Still would love to know if there was a way to do it myself from within QGIS.

Answer 1

Within the Project Properties > General dialogue box, you should have an option to set the Canvas Units:

However: it seems for using Decimal Degrees as your display units, your map must be projected 'on the fly' to WGS 84 / 4326:

Keeping your map in your original coordinates seems to limit the use of decimal degrees, while you can still use DMS, Degrees Minutes, etc.

Answer 2

(I am not allowed to comment that's why I am writing it here.)

I had the same problem in QGIS 3.2.3 as DonA had. The solution of DPSSpatial did not work for me at first. Only when I closed QGIS, started it again with a new project, and then set the menu to the following (which is basically the same as DPSSpatial described):

Then I loaded the data I wanted it and it worked.

Answer 3

If you load the data into QGIS, and the units are in feet, you better leave that untouched.

You can use Rightclick -> Save As ... to another filename and choose EPSG:4326 as new CRS for that. Add the new layer to the canvas, and delete the old one.

You can use Rightclick -> Set Project CRS from Layerto get the coordinates displayed in the layers units.