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I make a new column in my attribute table and it has a default value (for example 0). I want to (probably using the Field Calculator) have the result that row 1 has the value 1, row 2=2 and so on, just like a numbered index.

I'd be thankful for a code example for the field calculator (including the use of $rownum (I think I need this for switching to the line)).

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4 Answers 4

Reset to default
82

Just put $rownum (QGIS 2) or @row_number (QGIS 3+) as the expression. Simple as that. :)

An up-to-date list of all the field calculator functions can be read in the official docs.

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    I followed your approach, however for no apparent reason, the numbers change at one point. It perfectly worked from row 1 to row 129, and after it shifted to 789... is there a way to solve this?
    – Tim56
    Jan 10, 2019 at 14:21
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    Make sure you don't have a display filter active, as there's no reason for it to jump.
    – lynxlynxlynx
    Jan 10, 2019 at 15:08
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@ArMoraer has developped an interesting plugin to be able to control the way this automatic numbering is made, it's named "Sort and Number". You can use it to fill a column with unique numbers by taking into account 3 other fields to sort your data like you want before numbering.

See the source topic : Is there a way to assign row number for sorted table by column in QGIS?

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11

If you are using QGIS 3 you must used @row_number

enter image description here

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  • How your answer is different to gis.stackexchange.com/a/27741/99589 ?
    – Taras
    Apr 26, 2021 at 11:38
  • There is no difference in the answer (it only includes an illustrative image), when I posted my answer the previous one had not yet been updated. If you recommend it, I can delete this answer.
    – Leo Cardona
    Apr 26, 2021 at 17:13
  • I have a question. What do you do when you add new values to the table? Does row numbers change or do they continue the sequence? As numbers that I gave need to stay as they are and just continue the sequence.
    – Jost Hobic
    Jan 19, 2022 at 11:47
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For me the best and easiest way is just $id, this will return a id number to each row indexing it from 0.

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    It returns each feature ID, but the sequence does not necessarily starts at 0 and may have missing values. It is the case after having deleted an existing feature (i.e. start with a layer having 3 features, delete #2, call to $id will return 0 and 2.)
    – JGH
    Aug 22, 2019 at 1:55
  • You are right, if there are missing values, then there will be a problem with the real indexing number. However, I guess that call the $id, after deleting rows should corroborate @row_number. If I correctly understood your affirmation.
    – Vlad
    Aug 23, 2019 at 18:52
  • nope, it will leave holes
    – JGH
    Aug 24, 2019 at 0:58

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