SAGA hydrology toolbox Error: select a library

Question

I am having trouble getting the SAGA hydrology toolbox running. Here when I try to fill sinks in the DEM a series of errors are flagged in the log file. This includes for 'select a library', 'DEM' and 'input file'. Load grid also fails (see log file below).

I'm using SAGA 2.3.2 and QGIS 3.4.3

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Processing algorithm…
Algorithm 'Fill sinks' starting…
Input parameters:
{ 'DEM' : 'C:/Users/cbroderick/Downloads/srtm_35_02_ASCII/srtm_35_02.asc', 'MINSLOPE' : 0.01, 'RESULT' : 'C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/5ba9f4f078044c1bae470dfcd5f06f6e/RESULT.sdat' }

io_gdal 0 -TRANSFORM 1 -RESAMPLING 3 -GRIDS "C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/4d7bb3df467f4247aa6359cb5b93f904/srtm3502.sgrd" -FILES "C:\Users\cbroderick\Downloads\srtm_35_02_ASCII\srtm_35_02.asc"
ta_preprocessor "Fill Sinks (Planchon/Darboux, 2001)" -DEM "C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/4d7bb3df467f4247aa6359cb5b93f904/srtm3502.sgrd" -MINSLOPE 0.01 -RESULT "C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/5ba9f4f078044c1bae470dfcd5f06f6e/RESULT.sdat"

C:\WINDOWS\system32>set SAGA=C:/PROGRA~1/QGIS3~1.4/apps\saga-ltr

C:\WINDOWS\system32>set SAGA_MLB=C:/PROGRA~1/QGIS3~1.4/apps\saga-ltr\modules

C:\WINDOWS\system32>PATH=C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\apps\qgis\bin;C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\apps\Python37;C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\apps\Python37\Scripts;C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\apps\qt5\bin;C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\apps\Python27\Scripts;C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\bin;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\system32\WBem;C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\apps\Python37\lib\site-packages\pywin32_system32;C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\apps\Python37\lib\site-packages\numpy\.libs;C:/PROGRA~1/QGIS3~1.4/apps\saga-ltr;C:/PROGRA~1/QGIS3~1.4/apps\saga-ltr\modules

C:\WINDOWS\system32>saga_cmd io_gdal 0 -TRANSFORM 1 -RESAMPLING 3 -GRIDS "C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/4d7bb3df467f4247aa6359cb5b93f904/srtm3502.sgrd" -FILES "C:\Users\cbroderick\Downloads\srtm_35_02_ASCII\srtm_35_02.asc"
Error: select a library
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SAGA Version: 2.3.2 (64 bit)


68 loaded tool libraries (630 tools):
- climate_tools
- contrib_perego
- db_odbc
- db_pgsql
- docs_html
- garden_3d_viewer
- garden_fractals
- garden_games
- garden_learn_to_program
- garden_webservices
- grid_analysis
- grid_calculus
- grid_calculus_bsl
- grid_filter
- grid_gridding
- grid_spline
- grid_tools
- grid_visualisation
- imagery_classification
- imagery_isocluster
- imagery_maxent
- imagery_photogrammetry
- imagery_segmentation
- imagery_svm
- imagery_tools
- io_esri_e00
- io_gps
- io_grid
- io_grid_image
- io_shapes
- io_shapes_dxf
- io_table
- io_virtual
- pj_georeference
- pj_geotrans
- pj_proj4
- pointcloud_tools
- pointcloud_viewer
- shapes_grid
- shapes_lines
- shapes_points
- shapes_polygons
- shapes_tools
- shapes_transect
- sim_cellular_automata
- sim_ecosystems_hugget
- sim_erosion
- sim_fire_spreading
- sim_hydrology
- sim_ihacres
- sim_qm_of_esp
- sim_rivflow
- statistics_grid
- statistics_kriging
- statistics_points
- statistics_regression
- ta_channels
- ta_compound
- ta_hydrology
- ta_lighting
- ta_morphometry
- ta_preprocessor
- ta_profiles
- ta_slope_stability
- table_calculus
- table_tools
- tin_tools
- tin_viewer

type -h or --help for further information


C:\WINDOWS\system32>saga_cmd ta_preprocessor "Fill Sinks (Planchon/Darboux, 2001)" -DEM "C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/4d7bb3df467f4247aa6359cb5b93f904/srtm3502.sgrd" -MINSLOPE 0.01 -RESULT "C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/5ba9f4f078044c1bae470dfcd5f06f6e/RESULT.sdat"
Error: input file [C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/4d7bb3df467f4247aa6359cb5b93f904/srtm3502.sgrd]
Error: DEM
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SAGA Version: 2.3.2 (64 bit)

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library path: C:\PROGRA~1\QGIS3~1.4\apps\saga-ltr\modules\
library name: ta_preprocessor
library : Preprocessing
tool : Fill Sinks (Planchon/Darboux, 2001)
author : Copyrights (c) 2003 by Volker Wichmann
processors : 4 [4]
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Load grid: C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/4d7bb3df467f4247aa6359cb5b93f904/srtm3502.sgrd...
failed

Usage: saga_cmd ta_preprocessor 3 [-DEM <str>] [-RESULT <str>] [-MINSLOPE <double>]
-DEM:<str> DEM
Grid (input)
-RESULT:<str> Filled DEM
Grid (output)
-MINSLOPE:<double> Minimum Slope [Degree]
Floating point
Minimum: 0.000000
Default: 0.010000

C:\WINDOWS\system32>exit
Execution completed in 13.51 seconds
Results:
{'RESULT': 'C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/5ba9f4f078044c1bae470dfcd5f06f6e/RESULT.sdat'}

Loading resulting layers
The following layers were not correctly generated.<ul><li>C:/Users/cbroderick/AppData/Local/Temp/processing_f1fe9d24ac6c4b08972f8ddd5f612ef7/5ba9f4f078044c1bae470dfcd5f06f6e/RESULT.sdat</li></ul>You can check the 'Log Messages Panel' in QGIS main window to find more information about the execution of the algorithm.

Answer 1

The version of the saga-ltr package compiled in the stand-alone installer of QGIS 3.4.3 has that bug. It can't read the io_gdal library.

This specific bug was already fixed in version 2.3.2-4 of that package.

Also you will have some other important issues in that version. Many of that already fixed too.

I do not know how to update the package in the stand-alone version.

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I recommend you perform a complete uninstall (this includes removing registry keys and the C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roamming (and Local)\QGIS 3.4 folders after uninstalling), and using the OSGeo4W Network installer instead.

When a new version of a package comes out, it may be possible that it has some issue, errors that are reported and corrected in the following days, but that the stand-alone installer does not allow or becomes quite complicated to repair.

With the Network installer you can perform a basic installation first, of QGIS, GRASS and SAGA, and then periodically run the Setup tool in advanced mode to keep all the packages updated. The same as installing or uninstalling specific packages quite easily.

It is true that one sometimes finds a problem that is difficult to solve, and would rather have kept QGIS 3.2 working somewhere, for example. It is the disadvantage of staying updated. Also take my advice as what it is, and decide whether to take it or let it go.