Clipping polygons (vector) map with polygon (vector) layer

Question

In QGIS 1.8 Lisboa version in Windows 7 I want to clip a soil map (multiple polygon vectors) with a single polygon (rectangular polygon vector). The project projection is set at NAD27 UTM 12N. The soil map is Lambert Conformal Conic NAD83 and the clipping rectangular polygon is NAD27 UTM 12N.

In the project setting I have checked the box "Allow on the fly transformation. The operation: Vector > Geoprocessing Tools > Clip
input vector file (the soils)
clip layer (the rectangle)
output shalefile (new name)

Results: The layers section lists my new file BUT the file does not display and when I click on the file listed and look at the attribute table the FIELDS from the soil map are shown but there are no records in the table.

1. What am I doing wrong?
2. What coordinates will the new map be in? That of the soil map or that of the clipping layer?

Answer 1

I believe the answer is that your clipping polygon needs to be in the same projection as the data you are clipping it with. When geoprocessing, especially for accurate results, it's best to make sure all of your data is in the same projection.

Answer 2

I too went through a lot of frustration getting the QGIS clipping polygon process working. Most of the problem was CRS related I'm sure. For what it is worth, the following well-tested detailed steps might help a novice like myself, even if overkill to the more advanced QGISers. I'm using QGIS 2.14 Essen.

1. Run QGIS and load the layer to be clipped – let’s say it is called STATE_ROADS.shp
2. With that layer highlighted in the Layer panel, at bottom right corner click on the ESPG button and set the desired CRS. (If you have to change it, it seems that the Enable ‘on the fly’ CRS transformation box has to be checked)
3. Create the clipping polygon layer as follows
   A. Layer menu
   B. Create Layer
   C. New Shapefile Layer
   D. Select Polygon (radio button)
   E. Set CRS of the clipping layer the same as that set for the layer to be clipped. Ignore the other boxes.
   F. OK
   G. Save as ESRI shapefile – let’s call it Ballarat_Clip.shp
   H. The clipping layer Ballarat_Clip will now be in the Layer Panel
4. Highlight the Ballarat_Clip layer
5. Toggle Edit ON
6. Edit menu
7. Add Feature
8. Draw the clipping polygon by Left Mouse Clicks on the layer to be clipped, Right Click when done
9. Enter an ID where prompted (say 1)
10. Toggle Edit OFF
11. Save changes to Ballarat_Clip
12. Vector menu
13. Geoprocessing Tools
14. Clip
15. Fill the boxes as prompted – Input layer is STATE_ROADS, Clip layer is Ballarat_Clip, let’s call Output shapefile BALLARAT_ROADS
16. Save
17. OK
18. Close
19. Turn off the Ballarat_Clip and STATE_ROADS layers and BALLARAT_ROADS are visible.

Answer 3

You need to reproject your data to be in the same CRS before performing this operation.

Try reprojecting your data in the same CRS then try again.

Answer 4

As commented above the bug is in the script performing the clip not verifying uniformity of projection. To reproject via tha GUI try the following:

1. Set the on-the-fly reprojection to either 1 of the 2 projections
2. Right click on the layer and select save as and select the same projection as the other layer.
3. Save the new file and progress with the clip.