Feature request #4358: Implement an item "tree" for composers - QGIS Application - QGIS Issue Tracking

Feature request #4358

Implement an item "tree" for composers

Added by Thaddeus - about 13 years ago. Updated over 10 years ago.

Status:	Closed
Priority:	Low
Assignee:	Nyall Dawson
Category:	Map Composer/Printing
Pull Request or Patch supplied:	No	Resolution:
Easy fix?:	No	Copied to github as #:	14293

Description

I was trying to hide from printing/exporting a label by sending it to back, but now I cannot figure out how to bring it back to the front because it's unselected and hiding behind a few map and image objects. Selecting objects at the front and sending them to the back until the wanted object appears is not a practical option: maybe I'm missing something ?

Inkscape_ClickOnXMLeditor.png (79 KB) Thaddeus -, 2011-10-07 08:34 AM

Inkscape_ClickOnObjec.png (79.6 KB) Thaddeus -, 2011-10-07 08:35 AM

Scribus_EnforcingUniqueObjectName.png (42.1 KB) Thaddeus -, 2011-10-07 08:35 AM

Scribus_ClickOnOutlinePalette.png (64.1 KB) Thaddeus -, 2011-10-07 08:36 AM

Scribus_ClickOnYellowTriangle.png (64.1 KB) Thaddeus -, 2011-10-07 08:36 AM

CAD_SelectCycleOn.png (5.43 KB) Thaddeus -, 2011-10-07 08:36 AM

Associated revisions

Revision aaa2fcf4
Added by Nyall Dawson about 11 years ago

[feature] CTRL-click in composer to select items below other items (fix #4358)

Revision 4506b815
Added by Nyall Dawson over 10 years ago

[FEATURE][composer] Implement an item tree panel for composer windows
(fix #4358). Allows for selection of items, hiding/showing items,
toggling lock status of items and double-clicking to edit item id.

History

#1 Updated by Giovanni Manghi about 13 years ago

Resolution set to invalid
Status changed from Open to Closed

It is a "classical" way handle objects, the one used by powerpoint/impress for example. I can't see here a bug nor a feature request. If you have a clear idea on how to improve object handling please reopen the ticket, and eventually evaluate to support the development of the feature you are requesting.

#2 Updated by Nathan Woodrow about 13 years ago

I would say one way to handle this would be to have a tree list like in Qt Designer that shows you the controls that you can pick and bring it forward or back.

#3 Updated by Giovanni Manghi about 13 years ago

Resolution deleted (~~invalid~~)
Status changed from Closed to Open
Assignee set to Marco Hugentobler
Priority changed from Normal to Low

New description: I would say one way to handle this would be to have a tree list like in Qt Designer that shows you the controls that you can pick and bring it forward or back.

#4 Updated by Thaddeus - about 13 years ago

File Inkscape_ClickOnXMLeditor.png added

A simple Listbox/Dropdown Listbox listing all the objects for selection would do: it better than editing the zValue manually as I'm doing now.

All of the following programs allow selection of the front-most only object when clicking on the main canvas, but offer options as described below.

A known CAD program uses the Ctrl key to cycle through and highlight all items below the cursor: pressing control and leftclick once and enters Cycle mode, release control and subsequent leftclicks cycle through all objects in a loop until rightclick is pressed and then the selection set is created.

Scribus has a more sophisticated object manager: the Outline Pallete. It's a floating/dockable panel or window showing a tree like structure of all objects which have unique names. Any object can be selected here and more.. Control leftclick also cycles through all objects on the cancas, just like the CAD program above.

Inkscape has a XML editor with similar capabilities as Scribus, but also allows one to edit the XML code from inside: very cool. In QGIS I open the QGS file in my Geany text editor and manually change/swap the zValue, save and reopen on QGIS. Also, Alter cycles through all objects in Inkscape.

#10 Updated by Giovanni Manghi almost 13 years ago

Target version set to Version 1.7.4

#11 Updated by Giovanni Manghi over 12 years ago

Target version changed from Version 1.7.4 to Version 2.0.0

#12 Updated by Pirmin Kalberer about 12 years ago

Target version changed from Version 2.0.0 to Future Release - Nice to have

#13 Updated by Nyall Dawson over 11 years ago

Target version changed from Future Release - Nice to have to Future Release - High Priority
Assignee changed from Marco Hugentobler to Nyall Dawson

#14 Updated by Nyall Dawson over 11 years ago

Category changed from 33 to Map Composer/Printing

#15 Updated by Nyall Dawson about 11 years ago

Subject changed from Select a Composer Object hiding behind other objects. to Implement an item "tree" for composers

QGIS master now has the ability to select items hiding below other items by ctrl-clicking items. There's also menu items and shortcuts for select next below/above.

However, I think an item tree panel would still be a great addition