Upcoming in QGIS 2.14: Trace

Feb 25, 2016 | FOSS4G, QGIS

So in the QGIS class probably the one thing I’ve said more than anything has been “If they ever get a trace tool I’m done with the other stuff”. I think I was somewhat confident no one would ever make a tool. There is a trace tool plugin but I always would sit and use it and go (mouse click) and hold the (shift) and click…and dangit I need to mash (CTRL) possibly and I would end up more confused than happy. It had great documentation though – I just could never get used to using it.

Anyway I was going through the changelog (not complete) for 2.14 and found – GASP – a Trace tool. Lutra Consulting (Contributors and Supporters to the QGIS Project) rebuilt the tool I just poked at in the first paragraph and now it’s about perfect.

So when you open up QGIS 2.14 you will see a magnet:

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So what does this mean. Set your snapping options under options (on the main menu) and pick a good snapping distance for your data. For this I want my line to snap if it’s within 20 feet of the polygon boundary.  Edit your layer. Click on the Trace (magnet) and click Add Feature. In this case a road needs to follow the polygon boundary. I click where the line starts. I click where the line ends.

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Before I create a road

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Road Created with two clicks and the Trace Tool

And Polygons – Same idea. Set your snapping……click 3 times….

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Before the addition

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After the addition

So there you go – Snapping your Free and Open Source Desktop Software. Thank you Lutra Consulting for the great addition.

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