PickLayer

Set layer properties and options straight from map canvas. Activate layer by clicking features on map.

Originally created and maintained by enricofer in https://github.com/enricofer/pickLayer.

Usage from other plugins

It is possible to control SetActiveLayerTool programmatically using public methods defined in Plugin-class.

from qgis.core import QgsPointXY
from qgis.utils import plugins

some_point = QgsPointXY(123, 456)

# Activates layer if features are found near given point
plugins["pickLayer"].set_active_layer_using_closest_feature(point_xy=some_point)

# Activates layer with custom search radius (in map units)
plugins["pickLayer"].set_active_layer_using_closest_feature(point_xy=some_point, search_radius=100)

# Activates layer using subset of layers (expects layer ids)
plugins["pickLayer"].set_active_layer_using_closest_feature(point_xy=some_point, search_layers=["layer-1", "layer-2"])

# Set search layers for set active layer map tool (expects layer ids)
plugins["pickLayer"].set_search_layers_for_set_active_layer_tool_action(search_layers=["layer-1", "layer-2"])

# Reset search layers for set active layer map tool (will use all vector layers in project)
plugins["pickLayer"].set_search_layers_for_set_active_layer_tool_action(search_layers=None)

# Get action for e.g. defining shortcut key programmatically
action = plugins["pickLayer"].get_set_active_layer_tool_action()
# action.do_something()

Development

Refer to development for developing this QGIS3 plugin.

License

This plugin is licenced with GNU General Public License, version 3. See LICENSE for more information.

CHANGELOG

3.10.1 - 2026-03-25

• Fix release pipeline

3.10.0 - 2026-03-25

• Add qt6 and QGIS 4 support

3.9.13 - 2025-01-02

• Chore: Update tooltip for pick layer action

3.9.12 - 2024-01-26

• Upgrade qgis_plugin_tools to version that supports subplugins

3.9.11 - 2023-11-03

• Release plugin to pypi as well for easier access for other plugins

3.9.10 - 2023-11-02

• Fix defining layers to search from for set active layer tool

3.9.9 - 2023-11-01

• Find most logical closest feature from nested features with set active layer tool
• Add qgis-plugin-dev-tools entry point to aid development with other plugins

3.9.8 - 2023-09-12

• Fix: Include .qm translation files to the zip generated by release workflow action

3.9.7 - 2023-09-06

• update author email

3.9.6 - 2023-06-16

• fix plugin versioning

3.9.5 - 2023-06-16

• fix layer order in set active layer tool

3.9.4 - 2023-02-08

• fix plugin packaging

3.9.3 - 2023-02-08

• update requirements to match qgis-plugin-dev-tools version

3.9.2 - 2023-02-08

• update qgis-plugin-dev-tools version in order to produce valid zip plugin

3.9.1 - 2023-02-07

• fix release workflow and create separate workflows for running tests and creating draft releases
• set development.md up-to-date

3.9.0 - 2023-01-27

• update icons (in order to increase distinguishability)
• remove qgis plugin tools git submodule and use it as python dependency
• update python dependencies

3.8.0 - 2022-12-14

• update icons
• add pre-commit hooks for markdown files' style checks and for checking that commit messages follow convention
• allow user to click on raster file without python error being launched

3.7.0 - 2022-09-27

• add possibility to define layers to search from for set active layer tool

3.6.0 - 2022-09-17

• add default shortcut for pick active layer action

3.5.0 - 2022-07-19

• add finnish translations

3.4.0 - 2022-06-29

• pick active by clicking now considers distance between same type of layers
• automatically return to previous map tool after successfull use of set active layer tool

3.3.0 - 2022-04-04

• adds a new tool to set active layer by clicking features on map
• if multiple layers are found, active layer is chosen in this order: point layer, line layer, polygon layer, other map layers

3.2.0 - 2021-06-29

• perform spatial operation on selected feature
• fix bugs: custom actions, copying features
• reformat using black, isort and flake8
• refactor to use qgis_plugin_tools
• add CI and CD pipelines

3.1.0 - 2018-07-05

• subtract geometry new feature
• merge with geometry new feature
• makeValid geometry new feature
• feature highlighting

3.0.0 - 2018-03-30

• code migration to QGIS3

2.3.0 - 2016-06-20

• attributes values in context submenu - with copy to clipboard of content
• configure snapping options issue fixed
• coords typo issue fixed

2.2.0 - 2015-06-12

• issue picking on line feature fixed

2.1.0 - 2015-05-15

• selected layer and feature infos
• copy area and length to clipboard
• change datasource issues fixed

2.0.0 - 2014-11-03

• layer commands added:
  • zoom to layer
  • change data source (experimental)
• feature commands added:
  • zoom to feature
  • copy feature and paste geometries and attributes
• other commands:
  • layer actions attached to context menu