[udig-devel] Re: [udig-users] PostGIS: Multiple geometry columns on one

[Jody Garnett <jody.garnett@xxxxxxxxx>]

Just keeping this discussion on the list -

On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 11:14 AM, James DeMichele
<James.DeMichele@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Wow, thanks for making me feel so welcome!

No worries.

> I have also used OpenJUMP before stumbling the best visual GIS
> application ever (uDig). In OpenJUMP, it actually *requires* you to
> select which column you want to display on your Layer.

I used JUMP a fair bit; have not migrated to OpenJUMP yet (I am not
sure if the plugins I like are available yet).

> Personally, I think this works ok, in that it does give me the ability to choose which
> column I want. However, I think uDig could do something ever more user
> friendly. You could leave the current application as it is now, but add
> an option (i.e. something similar to the combobox you mentioned) when
> you right click a layer, and allow the user to switch to a different
> geometry column on that table.

The right click menu is in danger of getting "full" - as such I like
the idea of leaving this as a styling option (since we are controlling
how a feature is shown here - postgis is just giving us two different
options for geometry to use - it is still the same feature).

One of the reasons this has not been an issue yet - is I lacked a user
with talented data. What is the data set you are working with here
that has two geometries?

> (I just got your other email in regards to the "JIRA issue
> http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/UDIG-1188";. Unfortunately, if the code
> sprint is this weekend, I won't be available for that, but let me at
> least try the Style Editor fix to change the XML, and I'll let you know
> how that goes. What's the best resource on the site to point me at for
> editing the Advanced style?

Heh - the application help menu of course :-) Here it is in online wiki form:
- http://udig.refractions.net/confluence/display/EN/Style+Editor+Dialog

If you navigate in a few levels you will find your feature styling
options documented:
- http://udig.refractions.net/confluence/display/EN/Feature+Style+Pages

I am afraid from there we are into reading about "Style Layer
Descriptor" format - ie the XML that is displayed.

You will need to update the type referred to in the Rules for example.

> Thanks again, and I'll be in touch!
>
> -James DeMichele

Jody

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jody Garnett [mailto:jody.garnett@xxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 5:03 PM
> To: James DeMichele
> Subject: Re: [udig-users] PostGIS: Multiple geometry columns on one
> table
>
> You are correct - and we have been waiting to talk to someone like you.
>
> First of all the good news:
> - you can place your postgis layer on the the map; and go into the
> style editor and change the XML to refer to your second attribute.
> Please let me know if you have any questions about how to do this; I
> would like to make a wiki page based on your successful experience.
>
> And then (the from my standpoint) even better news:
> - We have been unsure how to approach the issue of multiple geometry
> columns from a user interface point of view; and decided to put off
> this discussion until we had a real live user (ie you) with a data
> source that we could talk to
> - One idea is to list the different options when you add a layer (I
> think you may be able to see this functionality on uDig 1.2 trunk
> right now - but you would need to confirm since I do not have postgis
> set up the way you do).
> - Another idea is to add a combo box to the Style Editor allowing
> people to switch which geometry is display (or just select "default").
>
> There are other stranger ideas; like making layers into folders so you
> can turn on and off each geometry; with a similar idea for
> representing categories in a theme - these ideas are more built around
> representing a "Legend View" rather then our current "Layer View".
>
> In anycase it is good to meet you; and we are prepaired to steered by
> your requirements in this matter.
>
> Jody
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 9:55 AM, demichej <james.demichele@xxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have been having a lot of success with uDig, but have hit an issue
> where
>> my Postgres table has 2 geometry columns.
>>
>> I can't seem to figure out how to show one shape column on the map
> versus
>> the other column. Is there a way to choose which column i want to use
> with
>> Postgis?
>>
>> It looks like it is just showing me the first geometry column in the
> table,
>> and doesn't even give me an option for the other one.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> --
>> View this message in context:
> http://n2.nabble.com/PostGIS%3A-Multiple-geometry-columns-on-one-table-t
> p2464322p2464322.html
>> Sent from the udig-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
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>
>