Spatial Manager Desktop™ - FAQs: Layer management

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Introduction

  • Objective of this section
    • To handle new or existing layers and to manage layer storage. To review application automation systems and to try to locate sources not found for map layers
  • Topics in this section
    • Making of layers: new layer from a features selection and editing the structure of the data table
    • Adding features to layers: over new layers
    • Exporting new layers: definition of the target and its parameters
    • Saving modified layers: manually or by closing maps or the application
    • Automating source locations: changing data source locations of a map
    • Data sources properties: differential icons and properties


Which are the types of Layers I can find in a Map of Spatial Manager Desktop™?

In a Map of Spatial Manager Desktop™ you can find these types of Layer

  • Grouped by its source (you can view this property in the "Properties" panel when you select a Layer)
    • 2External Layer2: when it is a Layer loaded from a external source (a table from a file, data server, data store, etc.)
    • "Embedded in the Map": when the Layer contents it is located inside the Map (SPM) file. You may note that this type of Layer is italicized in the list of the ribbon "Layers"
  • Grouped by its saving status (you can view this property in the "Properties" panel when you select a Layer)
    • "Saved": when the Layer contents it is currently saved
      • For "External Layers" that means that the Layer contents it is the same that the contents in the external data source
      • For "Embedded in the Map" Layers that means that the Layer contents it is the same that the contents in the Map (SPM) file
    • "Not saved". You may note that, for this type of Layer, the Layer name is preceded by an asterisk in the list of the ribbon "Layers"
      • For "External Layers" that means that the Layer contents has been modified and it is not the same that the contents in the external data source
      • For "Embedded in the Map" Layers that means that the Layer contents has been modified it is the same that the contents in the Map (SPM) file
  • Grouped by its editing status
    • "Not editable": when the Layer is an "External Layer" and its data source it is a read-only data source
    • "Editable": all the other Layers
  • "New" Layer: when it is a Layer created in the Map, always by copying Features from other Layers, and the Map has not been saved after it is created


How can I change the type or the status of a Layer in Spatial Manager Desktop™?

There are several ways to change the type or the status of a Layer in Spatial Manager Desktop™

  • To convert an 'External Layer' to an 'Embedded in the Map' Layer: you can use the 'Disconnect' function to disconnect one Layer or the 'Disconnect all' function to disconnect all the Layers in a Map. You can not undo this operations so you should avoid saving the original Map. It is recommended to save the modified Map using another name or into another location
  • To convert an 'Embedded in the Map' Layer to an 'External Layer': there is not a direct way to do it but you can 'Export' the Features of the Layer to a external table (choosing the best Provider for you), loading this table in the Map and then deleting the original Layer


How can I edit a Layer, or Features in a Layer, in Spatial Manager Desktop™?

You can edit Features or Layers in Spatial Manager Desktop™ as follow:

  • In 'editable' Layers
    • You can 'Delete' selected Features
    • You can modify values in any field, directly or using:
      • 'Find and replace' function, to find and replace values in the Data grid for a Layer
      • 'Multiple Edition' function, to modify the value for a Field only for a Layer. This function may be applied to all Features in the Layer or only to selected Features (if any)
  • In 'new' Layers
    • All the above (because a 'new' Layer is an 'editable' Layer also), and
    • You can 'Delete' or 'Rename' Fields
    • You can add a copy of the selected Features (if any) to the Layer
  • In 'not editable' Layers
    • There is no way to edit a 'not editable Layer' or his Features. You can 'Disconnect' a 'not editable' Layer from his read-only source, or you can select all Features in the Layer and 'Make' a new Layer including a copy of the selected objects


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