# Changelog for QGIS 2.0.0

## General

### Feature: Quantum GIS is now known only as 'QGIS'

The 'Quantum' in 'Quantum GIS' never had any particular significance and
the duality of referring to our project as both `Quantum GIS` and `QGIS`
caused some confusion. We are streamlining our project and as part of
that process we are officially dropping the use of the word `Quantum` -
henceforth we will be known only as `QGIS` (spelled with all letters in
upper case). We will be updating all our code and publicity material to
reflect this.

<img src="images/qgis.png" class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## User Interface

### Feature: Soft notifications

In many cases we want to tell you something, but we don't want to stop
your work or get in your way. With the new notification system QGIS can
let you know about important information via a yellow message bar that
appears at the top of the map canvas but doesn't force you to deal with
it if you are busy doing something else. Programmers can create these
notification (e.g. from a plugin) too using our python API.

<img src="images/Selection_030.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: New icon theme

We have updated out icon theme to use the 'GIS' theme which introduces
an improved level of consistency and professionalism to the QGIS user
interface.

<img src="images/Selection_001_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: SVG Annotations

With QGIS 2.0 you can now add SVG annotations to your map - either
pinned to a specific place or in a relative position over the map
canvas.

<img src="images/Screen_Shot_2013-09-14_at_9.39.11_AM.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Application custom font and Qt stylesheet

The system font used for the application's user interface can now be
set. Any C++ or Python plugin that is a child of the QGIS GUI
application or has copied/applied the application's GUI stylesheet can
inherit its styling, which is useful for GUI fixes across platforms and
when using custom QGIS Qt widgets, like `QgsCollapsibleGroupBox`.  
The generated QGIS GUI application stylesheet for the current platform
can be accessed after launching with (in PyQGIS):

    qgis.utils.iface.mainWindow().styleSheet()

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_app-font.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Drag and drop form builder

QGIS 2.0 sports a great new system for creating data entry forms. With
the drag and drop form designer you can create smart looking forms with
tabs to group common fields together. Now it is much easier to control
the data entry experience for your users.

<img src="images/Screen_Shot_2013-09-14_at_2.17.27_PM.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Live color chooser dialogs and buttons

Every color chooser button throughout the interface has been updated to
give visual feedback on whether the current color has a transparent, or
'alpha,' component. The color chooser opened by the new color buttons
will now always be the default for the operating system. If the user has
`Use live-updating color chooser dialogs` checked under
`Options -> General -> Application`, any change in the color chooser
will immediately be shown in the color button and for any item currently
being edited, where applicable.

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_live-color-dlgs.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Side tabs, collapsable groups

We have standardised the layout of tabs and introduced collapsible group
boxes into many of our dialogs to make navigating the various options
more easy, and to make better use of screen real estate.

<img src="images/Selection_005.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Default action tool

If you are a user of vector layer actions (small tasks that can run when
you click on a feature), you will love the new action tool on the
toolbar. With it you can select an active action and then click on your
features to invoke that action.

<img src="images/Screen_Shot_2013-09-14_at_2.27.03_PM.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Symbology

### Feature: Colour ramp support

Colour ramps are now available in many places in QGIS symbology settings
and QGIS ships with a rich, extensible set of colour ramps. You can also
design your own and many
[cpt-city](http://soliton.vm.bytemark.co.uk/pub/cpt-city/) themes are
included in QGIS now 'out of the box'. Color ramps even have full
support for transparency!

<img src="images/Selection_038.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Set custom default styles for all layer types

Now QGIS lets you control how new layers will be drawn when they do not
have an existing `.qml` style defined. You can also set the default
transparency level for new layers and whether symbols should have random
colours assigned to them.

<img src="images/Screen_Shot_2013-09-12_at_11.18.52_PM.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Support for transparency in colour definitions

In most places where you select colours, QGIS now allows you to specify
the alpha channel (which determins how transparent the colour should
be). This allows you to create great looking maps and to hide data
easily that you don't want users to see.

<img src="images/Layer_Properties_-_nat_026_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Color Control for Raster Layers

QGIS 2.0 allows you to precisely control exactly how you'd like raster
layers to appear. You now have complete control over the brightness,
contrast and saturation of raster layers. There's even options to allow
display of rasters in grayscale or by colorising with a specified color.

<img src="images/Layer_Properties_-_blue_marble_032.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Save styles in your database

If you are using a database vector data store, you can now store the
layer style definitions directly in the database. This makes it easy to
share styled layers in an enterprise or multi-user environment.

<img src="images/Selection_037.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Copy symbology between layers

Its now super easy to copy symbology from one layer to another layer. If
you are working with several similar layer, you can simply `right-click`
on one layer, choose `Copy Style` from the context menu and then
`right-click` on another layer and choose `Paste-Style`.

<img src="images/Selection_034.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Improved symbol layer management

The new symbol layer overview uses a clear, tree-structured layout which
allows for easy and fast access to all symbol layers.

<img src="images/symbollayertree.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Data defined properties

With the new data defined properties, it is possible to control symbol
type, size, color, rotation, and many other properties through feature
attributes.

<img src="images/datadefinedproperties2.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Labelling

### Feature: New labelling system

The labelling system has been totally overhauled - it now includes many
new features such as drop shadows, 'highway shields', many more data
bound options, and various performance enhancements. We are slowly doing
away with the 'old labels' system, although you will still find that
functionality available for this release, you should expect that it will
disappear in a follow up release.

<img src="images/Layer_labeling_settings_003_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Expression based label properties

The full power of normal label and rule expressions can now be used for
label properties. Nearly every property can be defined with an
expression or field value giving you more control over the label result.
Expressions can refer to a field (e.g. set the font size to the value of
the field 'font') or can include more complex logic.  
Examples of bindable properties include:

- Font
- Size
- Style
- Buffer size

<img src="images/2013-09-05_09_44_59-qgis-dev-bin.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Older labelling engine deprecated

Use of the older labelling engine available in QGIS \<= 1.8 is now
discouraged (i.e. deprecated), but has not been removed. This is to
allow users to migrate existing projects from the old to new labelling
engine.  
The following guidelines for working with the older engine in QGIS 2.0
apply:

- Deprecated labelling tab is removed from vector layer properties
  dialog for new projects or older opened projects that don't use that
  labelling engine.
- Deprecated tab remains active for older opened projects, if any layer
  uses them, and does not go away even if saving the project with no
  layers having the older labelling engine enabled.

Deprecated labelling tab can be enabled/disabled for the current
project, via Python console commands, e.g.:

    >>> QgsProject.instance().writeEntry('DeprecatedLabels', '/Enabled', True | False)
    # or
    >>> QgsProject.instance().removeEntry('DeprecatedLabels', '/')

**NOTE**: There is a *very high likelihood* the deprecated labelling
engine will be completely removed prior to the next stable release of
QGIS. Please migrate older projects.

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_labels-deprecated.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Print Layouts

### Feature: Updates to map composer management

The following improvements have been made to map composer management:

- Composer name can now be defined upon creation, optionally choosing to
  start from other composer names
- Composers can now be duplicated
- `New from Template` and from `Specific` (in Composer Manager) creates
  a composer from a template located anywhere on the filesystem
- Parent project can now be saved directly from the composer work space
- All composer management actions now accessible directly from the
  composer work space

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_composer-mngmnt.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: HTML Map Items

You can now place html elements onto your map.

<img src="images/Composer_1_006.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Manual Snap Lines

Sometimes you need to align objects a curtain distance on the composer.
With the new manual snapping lines you are able to add manual snap lines
which allow for better align objects using a common alignment. Simply
drag from the top or side ruler to add new guide line.

<img src="images/2013-09-05_10_09_41-Composer_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Multipage support

A single composer window can now contain more then one page.

<img src="images/2013-09-08_22_31_33-Composer_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Auto snap lines

Having nicely align map items is critical to making nice printed maps.
Auto snapping lines have been added to allow for easy composer object
alignment by simply dragging an object close to another.

<img src="images/2013-09-05_10_05_01-Composer_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Layer blending

Layer blending makes it possible to combine layers in new and exciting
ways. While in older versions, all you could do was to make the layer
transparent, you can now choose between much more advanced options such
as "multiply", "darken only", and many more.  
Blending can be used in the normal map view as well as in print
composer. For a short tutorial on how to use blending in print composer
to make the most out of background images, see ["Vintage map design
using
QGIS"](http://anitagraser.com/2013/07/29/vintage-map-design-using-qgis/).

<img src="images/printcomposer_blending_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Map series generation

Ever needed to generate a map series? Of course you have. The composer
now includes built in map series generation using the atlas feature.
Coverage layers can be points, lines, polygons, and the current feature
attribute data is available in labels for on the fly value replacement.

<img src="images/Picture1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: HTML Label support

HTML support has been added map composer label item to give you even
more control over your final maps. HTML labels support full css styles
sheets, html, and even javascript if you are that way inclined.

<img src="images/html.png" class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Automatic overview support in map frame

Need to show the current area of the main map frame in a smaller
overview window. Now you can. The map frame now contains the ability to
show the extents of other and will update when moved. Using this with
the atlas generation feature now core in the composer allows for some
slick map generation. Overview frame style uses the same styling as a
normal map polygon object so your creativity is never restricted.

<img src="images/Picture1_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Multicolumn composer legend

The composer legend now supports multiple columns. Splitting of a single
layer with many classes into multiple columns is optional. Single symbol
layers are now added by default as single line item. Three different
styles may be assigned to layer/group title: Group, Subgroup or Hidden.
Title styles allow arbitrary visual grouping of items. For example, a
single symbol layer may be displayed as single line item or with layer
title (like in 1.8), symbols from multiple following layers may be
grouped into a single group (hiding titles) etc. Feature counts may be
added to labels.

<img src="images/multicolumn-legend.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Expressions in composer labels

The composer label item in 1.8 was quite limited and only allowed a
single token \$CURRENT_DATE to be used. In 2.0 full expression support
has been added too greater power and control of the final labels.  
A label with an expression such as:

    This was printed on: [% format_date( $now, 'dd.MM.yyyy')%]

will be evaluated at print time (and display time) to generate:

     This was printed on: 06.09.2013

When atlas generation is enabled the currently active features'
attribute values will also be accessible in the expressions allowing
such things as:

    Asset ID [% "ID" %] and the Tree Type is [% "TreeType" %]

<img src="images/2013-09-06_09_53_30-Composer_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Layer Legend

### Feature: Multi-layer toggle editing commands

User can now select multiple layers in legend and, if any of those are
vector layers in edit mode, choose to save, rollback, or cancel current
uncommitted edits. User can also choose to apply those actions across
all layers, regardless of selection.

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_current-edits.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Legend visual feedback and options

- Total count for features in layer, as well as per symbol
- Vector layers in edit mode now have a red pencil to indicate
  uncommitted (unsaved) edits
- Active layer is now underlined, to indicate it in multi-layer
  selections or when there is no selection
- Clicking in non-list-item whitespace now clears the selection
- `Right-clicks` are now treated as `left-clicks` prior to showing the
  contextual menu, allowing for one click instead of two
- Groups and layers can optionally be in a bold font style
- Raster layer generated preview icons can now be turned off, for
  projects where such rendering may be slow

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_visual-options.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Duplicate existing map layer

Duplicate selected vector and raster layers in the map layer legend.
Similar to importing the same data source again, as a separate layer,
then copy/pasting style and symbology attributes.

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_dup-layer_1.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Analysis Tools

### Feature: Processing Commander

For quick access to geoprocessing functionality, just launch the
processing commander (Ctrl + Alt + M) and start typing the name of the
tool you are looking for. Commander will show you the available options
and launch them for you. No more searching through menus to find tools.
They are now right at your fingertips.

<img src="images/processing_commander_2.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Heatmap Plugin Improvements

The heatmap plugin has seen numerous improvements and optimisations,
resulting in much faster creation of heatmaps. Additionally, you now
have the choice of which kernel function is used to create the heatmap.

<img src="images/Selection_027.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Processing Support

The SEXTANTE project has been ported to and incorporated into QGIS as
core functionality. SEXTANTE has been renamed to 'Processing' and
introduces a new menu in QGIS from where you can access a rich toolbox
of spatial analysis tools. The processing toolbox has incredibly rich
functionality - with a python programming API allowing you to easily add
new tools, and hooks to provide access to analysis capabilities of many
popular open source tools such as GRASS, OTB, SAGA etc.

<img src="images/Selection_028.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Processing Modeller

One of the great features of the new processing framework is the ability
to combine the tools graphically. Using the **Processing Modeller**, you
can build up complex analysis from a series of small single purpose
modules. You can save these models and then use them as building blocks
in even more complex models. Awesome power integrated right into QGIS
and very easy to use!

<img src="images/Processing_modeler_029.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Application and Project Options

### Feature: System environment variables

Current system environment variables can now be viewed and many
configured within the application Options dialog. Useful for platforms,
such as Mac, where a GUI application does not necessarily inherit the
user's shell environment. Also useful for setting/viewing environment
variables for the external tool sets controlled by the processing
toolbox, e.g. SAGA, GRASS; and, for turning on debugging output for
specific sections of the source code.

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_sys-env-options.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: User-defined zoom scales

A listing of zoom scales can now be configured for the application and
optionally overridden per project. The list will show up in the `Scale`
popup combo box in the main window status bar, allowing for quick access
to known scales for efficiently viewing and working with the current
data sources. Defined scales can be exported to an XML file that can be
imported into other projects or another QGIS application.

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_predefined-scales.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Define default startup project and project templates

With QGIS 2.0 you can specify what QGIS should do when it starts:
`New Project` (legacy behaviour, starts with a blank project),
`Most recent` (when you start QGIS it will load the last project you
worked on), `Specific` (always load a specific project when QGIS
starts). You can use the project template directory to specify where
your template projects should be stored. Any project that you store in
that directory will be available for use as a template when invoking the
`Project --> New from template` menu.

<img src="images/Screen_Shot_2013-09-12_at_11.23.02_PM.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Browser

### Feature: Improvements to in-app browser panel

- Directories can be filtered by wildcard or regex expressions
- New `Project home` (parent directory of current project)
- View `Properties` of the selected directory in a dialog
- Choose which directories to `Fast scan`
- Choose to `Add a directory` directly to `Favourites` via filesystem
  browse dialog
- New `/Volumes` on Mac (hidden directory for access to external drives)
- New `OWS` group (collation of available map server connections)
- Open a second browser (`View -> Panels -> Browser (2)`) for
  drag-n-drop interactions between browser panels
- Icons now sorted by item group type (filesystem, databases, map
  servers)
- Layer `Properties` now have better visual layout

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_browser.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Data Providers

### Feature: WMTS Support

The WMS client in QGIS now supports WMTS (Web Mapping Tile Service)
including selection of sub-datasets such as time slices. When adding a
WMS layer from a compliant server, you will be prompted to select the
time slice to display.

<img src="images/Selection_035.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Raster 2% cumulative cut by default

Many raster imagery products have a large number of outliers which
result in images having a washed out appearance. QGIS 2.0 intoduces much
more fine grained control over the rendering behaviour of rasters,
including using a 2% - 98% percent cumulative cut by default when
determining the colour space for the image. The image here shows QGIS
1.8 (left) versus QGIS 2.0 (right) when rendering the same image with
default settings.

<img src="images/Selection_023.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Raster Data Provider overhaul

The raster data provider system has been completely overhauled. One of
the best new features stemming from this work is the ability to 'Layer
-\> Save As...' to save any raster layer as a new layer. In the process
you can clip, resample, and reproject the layer to a new Coordinate
Reference System. You can also save a raster layer as a rendered image
so if you for example have single band raster that you have applied a
colour palette to, you can save the rendered layer out to a
georeferenced RGB layer.

<img src="images/Selection_017.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Oracle Spatial support

QGIS 2.0 now includes Oracle Spatial support.

<img src="images/oracle.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Web Coverage Service provider added

QGIS now provides native support for Web Coverage Service layers - the
process for adding WCS is similar to adding a WMS layer or WFS layer.

### Feature: WMS identify format

It is now possible to select the format of the identify tool result for
WMS layers if multiple known formats are supported by the server. The
supported formats are HTML, feature (GML) and plain text. If the feature
(GML) format is selected, the result is in the same form as for vector
layers, the geometry may be highlighted and the feature including
attributes and geometry may be copied to clipboard and pasted to another
layer.

<img src="images/wms-identify.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Plugins

### Feature: Revamped plugin manager

In QGIS 1.x managing plugins was somewhat confusing with two
interfaces - one for managing already installed plugins and one for
fetching python plugins from an only plugin repository. In QGIS 2.0 we
introduce **a new, unified, plugin manager** which provides a *one stop
shop* for downloading, enabling/disabling and generally managing you
plugins. Oh, and the user interface is gorgeous too with side tabs and
easy to recognise icons!

<img src="images/Plugin_Manager_024.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

## Programmability

### Feature: New Python Console

The new Python console gives you even more power. Now the with auto
complete support, syntax highlighting, adjustable font settings. The
side code editor allows for easier entry of larger blocks of code with
the ability to open and run any Python file in the QGIS session.

<img src="images/pyconsole.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Python project macros

A Python module, saved into a project.qgs file, can be loaded and have
specific functions run on the following project events:

- `openProject()`
- `saveProject()`
- `closeProject()`

Whether the macros are run can be configured in the application options.

<img src="images/changelog-2.0_project-macros_w-setttings.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Even more expression functions

With the expression engine being used more and more though out QGIS to
allow for things like expression based labels and symbol, many more
functions have been added to the expression builder and are all
accessible though the expression builder. All functions include
comprehensive help and usage guides for ease of use.

<img src="images/2013-09-06_09_10_49-Expression_based_label.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: New cleaner Python API

The Python API has been revamped to allow for a more cleaner, more
pythonic, programming experience. The QGIS 2.0 API uses SIP V2 which
removes the messy toString(), toInt() logic that was needed when working
with values. Types are now converted into native Python types making for
a much nicer API. Attributes access is now done on the feature itself
using a simple key lookup, no more index lookup and attribute maps.

     >>> feature['mycolumn'] = 10
     >>> feature['mycolumn']
     10

The way features are read from a layer has also been improved allowing
for multithreading in the future versions.

      for feature in layer.getFeatures():
             print feature['mycolumn']

<img
src="images/2013-09-06_09_28_08-untitled__routing_-_Sublime_Text_UNREGISTERED.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Code compatibility with version 1.x releases

As this is a major release, it is not completely API compatible with
previous 1.x releases. In most cases porting your code should be fairly
straightforward - you can use [this
guide](http://hub.qgis.org/wiki/quantum-gis/Python_plugin_API_changes_from_18_to_20)
to get started. Please use the developer mailing list if you need
further help.

<img src="images/Selection_021.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />

### Feature: Custom expression functions

If the expression engine doesn't have the function that you need. Not to
worry. New functions can be added via a plugin using a simple Python
API.

<img
src="images/2013-09-06_09_14_58-untitled__routing_-_Sublime_Text_UNREGISTERED.png"
class="img-responsive img-rounded" />
