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How can I save a vector layer to memory (or is there a reason QGIS doesn't allow this)?

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2

It's impressive how many different vector file formats QGIS (using ver 3.6.0) allows me to save a layer as:

But as far as I can tell, QGIS doesn't allow me to save a vector layer to memory. In my normal workflow in manipulating vector layers, I find myself having to save several intermediate vector layers to file, clogging up my file system or databsase with something like "vector_layer", "vector_layer1", "vector_layer2", "vector_layer2a", etc. It is often trivial to perform the updates/edits to the layer, and because I really don't care about these intermediate files, I'd rather be able to just save them in memory within the QGIS environment. Saving to memory would allow me to simply remove the layers from the project when I finish my workflow instead of having to delete from my Postgres database or my desktop.

When performing a geoprocessing task, there is the option to save to memory, but why can't I have the option to export a layer to memory on its own?

qgis vector qgis-3 save memory-layer

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

Tyler NTyler N

6318

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I don't get why you are not using those temporary/virtual (memory) layers produced by e.g. the geoprocessing tools; they are, effectively, 'saved to memory'? they are pretty much exactly what you refer to: in-memory (or stored in the QGIS temp directory, kept there until deleted after saving the project), reusable in other tools in the chain and easily disposed of (cluttering only your layer panel, but that can be grouped accordingly)...or am I not getting your question? 'save to memory' is somewhat of a paradox...
  
  – ThingumaBob
  yesterday
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You can request a feature: issues.qgis.org.
  
  – csk
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

It's impressive how many different vector file formats QGIS (using ver 3.6.0) allows me to save a layer as:

But as far as I can tell, QGIS doesn't allow me to save a vector layer to memory. In my normal workflow in manipulating vector layers, I find myself having to save several intermediate vector layers to file, clogging up my file system or databsase with something like "vector_layer", "vector_layer1", "vector_layer2", "vector_layer2a", etc. It is often trivial to perform the updates/edits to the layer, and because I really don't care about these intermediate files, I'd rather be able to just save them in memory within the QGIS environment. Saving to memory would allow me to simply remove the layers from the project when I finish my workflow instead of having to delete from my Postgres database or my desktop.

When performing a geoprocessing task, there is the option to save to memory, but why can't I have the option to export a layer to memory on its own?

qgis vector qgis-3 save memory-layer

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

Tyler NTyler N

6318

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I don't get why you are not using those temporary/virtual (memory) layers produced by e.g. the geoprocessing tools; they are, effectively, 'saved to memory'? they are pretty much exactly what you refer to: in-memory (or stored in the QGIS temp directory, kept there until deleted after saving the project), reusable in other tools in the chain and easily disposed of (cluttering only your layer panel, but that can be grouped accordingly)...or am I not getting your question? 'save to memory' is somewhat of a paradox...
  
  – ThingumaBob
  yesterday
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You can request a feature: issues.qgis.org.
  
  – csk
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

It's impressive how many different vector file formats QGIS (using ver 3.6.0) allows me to save a layer as:

But as far as I can tell, QGIS doesn't allow me to save a vector layer to memory. In my normal workflow in manipulating vector layers, I find myself having to save several intermediate vector layers to file, clogging up my file system or databsase with something like "vector_layer", "vector_layer1", "vector_layer2", "vector_layer2a", etc. It is often trivial to perform the updates/edits to the layer, and because I really don't care about these intermediate files, I'd rather be able to just save them in memory within the QGIS environment. Saving to memory would allow me to simply remove the layers from the project when I finish my workflow instead of having to delete from my Postgres database or my desktop.

When performing a geoprocessing task, there is the option to save to memory, but why can't I have the option to export a layer to memory on its own?

qgis vector qgis-3 save memory-layer

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

Tyler NTyler N

6318

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

Tyler NTyler N

6318

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

Tyler NTyler N

6318

asked yesterday

Tyler NTyler N

6318

asked yesterday

Tyler NTyler N

6318

2 Answers
2

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5

Try outputting a specific format to memory using the special "/vsimem" virtual filesystem.

For example:

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

user2856user2856

31k258106

add a comment | 

1

As a workaround, you can copy a layer to memory by running a processing tool in a way that generates an identical layer, and output the tool to [Create temporary layer].

For example, use the default $geometry expression in the Geometry by expression tool:

Other options include:

• for polygon layers, Buffer tool with buffer distance of 0


• Translate tool with all offset distances 0


• Reproject Layer tool with Target CRS the same as the layer's current CRS

etc.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

cskcsk

9,7781035

add a comment | 

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5

Try outputting a specific format to memory using the special "/vsimem" virtual filesystem.

For example:

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

user2856user2856

31k258106

add a comment | 

5

Try outputting a specific format to memory using the special "/vsimem" virtual filesystem.

For example:

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

user2856user2856

31k258106

add a comment | 

Try outputting a specific format to memory using the special "/vsimem" virtual filesystem.

For example:

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

user2856user2856

31k258106

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

user2856user2856

31k258106

answered yesterday

user2856user2856

31k258106

answered yesterday

user2856user2856

31k258106

1

As a workaround, you can copy a layer to memory by running a processing tool in a way that generates an identical layer, and output the tool to [Create temporary layer].

For example, use the default $geometry expression in the Geometry by expression tool:

Other options include:

• for polygon layers, Buffer tool with buffer distance of 0


• Translate tool with all offset distances 0


• Reproject Layer tool with Target CRS the same as the layer's current CRS

etc.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

cskcsk

9,7781035

add a comment | 

1

As a workaround, you can copy a layer to memory by running a processing tool in a way that generates an identical layer, and output the tool to [Create temporary layer].

For example, use the default $geometry expression in the Geometry by expression tool:

Other options include:

• for polygon layers, Buffer tool with buffer distance of 0


• Translate tool with all offset distances 0


• Reproject Layer tool with Target CRS the same as the layer's current CRS

etc.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

cskcsk

9,7781035

add a comment | 

As a workaround, you can copy a layer to memory by running a processing tool in a way that generates an identical layer, and output the tool to [Create temporary layer].

For example, use the default $geometry expression in the Geometry by expression tool:

Other options include:

• for polygon layers, Buffer tool with buffer distance of 0


• Translate tool with all offset distances 0


• Reproject Layer tool with Target CRS the same as the layer's current CRS

etc.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

cskcsk

9,7781035

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

cskcsk

9,7781035

answered yesterday

cskcsk

9,7781035

answered yesterday

cskcsk

9,7781035