[Gvsig_english] copying shape file layers

[Benjamin Ducke]

I disagree. A layer IS a reference (to e.g. a Shapefile).
There is no such thing as a reference to a layer.
A Shapefile is not a layer. It's a dataset comprising
several files. A layer is an abstract concept in GIS,
not physically existing data.

In this case, gvSIG does use the right terminology,
and it should stay that way.

Also, "Copy" is the right name for the function. It
is in the context menu of a layer, so it clearly
copies a layer (and nothing else). Your word processor
does not say "Copy text" either. It simply says "Copy",
yet nobody expects it to be copying the actual file.
Likewise, nobody thinks its "Format" function is
for formatting the hard disk.

It makes sense to separate the concepts of layer
and dataset. A gvSIG layer can reference many
types of datasources: a table in a spatial DBMS,
a WMS data stream, etc., etc. How would you implement
a "Copy" function of physical data for these?

If you want to have an actual copy of your Shapefile,
either use your file manager, or use "Save as" 
(now, this one should really be called "Save data"!)
from gvSIG's "Layer" menu.

Ben

----- Original Message -----
> On 02/08/11 16:19, Klaus Schaefer wrote:
> > Thanks Simon! Good example - now I got it...
> >
> > However, I still would prefere to not call it simply "copy layer"
> > but something like "copy layer reference"...
> 
> I agree.
> 
> Hopefully the *gvSIG* and *gvSIG CE* developers are listening and will
> change the terminology.
> 
> -- Cheers Simon
> 
> Simon Cropper
> Website Administrator
> http://gis.fossworkflowguides.com The fosGIS Workflow Guide
> (c) Simon Cropper CC-BY-SA 3.0 Australia
> http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/au/deed.en
> _______________________________________________ Gvsig_internacional
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