X_STYLES - QGIS Plugin

Version 1.0.0

Overview

X_STYLES is a QGIS plugin for automatic assignment of standardized styles to XPlanGML files. The plugin enables immediate, standards-compliant display of spatial planning data directly after import into QGIS.

Main Features

Automatic assignment of QML styles for XPlanGML layers
Support for building plans (BP), land use plans (FP), and regional spatial planning programs (RP)
Intelligent detection of point, line, and polygon geometries
Configurable display order (z-index) for optimal readability
YAML-based configuration for easy customization without code changes
Optional sorting of layer tree
Automatic layer renaming with geometry suffix

Installation

Installation via QGIS Plugin Manager

Open QGIS
Go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins...
Search for "X_STYLES"
Click "Install"

Manual Installation

Download the plugin archive
Extract the archive to your QGIS plugin directory:
- Windows: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\QGIS\QGIS3\profiles\default\python\plugins\ or C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\QGIS\QGIS4\profiles\default\python\plugins\
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/QGIS/QGIS3/profiles/default/python/plugins/ or ~/Library/Application Support/QGIS/QGIS4/profiles/default/python/plugins/
- Linux: ~/.local/share/QGIS/QGIS3/profiles/default/python/plugins/ or ~/.local/share/QGIS/QGIS4/profiles/default/python/plugins/
Restart QGIS
Enable the plugin under Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins...

Usage

Basic Usage

Load one or more XPlanGML files into QGIS (via Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector Layer...)
Click the X_STYLES icon in the toolbar
The plugin automatically applies the appropriate styles to all recognized XPlan layers
A success message shows which layers were styled

Tip: The plugin automatically detects the layer type (BP, FP, RP) based on the layer name and applies the appropriate styles.

Configure Settings

Via the dropdown menu of the X_STYLES icon, you can open the settings:

Click the arrow next to the X_STYLES icon
Select Settings
Configure the following options:

Available Settings

Option	Description
FP Style	Enables special styles for land use plans from the FP directory
RP Style	Enables special styles for regional spatial planning programs from the RP directory
Custom Layer Order	Applies a custom display order based on z-index
Sort Layer Tree	Sorts the layers in the layer tree according to display order
Rename Layers	Adds geometry suffix to layer names (_p for point, _l for line, _a for area)
Base Style Directory	Directory with base QML files and manifest.yaml
FP Style Directory	Optional directory with specific FP styles (overrides base styles)
RP Style Directory	Optional directory with specific RP styles (overrides base styles)

Advanced Configuration

The manifest.yaml File

The heart of style management is the manifest.yaml file in the base style directory. This file defines the mapping between layer names and QML files.

Structure of manifest.yaml

bp_anpflanzungbindungerhaltung:
    PointGeometry:
        path: BP_AnpflanzungBindungErhaltung_p.qml
        zIndex: 115
    LineGeometry:
        path: BP_AnpflanzungBindungErhaltung_l.qml
        zIndex: 120
    PolygonGeometry:
        path: BP_AnpflanzungBindungErhaltung_f.qml
        zIndex: 131

Parameter Explanation

Layer Key (e.g., bp_anpflanzungbindungerhaltung): Substring of the layer name (case-insensitive)
Geometry Type: PointGeometry, LineGeometry, or PolygonGeometry
path: Relative path to the QML file
zIndex: Display order (low values = foreground, high values = background)

z-Index Conventions

Recommended z-Index Ranges:

0-99: Reserved for future use
100-199: Building plans (BP)
200-299: Land use plans (FP)
300-399: Regional spatial planning programs (RP)
400-499: Landscape planning
9999: No display

Troubleshooting

Plugin Does Not Apply Styles

Check if the layers are actually XPlan layers
Verify layer names contain keywords from manifest.yaml
Check if manifest.yaml exists in the base style directory
Open the log messages (View → Panels → Log Messages) and search for "X_STYLES"

Wrong Styles Are Applied

Check the order of entries in manifest.yaml - the first match is used
Ensure geometry types are correctly assigned
Check paths to QML files for typos

YAML is indentation-sensitive! Use spaces (not tabs) and ensure consistent indentation (4 spaces per level recommended).

License

This plugin is released under the GNU General Public License Version 2. You are free to use, modify, and distribute it.

Support and Contact

Email: plandigitaloss@proton.me
GitHub: https://github.com/PlanDigitalOSS/x_styles
Issue Tracker: https://github.com/PlanDigitalOSS/x_styles/issues