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Does QGIS offer an option to convert the dynamic labels for a given map layer into a separate annotation layer?

An example of this functionality, for comparison: In ArcMap, one can right-click on a layer and choose "Convert labels to annotation", upon which one is given the option to save the annotation as a layer in the current map document or as a new annotation feature class in a geodatabase. This allows the user to generate a large number of annotation features with a couple mouse clicks, after which the annotation layer can be spatially and textually edited to adjust placement and appearance of individual labels.

How might this work in QGIS without a plugin or Python?

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    What is the difference between a label and an annotation? How do they work in Arc? Commented Jan 9, 2023 at 10:06
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    As I remember in ArcGis you can not do very much with labels, it is an automatic thing. If you want to move or manipulate them, you have to convert the labels into an annotation-layer. This is a different concept than in QGIS, where you can manipulate labels with different tools. In QGIS annotations are not bound to any features in your vectorlayers. So you should ask yourself first: do I need to convert my labels into annotations? Commented Jan 9, 2023 at 11:27
  • @Erik Labels are automatically generated dependend on zoom, extract etc. You can't edit them freehand. Annotations are objects resolved from the labeled feature. So when automatic label creation leads to unappropriate results in some cases, you can convert the label and edit them by hand to get the result you want. Commented Jan 13, 2023 at 10:40
  • @eurojam: What are the tools to edit labels in QGIS? I only found the settings in the layer properties, which did not bring the results I needed. When labeling 100 objects an getting 5 unappropriate labels converting the labels into annotations and putting these 5 by hand into the right position is the fastest and easiest way of getting the layout done. How do you handle unfitting labels? Commented Jan 13, 2023 at 10:43
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    @Vico: see northrivergeographic.com/qgis-labeling-toolbar for example Commented Jan 15, 2023 at 9:14

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After submitting an edit to Vico's post, and searching in vain via the QGIS plugins menu using these two searches:
manage and install plugins > all > convert labels
manage and install plugins > all > annotation,
I then searched on Google:
qgis convert labels to annotation,
and instantly found this:
https://plugins.qgis.org/plugins/ConvertLabels/#plugin-details
I've tested it once and it performed nicely. So while it does not provide the non-plugin solution that Vico asked about, it does appear to be a simple way to achieve the desired result. Curious as to why it does not appear in the QGIS plugins search.

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  • @eurojam: Just pinging you to notify you of the edit I made to Vico's original question and of the answer I added. I think Vico will have been notified automatically. The system would only let me ping one user, else I would have pinged Erik as well. Commented Aug 19, 2024 at 20:13

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