How to create a text file containing layer names in QGIS?

Question

My QGIS ToC contains layer groups and some layers that do not belong to any group.

I would like to create a text file containing the name of those layers that do not belong to any group.

Is there an automated way to do it?

• Germán Carrillo: Could you please expand a bit your question? What would you like the txt file to contain?
• kwai: my excuses,I work with many layers (100+) some of them I grouped together. Those that I could not group someone else need to have a look at. For this reason I would like the txt file to contain the names of those layers I did not group. Basically just a list. I could do this manually but hope there is another way to do so.

Answer 1

You can do that from the QGIS Python console. Follow this workflow:

1. Open the QGIS Python console

2. Adjust the following line to match the path of your text file and copy the whole line to the QGIS Python console:

   textFilePath = '/tmp/non_grouped_layers.txt'
   

   As you can see, in the example above, I want to create a text file named 'non_grouped_layers.txt' in the folder /tmp/, I'm on a GNU/Linux machine.

3. Press Enter.

4. Copy the following code snippet to your QGIS Python console and, after that, press Enter a couple of times:

   # Get a reference of the layer tree
   root = QgsProject.instance().layerTreeRoot()
   tree = root.children()
   # Get names of non-grouped layers
   nonGrouped = []
   for node in tree:
    if isinstance( node, QgsLayerTreeLayer ):
    nonGrouped.append( node.layerName() )
   #Save the nonGrouped list as text file
   f = open( textFilePath, 'wt')
   f.write( '\n'.join( nonGrouped ) )
   f.close()
   

You should now have your text file with the list of non-grouped layers.

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In the screenshot you can see my QGIS ToC arrangement and the text file I get from running the code snippet.

enter image description here

If you face troubles, tell me.

• GeorgeC: On trying this in QGIS3 console I get the following error -is there some difference in running this line? f = open( textFilePath, 'wt') Traceback (most recent call last): File "C:\OSGEO4~1\apps\Python37\lib\codeop.py", line 133, in call codeob = compile(source, filename, symbol, self.flags, 1) File "<input>", line 4 f = open( textFilePath, 'wt') ^
• Germán Carrillo: node.layerName() has changed in QGIS 3, it should be now node.name(). Other than that, everything should work. Just tested it and it runs smoothly.
• user2955884: Having this little tool as a plugin would be very useful.
• user2955884: ...and having the list structured by groups.