Creating random points in QGIS with values from Attribute Table

Question

I'm trying to create a visual map in QGIS 2.4 of the approximate distribution of journey origin points using a shapefile of UK postcode sectors, layer joined to a table with a column giving the number of journey origins in each sector. Using the Vector> Research Tools> Random Points menu tool, I can select the Input boundary layer and click the 'Use value from input field' radio button, but the pull-down menu to select the required field does not seem to work. If I then specify the Output Shapefile name and target location , I get an error message - "Errors: The following features IDs couldn't be calculated due to conversion error: 335, 335". To confirm, QGIS does display random points if I specify the density or a specific number of points using the first two 'Stratified Sampling' Designs for individual polygs.

• Peter A: Thanks Joseph, it worked! Worth pointing out to other novices struggling with this tool that the Layer Properties > Fields dialog box shows the value type. Adding a new column offered me the option of ensuring an Integer column was created and populated by cut'n'paste. Peter.

Answer 1

When using the Random Points tool (from the toolbar: Vector> Research Tools> Random Points), the "Use value from input field" only accepts integer type fields.

As @PeterA suggested, field types can be seen from Layer Properties> Fields which can be used to create new fields and/or access the Field Calculator for additional functionality.