Creating random points using density-QGIS

Question

I'm trying to generate random points at a specific density within a polygon layer. The polygon layer has 1850 features and I'm looking to have random points within each feature at 1/meter. Going through Vector -> Research tool -> Random points -> "Use this density of points" = 1 (assuming the default is based on unit of the project) -> Save As: .shp -> click OK. The OK button darkens, then lightens to normal without producing any result.

I've also tried going through the Processing Toolbox -> QGIS geoalgo -> Vect Creation Tools -> Random points inside polygons (fixed), set density = 1, and get error:

"Algorithm Random points inside polygons (fixed) starting...

float division by zero See log for more details"

Any ideas? I think it has something to do with the density parameter, but I haven't found what the unit used for the density is. Insight welcomed.

QGIS 2.14.3-Essen

• Inactivated Account: Does this work: gis.stackexchange.com/questions/16830/dot-density-maps-in-qgis
• Scolopax: Nah. The answer to that post contains an image of the tool I tried through Research Tools. Doesn't even think about running a process. And I am trying to make new points that are contained within polygons; not use information from existing attributes. But thanks!
• Inactivated Account: Gotcha! Hmmm....
• romainbh: Is your polygon layer valid? A division by zero can occur when there is invalid geometries.

Answer 1

I've had a similar problem and I think it's due to the way that QGIS calculates the number of points when using density. It is rounding the density * polygon area for each polygon. So if that value is < 0.5 for any of your polygons, QGIS will round this to 0 and then you'll get a divide by 0 error.

For example:

Say you choose a density of 0.01. If you have a polygon with an area of 49, then 49 * 0.01 = 0.49. QGIS will then round this down to 0.

The solution for me was to remove the polygons that were smaller than this, then re-add them afterwards.