Updating feature geometry from attribute fields in QGIS

Question

I know how to get the geometry (x,y) into Attribute fields with the Calculator, but I can't figure out how to update the geometry from values contained in attributes.

I am trying Field Calculator > Update existing field > <geometry>, but I can't find how to assign my "x" and "y" fields to the actual feature geometry.

I don't want to manually drag each point with the vertex editor, or type in each coordinate. I have to update many points.

Answer 1

Assuming you have chosen <geometry> field in the Update existing field drop down list, the expression you need would be:

geom_from_wkt('POINT('||"x"||' '||"y"||')')

• benny the spaceman: Awesome - I would never have figured out the || by myself... Thank you for the quick response.
• Kazuhito: Great! Thanks @Benoit_W :) You would have found out that sooner or later.
• 15Step: The syntax is actually quite misleading. Here is the correct one with example coordinates: geom_from_wkt('POINT('||'31.797788'||' '||'30.729471'||')') Notice the single quotes. Using double quotes in QGIS 2/3 will cause an error as it mistakens the x and y values as field names.
• Kazuhito: @15Step This syntax is reading values from "x" and "y" fields, such field names were set by OP.
• 15Step: I misunderstood the question, sorry about that! I think the comment could still be useful for updating numerical coordinates in the <geometry> field.

Answer 2

Another option is to use the make_point() function together with updated fields "x" and "y".

before change :
case1_before

window :
window

after change :
case1_after

Answer 3

I modified this a bit to move a selection of points into a spread out line along a vertical axis.

geom_from_wkt('POINT('||$x||' '||((@row_number*100)+$y)||')')

The 100 can be changed to whatever is appropriate for your area and scale. I imagine that this could be further modified to create a grid, but I didn't have time to try.