Dock Export

Export layers to single files, multi-layer GeoPackage, or portable .woof / ZIP archives.

Overview

QGIS exports each layer individually, with no built-in way to apply consistent filters, reprojections, or field selections across multiple layers. Dock Export combines layer selection, format configuration, and batch export into a single dock:

• Select layers from a single list
• Configure export settings: rename, filter, reproject, pick fields, apply styles
• Export to single files, one GeoPackage, or a self-contained .woof / ZIP archive with rewritten project paths

Gallery

Single Files Tab	GeoPackage Tab	Project Export Tab	History Tab

How it works

graph LR
    L["Project Layers"] --> LTW["LayerTableWidget"]
    LTW --> SPECS["ExportSpec[]"]
    SPECS -->|"Single Files"| ENG["ExportEngine"]
    SPECS -->|"GeoPackage"| ENG
    SPECS -->|"Project Export"| PET["ProjectExportTab"]
    ENG --> SF["Single Files<br>.gpkg .shp .tif ..."]
    ENG --> GPKG["Multi-layer<br>GeoPackage"]
    PET --> WOOF[".woof archive<br>v4 Rust / Python"]
    PET --> ZIP["ZIP archive"]

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Features

Export modes

Mode	What it does	Best for
Single Files	Each layer to one or more files in a folder	Sending layers individually, converting formats
GeoPackage	All layers to one .gpkg with separate tables	Sharing many layers as one file
Project Export	Whole project to .woof archive or .zip with source files + rewritten project XML	Sending a project, backups, moving between machines

Per-layer controls

• Rename - per-layer export name with {layer_name}, {date}, {crs}, {datetime} placeholders
• Filter - per-layer QGIS expression with field list, function tree, search, validation
• Reproject - per-layer CRS via the native QGIS projection picker
• Field subset - pick which attributes to include
• Format override - force a specific driver for a layer (e.g. Shapefile while the rest use GPKG)

Formats

All GDAL write-capable vector and raster formats are available, detected at runtime (GeoPackage, Shapefile, GeoJSON, GeoTIFF, and 50+ more). Database and cloud drivers are excluded - they need live connections, not file paths. See the GDAL vector and GDAL raster format catalogs.

Styles

• QML sidecars - .qml files next to exported files
• SLD sidecars - .sld files (vector only)
• Embed in GPKG - styles stored in the layer_styles table

Project export

• .woof - single-file project snapshot with rewritten woof:// paths, zstd compression, and integrity checks
• ZIP - standard deflate archive
• Remote layers - WMS, WFS, PostGIS, etc. keep their original datasource URLs
• Sidecars and resources - QML, SLD, world files, layout images, SVGs, report templates collected automatically
• ArcGIS Pro - optional embedded ArcPy script that recreates your layer groups as an ArcGIS Pro project

QGIS integration

• Docks in the main QGIS window
• Right-click a layer to open Dock Export with it preselected
• .woof files open from Project -> Open From -> Open .woof Project
• Auto-refreshes when layers are added, removed, or renamed
• Settings persist between sessions via QgsSettings

.woof Format

A .woof file is a single-file snapshot of a QGIS project: every file the project depends on (vector datasets, rasters, GeoPackages, styles, layout images, SVGs, report templates) plus the project file with all paths rewritten to woof:// URIs. Open it from QGIS via Project -> Open From -> Open .woof Project.

Path	Language	Speed	Shipped in QGIS repo?
Default	Python + zstandard	Moderate	Yes
Fast	Rust + PyO3	2-5x faster	No (optional install)

Archives are 100% compatible between both backends. The Rust path adds a seek table, content-addressed dedup, xxhash3-64 checksums, and parallel decompression.

Format internals (manifest schema, dedup, native module build) are documented in docs/WOOF_FORMAT.md.

Tech stack

Tool	Purpose
Python 3.9+	Plugin runtime
QGIS 3.22+	Host application
Qt 5.x / 6.x	UI framework
zstandard	.woof compression (Python path)
Rust + PyO3	.woof fast path (optional)
GDAL	Format detection and export drivers

Compatibility

QGIS version	Qt	Python	Status
3.22 LTR	Qt5	3.9+	Tested in CI
3.x stable	Qt5/Qt6	3.9+	Tested in CI
4.2	Qt6	3.12+	Tested in CI
4.x latest	Qt6	3.12+	Tested in CI

Limitations

• The Python .woof path needs the zstandard package (pip install zstandard); without it, ZIP export still works but .woof does not.
• Remote layers (WMS, WFS, PostGIS) keep their original URLs in archives; they are not bundled, so archives with only remote layers need network access to load.
• Scratch and memory layers are noted as not packaged in .woof archives.

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md.

Security

See SECURITY.md.

License

GNU General Public License v3.0 - see LICENSE.