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How to customize and style your uploaded vector layers

Using the layer toolbox to customize, style and edit your uploaded KMLs, GeoJSONs, Shapefiles and DXFs

Kayley Greenland avatar
Written by Kayley Greenland
Updated over 3 weeks ago

Overview

Styling and customising your uploaded vector data in Birdi is quick and straightforward. Use the Layer toolbox to rename layers, add descriptions, adjust styles, and modify attributes.

Supported vector formats: Shapefile, GeoJSON, KML, and DXF (uploaded as vectors).

Upload vector layers

  • Upload your vector layer (see this article for help with this step)

  • Once your layer is uploaded, open the Layer toolbox by selecting the desired layer from the Layers panel.

Open the Layer toolbox

  1. Select a vector layer in the tree

  2. This will open Layers toolbox, select the styling option.

Style by Type (default styling)

Use this to set a single style for all features in the layer.

  1. Open the Style tab in the Layer toolbox.

  2. Adjust:

    • Fill colour (polygons): Choose a colour. A random colour is assigned by default.

    • Border/line colour & weight: Set boundary colour and thickness.

    • Opacity: Control transparency to see basemaps and other layers beneath.

    • Line style: Solid, dashed, or dotted for linework.

  3. Click Apply.

Tip: Keep borders slightly darker than fills for legibility.

Style by Field (Metadata)

Style features using values stored in your layer’s attributes.

A) Style by Numerical field

Ideal for visualising measurements such as height, area, or volume.

  1. In Style > Style by field, choose a numerical field.

  2. Pick a colour preset (continuous or stepped), or customise.

  3. Bands/classes: Add, remove, or edit breakpoints; choose classing (e.g., equal interval or quantile) if available.

  4. Click Apply to update the layer and legend.

Tip: 5–7 classes usually balance detail and readability.

B) Style by Existing colour field

Use a field that already contains colour values for each feature.

  1. In Style by field, select the colour field (e.g., color, colour, hex).

  2. Accepted values: #RRGGBB, #RRGGBBAA, rgb(r,g,b), or rgba(r,g,b,a).

  3. Invalid or empty values fall back to the layer’s default colour.

  4. Click Apply.

Tip: Use Table view to bulk‑edit a colour field across many features.

C) Style by Category (text) field

Great for labelling distinct types, statuses, or owners (e.g., label, class, status).

  1. In Style by field, choose a text/alphanumerical field.

  2. Birdi generates a unique colour per category; pick a colour or assign colours manually.

Tip: Limit visible categories to keep maps clear. Aim for ≤ 12 at once.

Rename the layer

  • Click the layer name in the Layer toolbox, type the new name, and press Enter.

  • OR: Double‑click or right‑click the layer in the Layers panel to rename.

View & Edit Attributes (Table view)

  1. In the Style panel, click the Table icon.

  2. The Table view opens so you can view the attributes.

Troubleshooting

  • Field not listed for styling: Ensure the field exists on all features and is the right type (numbers for numerical styling; text for categories).

  • Colours not applied from field: Check for valid hex/RGB syntax. Rows with invalid values use the layer default.

  • Map looks cluttered: Reduce line weight/opacity or hide less important categories.

For more assistance with uploading vectors or creating your own annotations, see these helpful articles:

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